A NATIONAL industry body says a federal Labor intention to reinstate water buybacks would ignore the “hard work and sacrifice” of Riverland irrigators toward meeting Murray-Darling Basin Plan goals.
A five-point Labor policy focused on the Murray-Darling Basin was announced in Adelaide by Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, and opposition spokesperson for environment and water, Terri Butler, on Friday.
Included in the policy was a pledge to work with “Basin governments and stakeholders to deliver on water commitments, including the 450GL of water for the environment”, which was initially set out in the 2012 Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
The Advertiser reported Mr Albanese said “only Labor has a real commitment to meet the needs of South Australians”.
“I will ensure full compliance and maximum transparency – no more fudging the rules,” Mr Albanese said.
Greens spokesperson for environment and water, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, last week confirmed her party would support the re-introduction of a water buyback scheme if Labor was successful at the upcoming Federal Election, to be held on May 21.
Ms Hanson-Young said re-introduction of the buyback scheme was “critical” to reaching the targeted 450GL.
“Mr Albanese’s promise to deliver South Australia’s fair share of water is welcome, but will only happen if we can secure buybacks, and that will require a Green vote in the Senate,” Ms Hanson-Young said.
“The 450GL promised to SA cannot be delivered without restoring voluntary water buybacks. This is critical to ensuring the longevity of the Murray and those who rely on it.
“We need representatives who will put the people and environment of South Australia first… we have seen our rivers suffer and corporate interests get rich at the expense of everyone else.”
However, National Irrigators Council (NIC) chief executive officer, Isaac Jeffery, said increasing co-operation between Murray-Darling Basin states meant the initiative was no longer necessary.
“I would urge the (Opposition Leader) to be cautious and not rush to make commitments without genuine consultation – a lot has changed in the last decade,” Mr Jeffrey said.
“The basin community is focused on delivering the plan as a collective team through partnerships, negotiation and consultation… the water wars of over a decade ago have calmed as people understand we are all in this together – and only together can we achieve the triple bottom line results called for in the plan.