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Comment, Media Release - MDBA Consultation at Deniliquin
13-October-2010
Community at Tipping Point:
Basin Plan Meeting at Deniliquin today - 13th October 2010
1500 people (almost half of whom were locked outside) attended the Deniliquin RSL Club this morning for the MDBAs second day’s consultation session on the Guide to the Basin Plan
MDBA members came in for a torrid period of questioning from local people who were both bewildered and angry. Chairman Mike Taylor and CEO Rob Freeman insisted they were restrained
by international agreements about migratory birds and the wording of the Water Act 2007.
Today, I also expressed strong disappointment in both the Plan and the process.
“I think you are hiding behind the Water Act and the Government is hiding behind you.
“The Water Act spells out the need to “optimise social and economic outcomes” and sits side by side with the National Water Initiative which emphasises that environmental, social and economic objectives sit side by side”.
The final decision on the Basin Plan rests with the Water Minister and his bureaucrats told the meeting that he wanted to be briefed on the meeting “tonight”.
Well, here is some feedback for the Minister:
The eighteen month consultation phase and associated uncertainty is killing this community.
Anyone considering investing in the NSW Murray is going to question what will be the final amount of water removed and all they have to go on is the Sustainable Diversion Limits announced last week.
The only certain numbers that bankers, weighing up farmer and business equity have to go on,
is 25 – 40% cuts.”
It’s disturbing when the MDBA admitted no Environmental Watering Plan exists so far and
when it does, it could ‘change everything’. Also that in spite of the battalion of scientists employed, the models on which they drew their conclusions - and the assumptions on which those models were based - were secret or, at best, had been ‘provided by state governments’.
“Let’s get this straight. The MDBA writes reports. Farmers grow crops. The MDBA has had three years to write this report and we have had three days to read it. Now suddenly we are supposed to have the expertise to question the models without knowing what the models are?
“The Authority said they would take everyone’s views on board, would consult widely and would come back to us. If the Minister is not prepared to take charge of this process he should send the MDBA back to the drawing board and start it again with proper social and economic modelling, such as the Coalition has promised.
The MDBA’s estimate of 800 job losses across the whole of the Basin was also ridiculed at today’s consultation in Deniliquin. The Minister really should take his government appointed authority to task over such sloppy research:”
“How can we have any confidence at all in the Minister and the process if this nonsense is held out as proof that communities will not be affected by water cuts in the order of 27 to 37%?
At today’s meeting local farmer groups circulated advice which showed the real effect to our region of Labor’s Basin Plan. Using ABS statistics and based on the cuts that are on the table now,
4000 jobs would be lost in the NSW Murray Valley region alone.
“We all know the heartache when a local business employing 4 people closes its doors.
How can our community possibly survive the fallout of 4000 jobs?”
The ripple effect of so many jobs lost would reach into every home, school, factory and family farm
I also noted that the Water Act leaves the final say with the Government.
“I suggest to the Minister that he step up and take control of a process that is getting out of control. He needs to take charge of his Department and the MDBA.
This is a bad plan for regional Australia and it will be a bad government that allows it to remain on the table”.
13th October 2010
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
Labor puts 4000 jobs at risk in the NSW Murray Valley
Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley, has expressed further outrage at the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s “Basin Plan” process which is pushing communities and towns to tipping point!
Attending today’s MDBA Community Consultation Sessions in Deniliquin, Ms Ley says the Authority openly admitted a speculative 800 job losses caused by any irrigation water cutbacks had been “underestimated”.
Ms Ley says “according to analysis from the Southern Riverina Irrigators, this figure is closer to 4000 jobs in the NSW Murray Region alone”.
Addressing the 1500 strong crowd, including those unfortunately barred from entering,
she told the MDBA “I think you are hiding behind the Water Act and the Labor Government is hiding behind you”.
“This Act spells out your duty to optimise social and economic outcomes and sits equally with the National Water Initiative’s focus on environmental outcomes”.
A final decision on the Basin Plan rests with Water Minister, Tony Burke, with his bureaucrats telling this morning’s first consultation session he wanted to be briefed “tonight”.
According to Ms Ley, this is the message he should be hearing.
“The Minister should take control of a process that is getting out of control. He needs to take charge of his Department and the MDBA. This is a bad plan for regional Australia and it will be a bad government that allows it to remain on the table”.