Eighteen months, four new Ministers and rising uncertainty oh to be a fly on the wall at the Ministerial Council (MinCo) meeting to be held in Canberra this week between Basin Water Ministers.
NIC Chief Executive Officer Isaac Jeffrey said: “Even with four new ministers sitting around the table and eighteen months to prepare, MinCo has continued its absence of accountability and transparency – failing to even put out an agenda to the public on what the Basin Water Ministers will be discussing.
“We can guess what the Ministers will be talking about though: what to do about the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) Projects which are at risk of non-completion by the set deadlines and the progress of the 450 gigalitre Efficiency Measures program.
“The Federal Government has made a number of strong commitments to achieving the Basin Plan in full and on time, which even the Public Service is saying is impossible. We have had two states recommit to not returning to water buybacks and to honour the socio-economic promises they made to irrigation communities. We have also seen reports prepared for the Victorian Government on the cost of recovering the remaining estimated 760 gigalitres of water – $850 million annually which doesn’t take into account the economic multiplier of between five and seven times this number in our communities.
“Once the introductions are done, MinCo need to get around the table and have a genuine conversation on how they can return certainty to irrigation businesses and communities. They need to urgently consider extending the timelines on the SDLAM projects to allow their completion and avoid at all costs recovery of the approximately 340 gigalitre shortfall if they are not completed. The States and Commonwealth must also prioristise work on constraints management projects. The States promised action on these areas and must deliver – failing to do so would be a serious broken promise to irrigation communities.
“The Ministers must recommit to the socio-economic promises they made to do no harm to regional communities. Additionally, they should consider the objective of the Basin Plan which is to deliver environmental outcomes and balance the needs of all water users. Outcomes should be the goal, not arbitrary figures written into a Plan on best guesses from over a decade ago.
“The Government has promised to update the science, which is fantastic, but it must also consider the lessons we have learnt and appreciate the outcomes we have already achieved. MinCo must acknowledge the role of irrigation in our economy and for our food security. All options to achieve the Basin Plan must be on the table and considered before water recovery to avoid detrimental impacts to regional communities, businesses, jobs, trade, economy, food security, water prices and cost of living.
“MinCo has the opportunity to refocus on what matters – achieving balance and outcomes, while doing no harm to our regions which feed and clothe Australia and the world. Let’s hope that’s on the agenda.”
Ends. Media Contact: Isaac Jeffrey 0407 083 890 ceo@irrigators.org.au