Goulburn Valley people took to the streets to protest the Federal Government’s determination to push ahead with water buybacks for the Murray-Darling Basin.
However, the 11th-hour protest through the Shepparton CBD on Monday, November 27 by almost 100 farm vehicles may be too late.
The crowd attending the rally was buzzing with news that Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek had reached an agreement with the Greens Party that meant the amending legislation, which could put more water at risk, was likely to be passed in the Senate.
More than 50 farm tractors joined the protest rally, along Wyndham and High Sts, which concluded at SPC, where speaker David McKenzie labelled the proposed legislation “lazy, damaging and dumb”.
Mr McKenzie, the joint chairman of the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District water leadership group, told the assembled crowd of about 250 that the region had already contributed huge volumes of water to the environment.
“It’s been tough. A lot of pain for many people. We know what water means to this region and our community.”
He said Ms Plibersek had introduced new legislation to bring in a whole new basin plan — one that Victoria had not signed up to.
Mr McKenzie said the Restoring Our Rivers bill removed the cap on buybacks, removed the need for government not to cause socio-economic damage to our communities and locked in the whole 450Gl of up-water in full.
“The dangers to our regional communities are massive,” he said.
“The bill is lazy because by reverting to buybacks, the government is not willing to work with basin communities to help find water for the environment.
“It is damaging because buybacks are a corrosive form of water recovery.
“It is dumb because if all water is recovered in accordance with Tanya Plibersek’s wishes, it can’t be delivered downstream to key environmental sites.”
The convoy was led by City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali, who was driving a tractor.
Meanwhile, Ms Plibersek said she was determined to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
“This is a critical time for our environment — I don’t want communities to wake up one day with a dry river and know their governments could have done more,” she said.
“That’s why I have been clear I’m willing to work with all parties who are interested in getting the best outcome for the basin.
“We know better decisions are made when the government works collaboratively with others.”
The media statement did not refer to the 2100Gl of water already recovered for the environment.