The Coalition has outlined today a set of clear principles that will guide its approach to water policy development in the Murray-Darling Basin.
These principles are about making sure future decisions support farmers, regional communities and the long-term health of the Basin.
The Coalition’s principles are:
- End further reductions to the amount of water available for farming, jobs and productive use.
- Target an increase in the amount of water set aside for farmers, towns and businesses to use in the consumptive pool to deliver a future for basin communities, and ensuring no further reductions.
- Reform the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to return surplus water not required to meet priority outcomes to the temporary consumptive pool for farmers, towns and business to use to lower prices.
Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor said these principles would guide practical, balanced water policy.
“This is about getting the balance right, supporting communities while delivering environmental outcomes,” Mr Taylor said.
“We want a system that is fair, transparent and works for the people who live and work in the Basin every day.
“If there’s spare water, it should be working for Australians, not locked away like it is under Labor.
“We should be backing our farmers who provide the food we eat everyday, not making it harder for them.”
Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said Labor’s buybacks that were restarted with the support of the Climate 200 Teals were crippling communities like Farrer.
“The Murray–Darling Basin is the lifeblood of our nation's food bowl, producing 40 per cent of Australia’s food and 60 per cent of Australia's fruit,” Senator Canavan said.
“Labor's buybacks are supported by the Teals. Reducing the water farmers can use reduces the amount of food they can produce and pushes up prices for all Australians.
"Our position is clear: we are calling for an immediate halt to all buybacks, and for the Murray-Darling Basin review to deliver a genuine plan to grow the consumptive pool, including reform of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to return surplus water to the market and put downward pressure on water prices.”
“Dumping water buybacks and building dams again will help families stay on the farm, create food manufacturing jobs and lower grocery bills.”
Shadow Minister for Water Michael McCormack said it is important that Basin communities have trust in the systems that govern water usage.
“Labor’s removal of the buyback cap has undermined the protections that were put in place to safeguard agricultural production and regional economies,” Mr McCormack said.
“Our water priorities focus on protecting jobs in regional communities and keeping families on their farms, rather than pursuing policies that strip water out of productive agriculture.”
The Coalition’s approach is about lifting regional Australians’ standard of living and protecting our way of life.
Strong Basin communities means secure food supply, lower costs and good local jobs.
When water is managed properly, it supports families, keeps farms productive and underpins regional economies.
That is the balance we are determined to restore.