The Murray Regional Strategy Group, which represents community and farming groups in the NSW Murray region, says it continues to be concerned that Water Minister Tanya Plibersek refuses to undertake an educational tour of the region which is impacted more than any other by her ill-advised policies.
The group last year invited Ms Plibersek to the NSW Murray, but she has not accepted.
As a result, she is making decisions on Australia’s future, yet has never inspected the area that is arguably the most complex in the basin.
This is despite numerous efforts from MRSG and other groups who want to show the minister why some of her Basin Plan policies are not the best way to guarantee a sustainable environment.
“We are disappointed that some of the basics in our region’s water management don’t seem to be adequately explained to the Minister,” MRSG chair Geoff Moar said.
“We know this is a difficult and complex issue, which is even more reason why Minister Plibersek needs to improve her understanding of river flows, connectivity and sensible solutions that will benefit our environment and local communities,” he said.
Mr Moar said instead of accepting invitations to visit and learn, the minister tells local organisations to work with her department.
“We’ve done that,” Mr Moar said.
“I do not believe any community could have worked harder at collaboration, and at presenting viable alternatives to the government’s current flawed approach.
“But our communities are frustrated because regardless of how much we collaborate and articulate the benefits of an alternative approach, we get ignored.”
Mr Moar said it was therefore devastating for communities to see media coverage of a smiling Tanya Plibersek as she promoted her water buybacks in parliament.
“Water buybacks are the worst way to recover water,” Mr Moar said.
“They are lazy and expensive, which makes this bad policy and poor governing.
“The minister wants to recover water from our region, but does not seem to grasp the reality that this will not solve downstream environmental problems, including fish kills in the Darling system.
“If the whole aim of the Basin Plan is to supply Adelaide and surrounds with abundant water at the cheapest prices, and keep the Lower Lakes at a constant height with fresh water for recreational purposes, we are heading in the right direction.
“If the aim is to ensure future generations have an environmentally sustainable Basin that supports Australia’s future, we are going way off track.”
Mr Moar added he was at a total loss to know why the minister does not want to improve her knowledge of the Basin and its intricacies, and lamented that her advisors and department personnel are failing in their responsibility to point the minister in the right direction.
“Unless we see change, history will not look kindly on the manner in which the Basin Plan was implemented.
“It is going to destroy farmers and communities, and those left in our irrigation systems will not be able to afford to irrigate because running the system will fall on too few and be unaffordable.
“We are unfortunately showing a serious lack of strategic planning, and the subsequent risk is dire long-term consequences.”
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