NSW Farmers Urges Water Minister’s Firm Stance Against Buybacks

In the aftermath of the contentious federal water bill, NSW Farmers is urging Water Minister Rose Jackson to unequivocally reject water buybacks and provide concrete alternative strategies.

The removal of socioeconomic safeguards by the Albanese Government, previously linked to water buybacks, poses a significant threat to farmers and regional communities, asserts Richard Bootle, Chair of the NSW Farmers Water Taskforce.

Bootle acknowledges the NSW Government’s opposition to buying back productive water but emphasises the need for a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the state’s citizens.

With the Federal Government persisting in withdrawing water from production without adequate protections against social or economic harm, NSW Farmers calls on Minister

Jackson to step in and address this critical gap.

While the Premier has expressed opposition to buybacks, NSW Farmers seeks a more detailed plan from Minister Jackson on how the government intends to achieve this goal.

The recent amendments to water legislation have, in effect, undermined the agreements established in the original Murray Darling Basin Plan negotiations. Bootle underscores the importance of these agreements in protecting communities and farming businesses while facilitating river system recovery.

Minister Jackson and the NSW Government are urged to uphold the original standards agreed upon during the Murray Darling Basin Plan negotiations.

NSW Farmers emphasises the need for strong leadership to defend communities, maintain decisionmaking sovereignty, and guide future river recovery and regional food security planning.

Bootle criticizes the Federal Government’s hasty agreement with illogical Greens claims, asserting that these claims lead to increased damage to riverbanks, ecosystems, flooding of farms, and devastation to regional communities. NSW Farmers advocates for robust leadership in NSW to protect communities, ensuring environmental gains for the river system through methods other than water buybacks.