Despite Victoria refusing to sign up to the Federal Government’s revised Murray-Darling Basin Plan including water buybacks, the Commonwealth will fund water savings projects in Victoria.
Mr Birrell said Ms Plibersek had caved in and accepted that the water savings projects, (included under the Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism), were critical to water recovery.
The Victorian Government is the only state in the basin refusing to accept water buybacks.
“From the outset, Minister Plibersek has sought to recast the completion of the basin plan as a climate-induced environmental emergency requiring water to be quickly recovered through massive water purchases,” Mr Birrell said.
“Victoria knows from bitter experience that water buybacks are destructive and should be a last resort; they take water from the consumptive pool, reduce productivity and jobs, and hollow out small communities.
“The Federal Government is trying to frame this as Victoria signing up to the basin plan, the opposite is true, and both government and opposition in Victoria remain steadfast in their opposition to water buybacks.
“SDLAM projects support the long-term viability of basin communities and agricultural production while also delivering water for the environment, something Minister Plibersek should have understood from the start.”
The VFF says it is relieved the Commonwealth has “finally stopped blackmailing Victoria” and agreed to fund environmental projects that will ensure floodplains are watered.
VFF president Emma Germano said it was pleasing to see Victoria will no longer be short-changed for key basin plan projects.
“The VFF commends the Victorian Government and Minister Harriet Shing for standing up for Victorian farmers and regional communities and not being bullied to support water buybacks,” Ms Germano said.
“For over six months, the Commonwealth had been blackmailing Victoria and threatening to not fund key projects if Victoria remained opposed to water buybacks.
“It’s good to see that even though Victoria remains opposed to water buybacks, these important projects can now be started.”
Ms Germano said there was nothing to prevent the Federal Government entering the Victorian water market to purchase water for the basin plan.
“Despite Victoria having done all the heavy lifting to deliver basin plan outcomes, we are still faced with the Commonwealth Government hell-bent on taking more water from food and fibre production which is a key economic driver for our state.”
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