Wednesday, 12 November 2025

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:46): I rise to update the chamber on an important development today in relation to the Murray–Darling Basin plan and Commonwealth buybacks. The Commonwealth minister for water has made an announcement today in Adelaide. The minister has announced a trading strategy. The substance of it is the Australian government will expand the non-strategic buyback program in the southern basin. I will be briefed on this in more detail this afternoon. The department and my office are in contact with key industry and community stakeholders. Suffice to say this comes as a shock to all of us here in Victoria. This is a further 130 gigalitres of water purchases from the southern basin, including Victoria.

Let me be clear: our position is unchanged. Victoria remains firmly opposed to non-strategic water buybacks. These buybacks undermine the long-term viability of our irrigation communities and regional economies. Pursuing a water recovery target without a strategy for where the water can be used does not deliver the balanced outcomes intended of the basin plan. As I say, I will be briefed in more detail this afternoon, but it is important for me to update the chamber on these developments as soon as we are advised. Victoria reiterates its call for a genuine strategic approach, as outlined in the Planning Our Basin Future Together prospectus, that works with communities and that prioritises infrastructure, efficiency and a plan for the future. Victoria will continue to advocate for a strategic approach – one that protects communities, supports healthy rivers and upholds the integrity of the basin plan.