Tuesday, 17 March 2026

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:34): The Commonwealth Murray–Darling Basin plan review is underway. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority has released its discussion paper, and Victoria is preparing a strong response. Northern Victoria is Australia’s food bowl. It is the largest irrigation area in the country, producing more than $3 billion worth of farmgate produce every year and employing over 35,000 people, including flow-on industries. But in the current discussion paper Victoria’s regional communities and economies have been overlooked. The basin is not just a river system. It supports people, towns and food production that underpin our regional communities and the national economy.

Members interjecting.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, I am sorry to have to do this to you, but I think you might have to start from the start. Maybe I am on the wrong plane here, but the minister has not been provocative, and she has got a right to put a statement on the record. Minister, if you would like to start from the start, we will reset.

Gayle TIERNEY: Thank you, President. I would appreciate that, given regional Victorians are very interested in this issue.

The Commonwealth Murray–Darling Basin plan review is underway. The Murray–Darling Basin –

Wendy Lovell interjected.

Gayle TIERNEY: The Commonwealth Murray–Darling Basin plan review is underway. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority has released their discussion paper, and Victoria is preparing a strong response. Northern Victoria is Australia’s food bowl. It is the largest irrigation area in the country, producing more than $3 billion worth of farmgate produce every year and employing 35,000 people, including flow-on industries. But in the current discussion paper Victoria’s regional communities and economies have been overlooked. The basin is not just a river system; it supports people, towns and food production that underpin our regional communities and the national economy. Our basin communities understand better than anyone: both communities and the environment must be protected. We have made our position clear at every opportunity. Victoria supports a strategic approach that protects both the environment and the communities that rely upon it. The Commonwealth must make best use of environmental water already recovered. There must be no further open tender buybacks. This is our opportunity to reset the Commonwealth’s approach to the basin plan implementation for the next decade to ensure sustainable agriculture and thriving regional communities, our core national outcomes, alongside environmental repair. Local knowledge and lived experience of Victorian communities are needed to shape a basin plan that is workable, balanced and enduring. Submissions are open until 1 May. I encourage our regional communities to make their voices heard on the Murray–Darlin Basin plan.