Water policy
Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:23): (1297) My question today is for the Minister for Water. Regional Victorian irrigation communities are concerned. For almost two years now the federal government have been conducting buybacks of water from farmers. While at the moment these buybacks are voluntary, it is only a matter of time before they realise that the uptake is not enough to fulfil their aim of 450 gigalitres. The loss of water comes at the detriment of our regional communities. Without water, food production is severely impacted. Without water, farmers will walk off the land. Minister, what is the government doing to protect our irrigation communities from the impacts of the federal government’s disastrous water buyback scheme?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:23): I thank the member for her question on what is a significant issue in this state, particularly in terms of the communities which she represents in Northern Victoria. Our government has been in lockstep with all of the key stakeholders in its opposition to the federal government’s buybacks, and I think I have taken that issue to this chamber several times. I have also taken it to the ministerial council meetings that have occurred, and of course I have put it in correspondence to the federal minister of the day. We oppose it for all of the reasons that I have raised before and that you would be well acquainted with. I think too that it is important that we keep up the engagement. I had a recent meeting with the Victorian Farmers Federation in my ministerial office where we went through the issue of buybacks, but we also had a conversation about the Murray–Darling Basin plan discussion paper and the missing chapter that you would know is being talked about in your communities. Of course we also talked about the sustainable communities fund.
Before I go on any further, though, given that there was a VFF media release today, can I thank Brett Hosking for his stewardship of the VFF. I think that we can only work better. I have enjoyed a very good working relationship with him and others at the VFF over a long period of time. Can I also congratulate Mr Milgate and Mr Young on being the new president and vice-president of the VFF. I look forward to a very productive relationship with them. Of course Natalie is always in my thoughts in terms of being a very good advocate when it comes to water and opposition to buybacks and, importantly, what we need to do in terms of ensuring that communities in northern Victoria are absolutely at the forefront of government decisions. That is why I have been asking all stakeholders, all communities and individual community members to put submissions in to the review that is currently underway. As I said, there is a missing chapter. We need to make sure that the voices of northern Victoria are heard. We do need to recognise and appreciate that our northern Victorian communities and economies survive, and not only survive but thrive. I thank you for your continued advocacy in this area. We will stand up to the Commonwealth on this issue. Nothing is going to change in respect to that. We are always going to put Victoria first. (Time expired)
Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (12:26): I might give the minister the opportunity to finish that with my supplementary question. Water is one of the few policies on which the majority of members in this place agree. We know of the devastating impact on regional farming communities of the federal government’s nonsensical taking of the very water that grows our food in Australia’s food bowl. Will the minister commit to continuing to work with all members in this place to attempt to stop federal Labor’s disastrous water policies?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:27): You are quite right, Ms Tyrrell – this is one issue that we can have bipartisan, and tripartisan, views on, and we are more than happy to continue to put that position to the Commonwealth. We will continue to do that, and of course we will ensure that the voices of Victoria are heard and in particular those in northern Victoria who are directly impacted as a result of the ill-founded policies of buybacks.