The coordinated action led by stakeholders in the Deniliquin, Griffith and Leeton areas will take place today from noon.
It had gained support from various industry bodies, businesses and individuals all aiming to share the message that a rewrite of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan will cost thousands of jobs and slash almost $1 billion worth of food and fibre from farms.
The rallies will highlight community concern at the social and economic damage that will be caused if water buybacks are reintroduced, as proposed by the Albanese Government.
Its Bill to reintroduce buybacks is expected to be voted on in the Senate this week, with the rallies timed to send a clear message to the nation’s Senators that Basin communities are strongly opposed to being collateral damage for the government’s political agenda.
The rallies are supported by numerous local government farming and community organisations, with the National Farmers Federation as one of the lead agencies.
NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin said the protests would force the Albanese Government to listen to the farmers and communities who were facing devastation.
“We are vehemently opposed to this Bill, and rather than come and talk to us they hid in Canberra and held hearings,” Mr Martin said.
“Authorities are already wrecking rivers with too much water, eroding banks, killing trees and flooding properties, and the government’s bright idea is to buy even more water – and do it with taxpayer money!”
National Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said towns and communities would suffer the impact of a rewritten Basin Plan, costing jobs, schools, shops, doctors, sports teams and services.
“The Federal Government has been presented with options to achieve a healthier river without the pain and cost of buybacks, but these are being ignored in favour of an easy political win,” Mr Jochinke said.
“These changes will cost thousands of jobs in farming, transport and food processing and reduce the value of food and fibre grown in Australia by $855 million per year.
“Rather than working with local knowledge-holders, they’re trying to bulldoze through with a lazy plan that will shut down farms, destroy jobs and increase the price of food.”
Speaking ahead of the inaugural Taste of the Basin event in Paliament House in Canberra on Wednesday night, Moulamein producer and National Irrigators chair Jeremy Morton said politicians need to understand what is actually at risk from the government’s proposal to buy back hundreds and hundreds of gigalitres of water.
“Potentially, the water that could be bought back could be the entire water that’s used by a rice industry. There would be no rice industry left,” he said.
“I would also like to extend an invitation to the minister to come down to the communities, to the regional communities where this impact will be felt.
“We go to the rice processing plants in Deniliquin, in Leeton, and if the minister can come down and talk to those people face-to-face and say, ‘well, look, I’m looking to get rid of your jobs’.
“The thing is, it (the proposed amendment) is not actually going to make a hell of a difference in the environment.
“We’ve come forward so many times with so many better ways to deliver this Basin Plan that gets fantastic environmental outcomes, it still keeps our communities vibrant and prosperous for now and well into the future.
“So you’re welcome Minister anytime down in the Riverina and I look forward to seeing you there.”
Today’s protest rally in Deniliquin will be held in the Multi-Arts Centre precinct of the Waring Gardens from noon until 1pm.
This will allow people to attend during a lunch break, and organisers hope businesses will close for the hour and encourage staff to attend.
• Please note, the Deniliquin Pastoral Times office will be closed between noon and 1pm today while staff attend the rally.
