Plibersek feeds the narrative that we are using too much water, yet the Stats don’t lie!

Plibersek feeds the narrative that we are using too much water, yet the Stats don’t lie!

NSW and Victorian irrigators have halved their water use over the past 30 years, reducing diversions below the Murray Darling Basin Plan targets. Yet federal government buybacks continue, sparking outcry from farmers and local communities.

Trend analysis shows Victorian and NSW irrigators’ water usage has dropped nearly 50% since 1997-98, Meanwhile, diversions in South Australia fell only 22%, and Queensland's rose by 58%.

Claire Miller, CEO of NSW Irrigators Council, criticized the continued buybacks: “The Basin Plan disproportionately hurts some regions, especially those reliant on rice and dairy production. Additional buybacks are unnecessary and won’t address core environmental challenges like invasive carp damaging water quality.

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Federal authorities defend buybacks, citing complex factors influencing water usage. However, former National Irrigators Council Chair Jeremy Morton argued, “Diversions are already below Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs). Further recovery is unnecessary and hurts production.”

We demand the change that is necessary to hold the other states accountable and reduce the impact this will have on our community as a whole.