The Murray Regional Strategy Group says the Murray-Darling Basin Authority is turning its back on communities, while abrogating its statutory responsibilities.
It follows the release this week of the MDBA’s ‘What We heard’ report, following the closure of submissions into the Basin Plan Review.
MRSG had called on the MDBA to recommend to Water Minister Murray Watt that water buybacks be stopped during the review process, after it acknowledged there was little benefit in acquiring more water.
It says the MDBA has a statutory obligation to be an independent body that makes recommendations to the Minister on the best way to implement the Basin Plan.
Instead, the MDBA has told regional communities they will have no further say on what a new Basin Plan will look like.
“From this point forward, only governments and undefined ‘peak’ groups will get to have a say in the review process,” MRSG chair Geoff Moar said.
“We’ve been patted on the head and told to go away. You’ll only have access to further MDBA consultation if you’re someone special.
“So despite already telling us there’s little environmental benefit from acquiring more water, the MDBA is now choosing to be secretive and selective about its final advice to the Albanese Government.
“The MDBA's recommendations will be held back from the general public until they are finalised. This is too late to do anything about them.”
Mr Moar said regional communities will have no idea if more water will be stripped from them, or the reasoning behind it, until the MDBA's advice has already been finalised.
Meanwhile, the government will barge ahead with more buybacks – as Minister Watt has indicated - even though it will not help the environment and there are serious issues with its deliverability.
“Hard-working regional Australians are not only being left behind, they are now being actively blocked from important policy decisions.
“Their futures are at significant risk, but with release of the ‘What We Heard’ report, and confirmation of the MDBA’s secretive next steps, we have to assume that any decision to continue with buybacks is aimed solely at securing votes and is not based on science.
“Regional communities must be actively engaged in order to develop sensible Basin Plan implementation options, and water recovery must be stopped altogether,.”
Mr Moar added it was obvious that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese does not see any political benefit in supporting farmers and regional communities.
“There is no other reason for his actions, and it seems the kowtowing MDBA follows the government’s directives, rather than performing its responsibilities as an independent body.
“If water policy is an example of the way in which our government wastes money, and ignores impacted communities, it’s no wonder the debt continues to spiral and its popularity continues to decline.
“The downward trend for this government, especially in regional Australia, is only going to go one way when we get treated like this,” Mr Moar said.
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