Australia’s peak farming bodies have today stood shoulder to shoulder on the banks of the
Murray River, calling on the Federal Government to draw a line in the sand and rule out further
water buybacks that leave food production and regional communities paying the price.
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), alongside NSW Farmers and Victorian Farmers’
Federation, have come together to send a clear and united message: farmers will not be
sidelined as the next phase of Basin reform takes shape.
With multiple major water reviews underway and critical decisions looming, the organisations
say this is a defining moment to reset the approach with one grounded in evidence, practical
delivery, and genuine engagement with the people who live and work in the nation’s food bowl.
The groups reinforced their strong opposition to water buybacks in any form, including under the
450GL target.
The joint delegation pointed to the draft findings of the Basin Plan Review that recognises the
need for smarter, water management approaches and projects improve water quality and
address native fish decline, including carp eradication.
What we need to see is:
- Practical mechanisms that deliver enhanced environmental outcomes and that simply
adding more water won’t translate to environmental improvement. - A national fish strategy that focuses on real outcomes that reduce fish kills and
eradicates carp numbers. - A planned approach to repairing or replacing ageing infrastructure, some of which is a
century old. - Moving on from ‘tinkering’ with rules and water acquisition by stealth.
- Actively supporting a viable and prosperous agricultural sector that underpins local
communities, sustains jobs and safeguards food production for every Australian.
The organisations are actively engaged across four major processes shaping the future of water
policy – the Basin Plan Review, the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into National Water
Reform, the review of the Water Act 2007, and the review of the Inspector-General of Water
Compliance.
Together, they say, these processes must speak to each other and deliver a coherent, workable
path forward, not more uncertainty.
Quotes attributable to NFF President, Hamish McIntyre:
“This is about getting the Basin Plan right, giving regional communities confidence and not
repeating the mistakes of the past.
“Communities are still hurting from years of successive buybacks. We’ve seen the damage
when policy is done to regions and not with them, and we won’t stand by and let that happen
again.
“Farmers are already under pressure from rising input costs and global uncertainty, including
the escalating fuel and fertiliser supply issues. If you take away water on top of that, you’re not
just hurting farmers, you’re putting Australia’s food and fibre supply at risk.”
On calls for a Royal Commission into Basin management, Mr McIntyre acknowledged
longstanding frustrations but urged careful consideration.
“With multiple substantive reviews already underway and legislative changes on the horizon,
the priority right now must be on getting these reforms right. We can’t afford to lose more time
or risk unintended consequences.”
Quotes attributable to NSW President, Xavier Martin:
“Australia remains in the midst of a fuel and fertiliser crisis, and we are calling on the
government to make sure they don’t cause further water shortages that creates food shortages.
“We want a Basin Plan that supports agricultural productivity, protects regional communities,
ensures transparent and accountable Basin governance, and uses science-based
environmental management rather than blanket water recovery targets.
“The collapsing rivers, the science, and the evidence say we don’t need more buybacks that
pour taxpayer money into the ocean, we need projects that use water wisely.”
Quotes attributable to VFF President, Brett Hosking:
“There’s a stack of reviews on the table right now. Farmers are doing the work, engaging in good
faith, but we expect to be listened to.
“We want a Basin Plan that works in the real world. That means smarter management, proper
investment, and policies that back in regional communities and avoids destructive buybacks.”