Ley, Dalton & Milthorpe oppose water buybacks

The Member for Murray Helen Dalton and Member for Farrer Sussan Ley have both slammed the Albanese Government’s plans to rush through 100 gigalitres of new water buybacks in the lead to the next federal election.

The buybacks are part of the federal government’s Restoring Our Rivers program, which has drawn criticism from both Members of Parliament.

Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has labelled the federal government “sneaky” and “wasteful”. 

“The federal government is so desperate to get these new buybacks through, they are paying well above market value and wasting millions of taxpayer dollars in the process,” Ms Dalton said. 

Ms. Dalton also slammed the federal government’s attempts to avoid public scrutiny of the new buybacks. She claims the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water “quietly” posted a notice online on February 24 saying it was seeking entitlements in the Southern Connected Basin. 

“What’s with the secrecy?” Ms Dalton asked. 

“Is the Albanese Government scared of people knowing what they are up to?” 

Ms. Dalton has again called on the NSW Government to actively oppose the federal buybacks. “Premier Chris Minns must take a stronger stand against the federal government,” Ms Dalton said. “He can’t stand by and watch as NSW rural communities are trashed by federal water policies.

“Every gigalitre that’s taken from the system leads to increase suffering in rural communities.” 

Ms Ley called the move “sneaky and secretive.” 

“Water buybacks is a lazy, uncaring method of taking enormous amounts of water for the environment,” Ms Ley said.

“If you want to divide farms, split communities, add to the nation’s debt level and stop growing Australian produce, then this is the way to go about it.

“And it’s only happening because Anthony Albanese collaborated with the Greens and crossbenchers in late 2023, legislating for the removal of more water from farmers over a shorter period of time.   

“The Coalition is committed to stopping Labor’s ideological destruction of prime agricultural land.

“The Environment Minister must put a halt to this latest round of buybacks, and every single candidate at this election needs to be honest with their views on water policy, so voters in Farrer can have a say on their region’s future.”

Independent candidate for Ley’s seat of Farrer Michelle Milthorpe agrees, saying buybacks are not a solution, and only deepen the divide between the environment and rural communities.

“I am opposed to water buybacks because they continue this cycle of poor decision-making. We need to invest in better solutions, like on-farm efficiencies and the relaxation of river constraints,” Ms Milthorpe said.

“This will ensure both environment and community needs are met without sacrificing one for the other.”