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Coalition water policy flows on from National Water Initiative
15 Sep 2004
Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister of $2 billion over 5 years as part of the Coalition’s Secure Australia’s Water Policy is a major step forward in implementing the recent Intergovernmental Agreement on water, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) said today. “This significant package will assist in implementing commitments made as part of the National Water Initiative (NWI) which was signed by the Commonwealth and most State and Territory Governments in June 2004,” NFF President, Mr Peter Corish said.
NFF put the issue of resource security – in relation to both water and land – on the political agenda before the last election and has been working hard throughout to ensure that governments understand the importance of delivering resource security for farmers, regional communities and the environment. “NFF strongly supports the allocation of $200 million to ensure that all processes are transparent, consultative and informed by science,” Mr Corish said.
NFF reiterates its clear position of opposing the identification of specific water flows such as 1500GL (Australian Labor Party and Australian Democrats policy) or 3000 GL (Australian Greens policy) for the Murray River. In our view the appropriate focus is river health and achieving specific environmental outcomes, rather than just water flows. “Where water needs to be acquired for the environment it should come from water efficiencies, improved infrastructure and willing sellers,” Mr Corish said. “It is vital that structural adjustment is made available to individuals and communities which are impacted through adjustment of over allocated and/or overused systems as part of implementing the National Water Initiative”.
NFF is calling on State and Territory Governments to also honour their commitments under the NWI and identify new funds to implement the NWI in their State and Territory. “In relation to Western Australia and Tasmania, their failure not to sign the NWI is a significant blow to farmers in those States,” Mr Corish said. “I would urge both major political parties to commit to continue to pursue the support of Western Australian and Tasmania for the NWI. We note that competition dividends in 2006-07 and 2007-08 have been allocated to these initiatives and we are keen to see how future competition dividends for the States will be funded. NFF will also be looking to Labor for its policy and spending commitments on the implementation of the NWI,” Mr Corish said.
by Mairi Barton, General Manager Public Relations, NFF
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