That was the message from Edward River Councillor Linda Fawns when she addressed Tuesday’s rally.
Cr Fawns, who was ERC’s rally organiser and is a farmer herself, said proposed changes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan do not support agriculture and our community.
“Water buybacks cost jobs. They cost the jobs of people who work in services and industries that support our agriculture sector – and that is many of us here today,” Cr Fawns said.
She said further buybacks risk creating permanent drought-like conditions. They create uncertainty around the future and lead to people hesitating to spend money on development.
“They will reduce food production and increase the cost of clean, green affordable food at the supermarket for all Australians – why would a government introduce legislation such as this during a cost of living crisis? It beggars belief.”
Cr Fawns said the community wants policy that supports the council’s growth strategy – that “helps us attract services, share the rate burden and provide confidence in the future of this great community”.
“We want governments to help us increase job opportunities, increase the number of children in our schools, increase our health care and various other services.
“We don’t want policy that can lead to people leaving the area, reducing our services and our population.
“Prime Minister Albanese said he would govern for all Australians – so why isn’t our community included in that promise?
“I implore the cross-bench senators who can put an end to this water buyback madness to understand our frustration, understand how unnecessary the buybacks are, understand that we are fellow Australians who want the best for our environment … the one we live in … and our people.
“We implore you to insist that the socio-economic neutrality test that we were promised is honoured, so communities like ours can continue to thrive,” Cr Fawns said.
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