Regrettably, Some Farmers Will Sell Water

Article in The Weekly Times 1/11/23.

It is a regrettable reality that the Federal Government will certainly find what it terms “willing sellers” to buy water from.

A Party that is not being considered, but one that will suffer acute financial decline due to the consequent decline in agricultural production, is the much larger country town population. There is no compensation for this population’s lost business, its greatly reduced financial income, its unemployment and its consequent relocation.

Water is an asset benefitting all the people in the irrigation areas, and the people in these areas deserve to demand that it be treated as such. It should not be considered acceptable that the Federal Government can make deals with individuals that will cause the economic and financial decimation of the whole population.

Regrettably, the NSW State Government has the authority to resume management of water and withdraw from the Federal Basin Plan, but has chosen not to. It has the ability to secure and preserve the prosperity of the people in these irrigation areas, but again, it has chosen not to.

To protect their livelihoods and prosperity, the people in the Riverina, including northern Victoria, need to form a Riverina State. This State will have authority over all the water and other natural resources within its area, and the people in this State will ensure that these are used as they can be and as they should be.

David Landini.