Member for Murray Helen Dalton has described the Federal Government’s recent round of water buybacks as sneaky and wasteful, calling on NSW Premier Chris Minns to stand against his federal counterparts. Photo: Supplied.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton has labelled the Federal Government “sneaky” and “wasteful”, claiming it has quietly rushed through 100 gigalitres of new water buybacks in the lead-up to the upcoming federal election.
The Federal Government has a policy in place to buy back water from irrigators, saying this will help restore the health of the rivers and benefit the environment.
But Ms Dalton says its latest round of purchases are being done in way that is hugely expensive for taxpayers and avoids public scrutiny.
“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.
“The Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water [DCCEEW] quietly posted a notice online on February 24 saying it was seeking [water licence] entitlements in the Southern Connected Basin. What’s with the secrecy?
“Is the Albanese Government scared of people knowing what they are up to? They aren’t restoring our rivers, they are destroying rural communities.
“These so-called environmental buybacks take productive water out of the Murray-Darling Basin system. That means there is less water available for irrigation and our economy suffers as a result.
“Every gigalitre that’s taken from the system leads to increased suffering in rural communities.”
Ms Dalton called on the NSW Government to actively oppose the federal buybacks.
“Premier Chris Minns must take a stronger stand against the Federal Government,” she said.
“He can’t stand by and watch as NSW rural communities are trashed by federal water policies.”
The DCCEEW responded to Ms Daltons’ claims stating that in September 2024, it invited willing sellers who owned large portfolios of water (around 20 GL) to express their interest in selling water to the Australian Government.
“The announcement to recover an additional 100 GL is a continuation of this process and timing is aligned with advice provided to the market in September 2024,” a DCCEEW spokesperson said.
“The updated Restoring Our Rivers Trading Strategy 2024-25 provides information about voluntary water purchasing in 2025 towards … additional environmental water, including the purpose and scope of the expressions of interest process, value for money assessment, market-led proposals, and socio-economic considerations.
“Regarding the 70 GL Selected Catchments Open Tender, offers started being accepted in December 2024 and continue to be accepted into 2025. Information will be published on AusTender and the relevant state water register as contracts progress.
“Voluntary purchase is just one of the ways that water will be recovered, with the government prioritising non-purchase options [such as investing in infrastructure that helps farmers use water more efficiently].”
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