ANALYSIS OF FIGURES PROVES MDB PLAN IS A DOG

15-October-2010

Friday, 15 October 2010 Recent analysis of the Murray Darling Basin Plan has revealed cuts in the North East of up to 71%. The drastic cuts to irrigators in the Ovens system will take overall entitlements from 14GL to 4GL. So out of a total of 1804GL, farmers will only get 4GL. Sophie Mirabella MP – Federal Member for Indi said that this disastrous plan needs to be drastically revised. “This is either a serious mistake by the MDBA or a severe lack of understanding about our local communities. They are stripping huge entitlements from the most productive agricultural land in Victoria. They are taking a large share of a small portion and it’s just not fair. “There is no doubt about it, if this plan goes ahead, it will make the destruction of our local agricultural industry. Speaking about the cuts to the Ovens system, Mrs Mirabella noted that it is one of the best performing systems in the land, returning 95% of the water it produces back into the Murray system. “In the Ovens, we are talking about 71% cuts and the destruction of entire towns and industry just to return a measly 10GL back into the system. That is unjustifiable and nothing short of scandalous,” Mrs Mirabella continued. “The key problem here is that the MDBA has used a highly simplistic method. They have looked at areas across the basin, come up with a figure and applied a one size fits all approach. If a cost benefit analysis was done it would tell you to tear this plan up and start over again. Mrs Mirabella shares the outrage of locals in the community in the MDBA’s omission in not scheduling a community consultation meeting in the electorate of Indi. “The North East region provides 38% of the total water in the Murray Darling Basin and the MDBA hasn’t even bothered to schedule a community consultation meeting for us. I think it’s about time that the Prime Minister and the Water Minister get out from behind their desk in Canberra and come and answer questions from the community at the nearest local meeting on 29 October in Albury. Ms Gillard held community meetings during the election, so she has nothing to be afraid of. “It’s becoming clear that Labor is too scared to front up to the people which is why this plan was not released during the election. They have admitted their own failure and panicked in belatedly calling for a committee to now consult with effected communities. This is a cynical attempt to hush people and the report must be referred to the productivity commission immediately,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.