SOPHIE MAKES SUBMISSION TO MDB INQUIRY

03-February-2011

Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi has made a public submission to both Parliamentary Inquiries investigating the impact of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

The seven page submission outlines the advantages of retaining agriculture in North East Victoria and draws on the advantages of using water closest to its source. The submission points to the good health of local river systems and urges the Government to consider previous programs that have already delivered significant amounts of water to the Murray Darling Basin.

“My submission outlines what all of us here in the North East have been saying for some time. We have a thriving agricultural industry, we are incredibly efficient with water and we have healthy river systems. It makes no sense for the Government to make drastic cuts to local irrigation entitlements just to deliver water to less efficient downstream regions,” Mrs Mirabella said.

The submission urges the scrapping of the proposed cuts to irrigation entitlements and calls on the Government to consider increasing irrigation entitlements in the North East.
 

“The Government really needs to consider what its overall objectives are. If they want to return the Basin to health while retaining a viable agricultural industry, they should focus on maintaining agriculture in the most efficient regions. North East Victoria is the perfect location because we don’t rely on inefficient irrigation practices, we get sufficient rainfall and we can use water closest to its source.”

Mrs Mirabella also took aim at proposals to take water from North East Victoria to provide downstream river health needs.

“It’s an inefficient and downright lazy policy. Taking a large share of our small portion will not improve the health of downstream regions and it would do untold damage to the economic viability of North East Victoria.”

Mrs Mirabella’s submission also pointed to:
 

• “Perverse outcomes” in the Ovens and Kiewa catchments, where irrigators are set to lose up to 71% of their irrigation entitlement;
• The damage that would be inflicted on the Alpine Agrifoods project; and
• The disproportionate economic impact that would be felt in North East Victoria.

All submissions to the House of Reps Inquiry can be found at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ra/murraydarling/subs.htm