QUEENSLAND farmers are reeling this morning after the Senate’s decision to vote in support a Greens disallowance motion that will see a further 70 gigalitres of water recovered from the Murray-Darling’s Northern Basin.
Farmers condemned the vote, labelling it as a blatant example of putting politics over both people and balanced independent advice.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation president Stuart Armitage said it was frustrating and disappointing that positioning for upcoming southern elections had been put ahead of the real issue – the fate of Northern Basin communities and the environment.
“The decision to vote against an independent four year, evidence-based consultation process is unacceptable and may sink the Murray-Darling Basin Plan,” Mr Armitage said.
“There is no doubt that some basin states will consider walking away from the plan if politicians start picking and choosing parts of the plan to support, particularly when it is based on political gain.
The decision to vote against an independent four year, evidence-based consultation process is unacceptable.
- Stuart Armitage, QFF
“It is critical that politicians quickly reflect on these actions and get back to responsible compromise. No one has got, nor will get, exactly what they want from the basin plan. Historically, there has been an understanding of this and politicians have acted accordingly.”
Mr Armitage said the QFF and industry members would do everything it could to ensure the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was maintained and implemented.
“QFF and members thank the government and other cross-bench senators that supported farmers and their communities by voting against the motion,” he said.
“Their understanding and appreciation of the broader implications to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has not gone unnoticed.”