Cotton Australia’s General Manager, Michael Murray, represented cotton growers on an NFF-organized panel last night (Tuesday), giving evidence before a Senate Committee in public hearings on the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023.

On behalf of growers, Cotton Australia made a submission to the Senate Committee, highlighting the disappointment of the industry about the decision to place water buybacks back on the table before the consideration of other alternatives.

The submission outlined how the decision to extend the timeframes on Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism projects (605GL “Downwater”) was welcomed, but that water buybacks would be devastating to the many rural and regional communities that benefit from the cotton industry.

In addressing the Senate Committee, Mr. Murray had the opportunity to highlight several communities, including Dirranbandi and Collarenebri, where a previous examination of water recovery, among other studies, showed a significant and very real impact on employment and the community.

Senator Perin Davey asked about the source of the information, and it was confirmed that the information came from Murray Darling Basin Plan documentation about the Northern Basin review. The Senator highlighted that the document had disappeared from the MDBP website and stated that she would investigate.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson Young challenged the cotton industry on the number of people employed and requested a breakdown that explained the direct and flow-on employment benefits, including the anomalies in the Census data from 2016.

Senator Hanson Young, a recognized opponent of the cotton industry, suggested that the figures were 'bogus' and a 'furphy,' which Mr. Murray rejected and stated that the estimates were very fair and an underestimate.

Mr. Murray also spoke about the latest report from the MDBP (just released), which reveals that while the Basin Plan may not have achieved the water recovery targets, the basin-wide water take is well below the allowed take of the plan and has realized a cumulative credit of 3000GL over the last three years – effectively providing more water for the environment than the plan allowed for.

The Committee has nominated November 2 as the date for Questions on Notice responses, with the Senate report due on November 8, 2023.