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Response to Senate report on Water Amendment Bill
The report arising from the Senate Inquiry into the Water Amendments (Restoring our Rivers) Bill has ignored the submissions of many organisations in their call for alternatives to water buybacks in the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
The Senate report released last Friday backs the Albanese Government’s decision to put water buybacks back on the table and calls for the Bill to be passed with some amendments.
Those suggested amendments were wide-ranging and included a significant increased emphasis on indigenous water rights, and a desire for the Basin Plan to extend its influence to the Upper Murrumbidgee (above Canberra).
While the report did focus on the socio-economic impacts of buybacks, the focus was on better understanding and documenting the impacts, and potential responses, rather than mitigating the impacts by avoiding buybacks and investing in complementary measures.
The report was accompanied by a minority report by the Opposition and additional comments from the Greens and a number of independents. Opposition Senators argued that a 1500GL cap on buybacks must remain in place.
Debate on the Bill is expected in Canberra this week, but it is unclear whether the Senate vote will occur this week, or carry-over to later sittings.
Cotton Australia General Manager and water policy specialist Michael Murray said Cotton Australia will continue to advocate for a better solution for growers.
