IRRIGATION CUTS TO SAVAGE RURAL TOWNS

AN independent report released today has described the social and economic impact that will hit rural communities once Commonwealth irrigation cutbacks are enforced in the Murray Darling Basin.
The report compiled by Judith Stubbs and Associates has studied several irrigation communities in the Basin and analysed the social and economic impacts that would result from irrigation allocation cutbacks.
QFF CEO Dan Galligan said this report confirmed the long-held fears of the farming community. “The greater the cuts to water entitlements, the greater the impact on regional communities,” he said. “The report also shows that the economic impact will be felt by all Australians in some way” he said.
In Queensland, the report has studied the impact of reductions in the irrigation entitlements on the Balonne (St George) and Dalby-Wambo shires.
“The Basin Plan is a looming social and economic watershed for Government policy makers, particularly because the existing programs designed to assist irrigators to mitigate this impact are shown to be unlikely to have any significant affect,” Mr Galligan said.
“Farmers have been crystal clear in saying throughout the Murray Darling Basin planning process that it is important to strike a balance between delivering environmental outcomes and protecting communities.
“With this report, the government now has a clear warning of the consequences if the Basin Plan does not provide equal treatment of the social, environmental, and economic users of water, as was the original intention.
“Both sides of politics have recently jumped onto the sustainable population bandwagon.
“If they are serious about that, then they will enact policies that ensure a sustainable future for regional areas hand in hand with a sustainable irrigation industry.”