Deniliquin takes buybacks to the streets

The demonstrations were organised by the Deniliquin, Griffith and Leeton councils and key farming groups NSW Farmers and the National Farmers’ Federation.

The chant “Keep Bourke’s promise” was one of many which the crowd of more than 200 joined in on, in reference to former Federal Water Minister Tony Burke in 2012 ruling out further buybacks to acquire the additional 450 gigalitres for returning to the river system.

The crowd came from a cross-section of Deniliquin and included business owners and employees, farmers, retirees and community leaders.

Speak Up campaign chair Shelley Scoullar addressed the crowd about the threats to the town she had been raised in.

“This is the community that I call home and it is this community that I want to take in a fight anywhere because I know we’ve got each other’s back,” Mrs Scoullar said.

Mrs Scoullar recalled the community thriving during her upbringing and said government bureaucrats had always worked alongside the locals to identify and solve problems.

“Decisions were made in conjunction with our community, and farmers were respected.

“I distinctly remember the pride we felt having the biggest rice mill in the Southern Hemisphere.”

Mrs Scoullar said she wanted the people of Deniliquin to be united in making the message to the government “loud and clear”.

“We need to join united in that message,” she said.

In response to questions from Country News, Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said the Restoring Our Rivers Bill would rescue the Murray-Darling Basin Plan by allowing more time, options, funding and accountability to deliver its target.

She said she did not want to see “all of the water” bought.

“That’s why I am extending timeframes to give basin governments more time to finish their water saving projects,” Ms Plibersek said.

“It’s also why I am open to other non-purchase options and will be looking at a range of options to deliver the 450 Gl.

“On-farm and off-farm efficiency projects, voluntary water purchase and other options are all part of the mix.”

Ms Plibersek said where voluntary water purchase does have a socio-economic impact, transitional assistance funding could be provided.

Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia chair Peter Herrmann was one of the organisers of the protest and said the day allowed for recognition of the history of irrigation.

“It is feared that people are not being appreciated for generations of irrigation and for generations into the future,” Mr Herrmann said.

“I hope the message has got across because it hasn’t been front-of-mind for people, and the knock-on of the permanent effect really hit home with locals.

“We hope the media generally understood that it’s a dumb way to achieve an environmental outcome which can be achieved by other means.”

Mr Herrmann met with Ms Plibersek two days after the rally (Thursday, November 24) and said the negotiations were still ongoing.

“It’s about understanding each other’s positions and our position is that enough is enough.

“There’s an opportunity here and we are asking the minister to find alternatives.”