The last few weeks has seen the RGA team working collaboratively with NSW Irrigators’ Council, Murray Regional Strategy Group and the National Farmers Federation (NFF) to help influence decision makers. This is not only in the water space, but Agriculture as whole. This effort is about sound policy development. Agriculture is facing many challenges and we are working with these organisations to ensure that food security, regional communities and irrigated agriculture are not shoved to the side as a result of potentially unintended consequences of poor policy.
With a target of $100 Billion for the Australian agricultural industry by 2030 our challenge is not only to develop strong policy that encourages growth and investment, but is also about reaching beyond our regions.
Influencing the populations’ beliefs on agriculture, the food we eat and the environment is something RGA will be working on with the NFF over the coming 12 months.
I would personally like to welcome Claire Miller to the team as our acting Policy Manager whilst Rachel Kelly is on maternity leave. Claire comes to us with a wealth of experience in the water space, having spent the last 15 years as a water adviser to the Victorian government and Dairy Australia. Claire has hit the ground running, working on our submission to the Water Sharing Plans.
We hope that many of you have had the opportunity to attend the drop in sessions or complete the survey being conducted by the Independent Panel assessing the social and economic impact of the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP).
The RGA will continue to work on behalf of our communities, to ensure the implementation of the MDBP does not further erode agricultural production in our valleys by focusing on our key points:
• Seeking constructive, collaborative and innovative solutions that avoid further productive water recovery.
• Providing farmers, industries and communities with the confidence to invest in the future.
• Maintaining the current 1500GL cap on buybacks.
• Ensuring recently agreed Neutrality Test criteria is applied accurately across Basin States.