Today, Leeton, Griffith, Deniliquin and surrounds rallied against the Government’s rewrite of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Their message was simple and clear, water buybacks hurt communities.
Thousands of workers in farming, food processing, small business and local government demanded that Prime Minister Albanese and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek embrace the many alternatives to buybacks that are gathering dust on their desks. These options improve river health without killing jobs and hollowing out Basin communities.
President of the Ricegrowers’ Association, Peter Herrmann, echoed the sentiment of everyone rallying.
“Rewrites to the Plan will abandon all socioeconomic safeguards which were put there to protect communities. Those communities won’t exist without irrigated agriculture, and they deserve protection.
“It’s time for all Federal Senators to stand with us and keep our communities thriving.
“I stand with our Basin communities, today we took to the streets to have our voices heard and the Government must listen,” said Mr Herrmann. |
