Call to action: Irrigators demand Victoria block federal basin buyouts

Irrigators are demanding to know what action Victorian Water Minister Harriet Shing will take to stop federal water buyouts.

The Albanese Government is rushing to strip water out of irrigation communities for the environment, which it cannot then push down the Murray River.

Irrigators have called on the Victorian Government to back up its vocal opposition to federal government water buyouts with action.

Victorian Farmers Federation water council chairman Andrew Leahy said irrigators wanted to know what action the State Government would take to stop federal buyouts.

The call follows Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek announcement last week that she would amend the Water Act to remove barriers to her buying an unknown share of 450GL out of irrigation communities for the environment.

During the millennium drought the former Brumby Labor Government imposed a 4 per cent annual cap on the volume of entitlement trade out of irrigation communities.

“No-one wants to go back to those days of imposing limits, but do we need to protect Victorian irrigation communities,” Mr Leahy said.

“We’re hoping to get answers from the Victorian Water Minister (Harriet Shing) this week.”

Ms Shing failed to The Weekly Times query on what mechanisms she could use to block federal water buyouts.

“We will continue to work with the Albanese Government on a way forward to complete our critical environmental and infrastructure projects and deliver their proven environmental benefit,” Ms Shing said. “A Ministerial Council meeting is an important opportunity to continue these discussions.”

Victorian Farmers Federation Water Council chair Andrew Leahy wants answers on what action the state government will take to block federal water buyouts of irrigation communities.

Options to block federal buyouts range from Victoria refusing to register Commonwealth purchases, to refusing to co-operate on delivering environmental water or ultimately withdrawing from the Intergovernmental agreement on Implementing Water Reform in the Murray Darling Basin.

However industry analysts say it’s doubtful Victoria could impose trade restrictions without facing legal action from the Federal Government or the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

When asked about the potential of states blocking federal trades to the Commonwealth, Ms Plibersek said: “I don’t need the support of the Victorian or the NSW Governments to do voluntary water purchase”.

Victorian Nationals Leader and former Water Minister Peter Walsh said there was still the option of challenging the legality of the external powers the federal government first used to draft the Water Act 2007, on the basis it the legislation was unconstitutional.

Section 100 of the Australian Constitution reads: “the Commonwealth shall not, by any law or regulation of trade or commerce, abridge the right of a State or of the residents therein to the reasonable use of the waters of rivers for conservation or irrigation”.