Advertisement Helen Dalton MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR MURRAY M NSW This month in parliament I asked the Premier if his government accepted that the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments Water policies are driving up the cost of Australian grown food while also reducing grain and fodder for our livestock during times of floods and drought? The Premiers response was that (water) buybacks are a blunt instrument from the Commonwealth Government and that he was "very concerned" about their impact on regional communities and economies. In a media release, the Victorian Farmers Federation was a little more blunt. They made this statement, and I couldn't agree more: "Buying water from farmers during a drought is like preying on them at their most vulnerable." "It's not just flawed policy, it's deeply damaging to our communities and to national food security." I think we should all be very concerned about these negative impacts. For example, a recent report from Dairy Australia revealed that future water buybacks could cut milk production by 270 million litres, reduce dairy processor revenues by $500 million, and increase water costs for farmers who remain in the system. Milk production could plummet by up to 15 per cent in the southern Murray Darling Basin if the federal government's water buybacks are not halted immediately. We know that water buybacks reduce agricultural output, drive up the cost of water for the remaining farmers, and do little to achieve environmental gains. It's time the NSW government follows Victoria's lead and calls for a stop to buybacks before more damage is done. Authorised by Helen Dalton MP, Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements. Helen Dalton MP for Murray Authorised by Helen Dalton MP, Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements. Griffith 02 6962 6644 Deniliquin 03 5881 7034 Buronga 0475 683 288 murray@parliament.nsw.gov.au Advertisement Helen Dalton MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR MURRAY M NSW This month in parliament I asked the Premier if his government accepted that the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments Water policies are driving up the cost of Australian grown food while also reducing grain and fodder for our livestock during times of floods and drought ? The Premiers response was that ( water ) buybacks are a blunt instrument from the Commonwealth Government and that he was " very concerned " about their impact on regional communities and economies . In a media release , the Victorian Farmers Federation was a little more blunt . They made this statement , and I couldn't agree more : " Buying water from farmers during a drought is like preying on them at their most vulnerable . " " It's not just flawed policy , it's deeply damaging to our communities and to national food security . " I think we should all be very concerned about these negative impacts . For example , a recent report from Dairy Australia revealed that future water buybacks could cut milk production by 270 million litres , reduce dairy processor revenues by $ 500 million , and increase water costs for farmers who remain in the system . Milk production could plummet by up to 15 per cent in the southern Murray Darling Basin if the federal government's water buybacks are not halted immediately . We know that water buybacks reduce agricultural output , drive up the cost of water for the remaining farmers , and do little to achieve environmental gains . It's time the NSW government follows Victoria's lead and calls for a stop to buybacks before more damage is done . Authorised by Helen Dalton MP , Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements . Helen Dalton MP for Murray Authorised by Helen Dalton MP , Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements . Griffith 02 6962 6644 Deniliquin 03 5881 7034 Buronga 0475 683 288 murray@parliament.nsw.gov.au