AgForce Backs NFF: No More Water Buybacks

20 October 2026. Sacha Lorber, AgForce Policy Director.

AgForce stands with the National Farmers’ Federation, the National Irrigators’ Council and NSW Irrigators’ Council in calling for an end to Commonwealth water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin.

This week, NFF CEO Mike Guerin joined irrigators and the Federal Coalition to highlight the damage buybacks do to regional communities. AgForce’s position remains unchanged: no more buybacks.

Healthier rivers and productive farms are not a trade-off. If the Federal Government wants better environmental outcomes, it can pursue other, more practical options.

AgForce welcomes the Water Amendment (Ending Further Murray-Darling Basin Water Buybacks) Bill 2026, introduced in Federal Parliament this week. AgForce will keep working with all sides of politics to protect water for productive use and food security.

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