Greater Shepparton City Council took the issues of the region to Parliament on Thursday last week, with several important meetings held to discuss the detrimental effects the Federal Government’s proposed water bill would have on the region.
The delegation, including Mayor, Cr Shane Sali, Cr Geoff Dobson, and local dairy farmer and water advocate Natalie Akers, made the trip to Canberra to ensure the voices of the region, and other regional communities, were heard.
The Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023, which was recently introduced to Parliament, would see legislative changes made to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan which would have devastating impacts on the food bowl of Australia – Greater Shepparton.
“It was important for us to take our message to Canberra to ensure the Government was aware how serious this proposed water bill is for regional communities like ours,” Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali said.
“We had several meetings throughout the day and had some tough conversations to ensure they understood the detrimental impact this bill would have. Water is the backbone of Greater Shepparton and it drives our economy.
“Local irrigators and farmers rely on this water, it is their livelihood and the way they create an income, and if the government takes this away from them it would leave rural communities decimated.”
Cr Sali said the delegation wanted to ensure the flow on effects from a proposal like this were clearly understood, with this being the main topic of discussion during their meetings.
“We needed to make sure the Government is aware that this proposal does not only affect farmers and irrigators, it effects every day Australians. Taking water away from communities will cause the price of fruit and vegetables to sky rocket, which will then hit the hip pockets of locals when they are purchasing their fresh produce,” he said.
“We are already in a cost of living crisis. How can you expect people to find more money to purchase their groceries each week when they are already stretched thin?
“We made sure this message was loud and clear while we were in Canberra, along with the impact this bill would have on people’s jobs and the economic uncertainty it would cause.”
Cr Sali said Thursday’s trip to Canberra was only the beginning of many discussions and further work would take place in the coming weeks, saying the region was committed to achieving a better outcome for Greater Shepparton and other basin communities.
“We are committed to working with the Government on a solution and a better outcome for communities. This proposed water bill is not the solution for anyone – not for food production, not for the environment and not for the sustainability of communities – and more work needs to be done,” he said.
“The trip to Canberra on Thursday was just the beginning and we will be doing everything we can to address this and ensure we protect our region’s water and the important role it plays across the nation.”
