Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter says the “Managing the Murray Darling Basin” water policy released in South Australia today confronts the critical issues at the crux of the agriculture industry across several states by focusing on making Australia self-sufficient in food through restoring water supplies to Murray Darling communities.

The KAP policy aims to better manage water in the Murray Darling Basin through restoring water to the land for food growing in the three basin states; South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

Mr Katter said, “In the last three weeks, over 1000 farmers attended the grain crisis meeting in Merredin in Western Australia and another 500 attended the dairy crisis meeting in Colac in Victoria. These farmers said that one of their biggest concerns to the survival of their industry is water – or lack thereof.

“The Murray and the Southern Darling Basin Rivers are the life blood of Australian agriculture and horticulture.

“It’s absolutely shocking that the Government has wreaked such havoc on the basin to date.

“They always said that they would like to take 40 per cent of irrigation out of the basin and this intention remains”.

Mr Katter said that regional towns and services are built to service rural production and that it was imperative farmers have access to plenty of water.

“In order for Australia to be self-sufficient in food, they must have a constant and reliable supply of water for their crops and stock”.

The policy refers to the Murray Darling River System as fundamental to Australia’s irrigated food and fibre production and that the health and sustainable management is vital to Australia’s food security.

The policy ensures that the Murray Darling is managed in a natural way and that the maximum volume of water is available for farming irrigation all year round.

The policy was announced by KAP representatives from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia demonstrating a unified policy approach between the four States.