One Nation wants environmental water 'unlocked' for agriculture this season

One Nation MP David Farley introduced a motion in federal parliament, urging the allocation of 75% of available environmental water to support agriculture during the summer crop planting season. This proposal comes in response to job losses in the rice industry due to low crop production. The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder manages over 3,200 gigalitres of water to improve the basin's health.

SunRice, Australia's largest rice processor, recently laid off 80 workers due to low crop production and has asked the federal government to consider making environmental water available for sale to irrigators this summer. Farmers and irrigators alike are pushing for the water, arguing that the land is ready, their farmers are skilled, and the equipment is in the paddocks, with forward markets already pricing Australian-grown food.

However, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, Simon Banks, clarified that entitlements purchased by the government are subject to the same allocation rules as those held by irrigators. When water is scarce, as in dry periods, the amount available is also limited. Federal Water Minister Murray Watt stated that their policy ensures water is sold fairly and without bias, only when it won't harm the environment.

Craig Wilkins, co-director of the Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance, cautioned that making environmental water available for irrigation would come at a cost. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences forecast a 22% drop in rice production and a 33% decrease in cotton planting due to the ongoing dry season.

Despite recent rain bringing some relief to irrigators in southern NSW, water allocation increases have not been sufficient to address the concerns of farmers and irrigators.