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Thursday, 25 January 2007 The RGA has today generally welcomed the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan to improve water efficiency in the Murray-Darling Basin. “While we naturally need to examine the detail of the Prime Minister’s announcement, there are some potential positives for the rice industry,” said RGA President, Laurie Arthur. “In particular, the RGA welcomes any investment in irrigation infrastructure and is pleased that this investment will extend to on-farm irrigation improvements.” “We also acknowledge the Commonwealth plans to share 50/50 any on-farm efficiency savings with irrigators,” he said. The RGA also supports the commitment to better metering, including for stock and domestic use in priority catchments. “We have some concerns over the Prime Minister’s language around over-allocation issues in the Basin, in particular, his assertion that there will be structural adjustment required within irrigated agriculture. However, we are pleased that he acknowledges the Basin must continue to be a major agricultural region, and Australia a major food producer.” “The Prime Minister’s comments that we must learn to do more with less water, is the same philosophy shared by the Australian rice industry. Our industry has been improving our water use efficiency to a point where we are the most efficient in the world. The Australian rice industry will continue to prosper as long as we are able to compete in a water market with our property right intact.” “If the States agree to refer their powers over water management to the Commonwealth then, providing the processes are set up and targeted properly to include input from the rural sector, there is a real opportunity to deliver enormous value to the nation.” CONTACT |
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