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Friday, 2 February 2007 The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia Inc (RGA) has today called the recent media comments by South Australian Premier, Hon Mike Rann, as unfounded. “Premier Rann is suggesting that the rice and cotton industries are somehow able to manipulate the interstate water sharing agreement - the rice industry can demonstrate that this is not true, said Mr Laurie Arthur, President “This year in the NSW Murray Valley, the rice industry, as general security irrigators, have received no allocation of water, you don’t hear us complaining about that, because they are the rules and we are happy to live by them; notwithstanding the real financial pain currently being felt by the communities of the NSW Riverina, “The rice industry respects, and abides by, the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement and any suggestions that we don’t respect the rights of the other great irrigated industries, environment, stock and domestic or human consumption needs is extremely offensive and clearly wrong, Mr Arthur said. “We have real concerns for the horticulture and dairy industries during this drought and we recognise that they must be given priority access to water in order to maintain their permanent plantings and herds. Australian governments at all levels must make sure these industries are supported during this drought, “Furthermore the rice industry is the only industry sourcing water for the environment, through the Living Murray Process. This builds on many years of commitment to the environment, further demonstrated last weekend by the delivery of waste oil units into the region which will enable rice growers to the recycle oil used on farms. The rice industry is the only agricultural industry in Australia undertaking such a project. “Premier Rann has stated that the “stupid” rice industry has too much power over Commonwealth politicians and this is the basis for his calls for an independent board, “This shows Premier Rann has no understanding of the value of the rice industry to Australia or the realities of water management in this country. The rice industry repeats our previous invitation to Premier Rann and any other interested politicians from South Australia to visit the rice industry. We would warmly welcome them, Mr Arthur said. CONTACT |
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