Under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, the basin states have pledged to find 450 gigalitres of ‘up-water’ for environmental savings, provided it does not cause socio-economic harm to basin communities.
During a media conference in Numurkah on April 14, both Liberal Party candidate Steve Brooks and Nationals’ hope Sam Birrell said no more water would be given up by Goulburn Valley farmers under a Coalition government because the socio-economic test could not be passed.
However, both stopped short of giving a guarantee that no more water would be taken under any circumstances.
“The socio-economic test is a Coalition policy,” Mr Brooks said.
“There is no wriggle room. The economic test says if you take water under the 450 plan there must be no damage socially or economically to irrigation towns. That hasn’t been able to be proved.”
Mr Birrell said not only could the socio-economic test not be passed, it would decimate communities if the 450 Gl was taken.
“The 450 is one of the reasons why I’m running as a National,” he said.
“I’m going back in there as a National to try and get that 450 out of the federal legislation. It can’t be delivered.
“If they tried to deliver it, it would be an economic disaster. It would be an environmental disaster for our rivers. It’s a really clear point.”
Federal Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education Minister Bridget McKenzie, a Victorian senator for the Nationals, also said the water would not come from Victoria.
“There is no more water to be removed from these communities,” she said.
“North-central Victoria has done the heavy lifting when it comes to actually returning water on behalf of the plan.
“It’s because we’ve actually got the water policy right at a state level and we have high security. When you buy Victorian water you know you can actually get water.”
