A leading citrus industry body has raised concern over Murray Darling water buy backs, and how they could impact regions such as the Riverland.
The Riverland remains a key citrus producing region, with Cirtus Australia outlining Buybacks will only put more pressure on the people growing Australia’s food at a time when they’re still reeling from disrupted supply chains, caused by a global pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock said the move could have a significant impact on horticulture industries and rural communities located across the Murray Darling Basin.
Mr Hancock added further “Minister Plibersek is quoted as saying she doesn’t need permission of states and territories to initiate buybacks, and that may be the case, but I think her statement lacks any awareness of the impacts further buybacks will have on families connected with primary industry, who rely on the river for their survival, and thus that of their towns and communities,”