Inquiry into the Water Amendment (Purchase Limit Repeal) Bill 2019

The NFF does not support the proposed amendments to the Water Act 2007, to repeal Division 5 of part 2, that would remove the statutory limit of 1500 gigalitre on Commonwealth purchases of surface water across the Murray-Darling Basin. The NFF is of the view that acquiring water from irrigation should be balanced with other water recovery measures in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan such as infrastructure and other efficiency measures, and there is no need for the cap when there is still a deficit of 270 GL. The submission reinforces the importance of implementing the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s five-yearly review of the implementation of the Plan.