The Federal Government today released two new EOIs for water buybacks without independent evidence it has addressed serious internal probity issues with earlier tenders.
NSW Irrigators' Council CEO Claire Miller said further water buybacks must be paused immediately until an independent audit gives the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) the all-clear.
A scathing Inspector General of Water Compliance audit released last month identified multiple probity issues with DCCEEW's development and implementation of earlier buyback tenders, including lax internal protocols to prevent insider trading.
A growing chorus of stakeholders and peak bodies are also demanding an immediate halt to further buybacks until the socioeconomic impacts are analysed of the recent tender seeking up to 70 GL from the most vulnerable communities in the southern Basin, and non-purchase projects are approved.
"It is beyond belief that the Government has launched another two buybacks rounds for 2024-25, with no independent assurance that its processes for spending billions of dollars of taxpayers money are above reproach," Ms Miller said.
"Water buybacks must be paused until an independent audit gives the Commonwealth a clean bill on its internal probity failings and full account is taken of planned non-purchase projects mitigating the need for buybacks."
Ms Miller said on every count, the Government is in flagrant breach of its promises to take a steady, staged approach to water recovery in the Murray-Darling Basin.
"It is front-loading large, concentrated buyback tenders into the very first year - directly against Productivity Commission advice this would maximise market and community damage," Ms Miller said.
"It is prioritising buybacks over every other form of water recovery, with plans to buy water out of irrigation districts in these next tenders even as these districts are scoping non-purchase projects to avoid buybacks.
"It is dragging its heels on delivering its promised community assistance package. No money has yet made it out from the Commonwealth doors to the States.
"And now, by announcing its intention to again enter the water market, the Government is trying to sweep aside the Inspector-General of Water Compliance's scathing audit.
"It is not good enough for the Department to say, trust us, we've resolved those issues. Adding up all the failings listed above, Commonwealth assurances count for nothing.
"Billions of dollars of taxpayers' money are being spent on unnecessary water buybacks that won't actually fix the degradation drivers like European carp still making our rivers sick.
"The politicians who supported the Government's legislation last year to kickstart this deeply flawed and distorted process ought now to be holding the Government to account for its failing to make good on even the most basic guardrails to protect Basin communities and market integrity.
"When the Government buys water from farmers, it can never be used for agriculture again. That is the water that is used to grow the fresh Aussie produce we take for granted. The water that is left in the system then becomes more expensive, driving smaller operators out of business and making food more expensive. This is exactly what we don't need during a cost-of-living crisis."
