THE countdown to voting is almost over, the big issues are being debated on a national scale and once again The Observer is ensuring local candidates are facing the local issues head on as well. Around half of Coleambally’s farmers are constituents of the vast Farrer electorate. The Observer approached all candidates standing for this seat to gauge their stand on water issues by asking them: Water security is the biggest issue facing the CIA at the moment, what will you and/or your party being doing to fight for water rights and ensure the viability of our community in the future?
Stephen Bingle - Australian Democrats
We will build into the National Water Initiative (NWI) nationally consistent accounting systems for water resources and use, underpinned by agreed targets for delivering short- and long-term water sustainability, taking into account climate change, population and environment needs. We will work with all levels of government to overcome the jurisdictional barriers in developing nationally consistent standards, guidelines and targets for water saving measures. We support a national business water program auditing all large water users and mandatory targets for reducing, reusing and substituting water.
Matthew Crothers - Secular Party of Australia
The Secular Party of Australia prides itself on science based, logical policies. From what I have seen, the current situation where water is being bought off to be diverted for environmental flows, does not have sound scientific data to back it up. The major threat to our water security is the so called green vote in our urban centres and unfortunately most of these voters are uneducated about this matter. As such, I wholeheartedly support the Water4Food program headed up by RAMROC. Win or lose in this upcoming election, I will pursue this issue so that the public, based in our urban centres, are aware just how important it is to maintain water security in the food bowls of our nation.
Peter Carruthers - The Greens
I am pushing for an independent national authority to manage the Murray Darling Basin (MDB). I want to fast track the MDB plan to ensure that adequate water is returned to the river system, fund sustainable new industries in basin communities and upgrade inefficient infrastructure, ensure that adequate environmental flows are allocated to save South Australia’s lower lakes and ensure that all landuse planning addresses the impacts of climate change. I will keep major water resources and infrastructure in public ownership, introduce water recycling and demand reduction initiatives, refit houses with rainwater tanks and grey water systems and set water efficiency standards for new developments and appliances.
Jason Clancy - Independent
I will fight to have no further water cuts from the Murray Darling Basin. The actions by the Gillard government (to take a further 1/7 of water from farmers) will only further devastate our communities. I will fight to have the Water Act rewritten to remove its environment-only emphasis. Coming from a farm in Conargo, as well as serving as an executive with the Southern Riverina Irrigators Council, I fully understand the water issue and the fight for communities livelihoods. I believe that the proposed plan and further water cutbacks is negating and forgetting the hard work and money that have gone into producing a great irrigation industry from the Snowy Hydro scheme right through to the farmer on the ground.
Susan Ley - Liberal
I am determined, no matter who wins government next Saturday, that we fix Labor’s water policy mess before any more damage is done to communities like Coleambally. The Coalition plans takes into account the social and economic effect of water buybacks. I fully endorse to readers the Coalition policy which will support communities by commissioning an urgent study of the economic and social impact of the draft Basin Plan – to be conducted jointly by the Productivity Commission and ABARE and reconstituting the Basin Community Committee so that it reports directly to the minister and the ministerial council. Our water policy does not give responsibility for the management of the Basin to the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA); we take advice from them, we take advice from the Productivity Commission but then we, the parliament, make the final decision. I will be the gatekeeper on water issues. I will not support policies that damage rural communities, no matter how positive they might be in an environmental sense. We can and must find a bettter balance.
Christian Emery - Country Labor
There are no easy solutions to water availability in these times of limited run-off. The expectations of irrigators, towns and the environment must all be juggled and balanced.The prosperity of irrigation communities in Farrer is vital to the future of this region, and I commit to fighting in every way possible for irrigators to get their fair share of water. I also commit to ensuring that money spent under the Water for the Future plan does deliver real infrastructure improvements and water savings that benefit irrigation communities.
James Male - Christian Democratic Party
As the candidate for the Christian Democratic Party, I will stand firm on all issues concerning morals and Christian values. On every other issues I can go into fight for the people of Farrer. This includes
fighting for the rights of families and communities directly affected by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) plan which will almost certainly call for radical reforms skewed to the environment. The environment is important. However, we must never forget that people; food security and our communities are more important.
Louise Burge - Independent
Amend the Water Act 2007 to ensure balance between social, economic and environment benefits. Protect property rights and ensure that if governments purchase water to return to the environment irrigators are not left with stranded assets. Remove the politicisations of water and impose full transparency of the Basin planning process. Promote food production. As an Independent, with extensive natural resource lobbying and policy development experience, I can achieve these goals.
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