FARMERS and their supporters will march on Canberra early next month in a bid to convince the federal government to pause the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
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It will be the Southern Basin's latest bid to try and convince the Coalition government, in particular Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Water Minister David Littleproud, that current water management is failing our nation.
The convoy will gather participants before assembling in Yass on Monday December 2, then continue on to Canberra to arrive early afternoon.
A "water embassy" will be established, which politicians from all parties can visit and learn more about what the current water management and policies are doing to regional Australia.
Co-organiser Chris Brooks, who recently led a rally attended by more than 3000 people in Tocumwal, said the convoy is the latest in a series of events designed to highlight why the plan has failed our nation, and what we can do to fix it.
"We want trucks, tractors on trucks, utes and cars to join us on the road to Canberra.
"If Mr Morrison won't come out and look at the damage to our communities from the disastrous plan, we'll take the message to him.
"There is an increasing number of National Party members - those who have the courage to stand up and not simply toe the party line - who believe it is time to take action that protects our farmers and rural communities," he said.
"We'll stand side by side with any politician who is prepared to call out this crazy plan for what it is: an attempt to appease environmentalists and win South Australia votes, at the expense of communities in southern NSW and northern Victoria," Mr Brooks said.
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Organisers want communities from across the Southern Basin to participate in the convoy.
This includes the Goulburn Valley, Northern Victoria, NSW Murray and Murrumbidgee regions.
It is also seeking regional coordinators to assist in organisation of the convoy.
"As peaceful country folk we are not going to be aggressive protesters like we have seen in the past week in Melbourne. However, we are angry and getting more angry by the day, so we'll be making our points loudly and clearly," said Mr Brooks.
"We are fed up with inaction by the federal government, especially from Mr Littleproud and the Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
"Last month the National Party's Nicholls MP Damian Drum highlighted problems with the Basin Plan and its implementation, accurately describing the Murray-Darling Basin Authority as being 'biased toward the environment and totally disinterested in the plight of agriculture'.
"Last week Deputy Premier John Barilaro acknowledged his state was ready to not just pause the plan, but 'rip it up', because of the hurt it is causing the state.
"It is time Mr Morrison and Mr Littleproud listened to what their colleagues are saying. We hope to have lots of honest, hard-working country people waiting to talk to them when we converge on Canberra," Mr Brooks said.
Anyone interested in being a regional coordinator is asked to email speakup4water@gmail.com, or phone Jan Beer on 0407 144 777 or Darcy Hare on 0437 794 723.
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