The National Farmers' Federation has reiterated its strong opposition to further water buybacks under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, following the Federal Government's announcement it has secured around 380 gigalitres toward the 450GL target.
NFF Water Committee Chair Malcolm Holm said recovering the additional 450GL had always been a choice, not an environmental necessity.
"Let's be clear: recovering the 450GL was a choice. It was a choice the NFF did not support then, and does not support now," Mr Holm said.
"While this announcement refers to 85% of the target, the reality is much more significant. With 2750GL already recovered, this takes total recovery to around 98% of the Basin Plan target.
"It is more than enough, more than can be usefully used, more than was necessary, and more than Basin communities should have had to bear."
NFF Water Committee Chair Malcolm Holm said the latest update confirmed the Government had doubled down on a policy approach that is failing both farming communities and the environment.
"Farmers understand the importance of a healthy river system, as we depend on it to grow food. But more buybacks and water acquisition in any form are not the answer," Mr Holm said.
"This has already cost taxpayers billions, yet there are serious questions about whether the water being purchased can even be delivered to achieve the intended environmental outcomes."
Mr Holm said evidence continued to mount that additional water recovery was delivering diminishing returns, with major delivery constraints limiting how much water could be used effectively across the system.
"The Basin Plan review does not identify a need for more water, and even the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is challenged to utilise all existing holdings.
"What farmers and communities need is smarter Basin management, not more water taken out of production."
Mr Holm said the Government should focus investment on practical projects that would deliver real environmental benefits.
Former Chair of the Independent Panel on Social and Economic Conditions in the Murray-Darling Basin, Robbie Sefton, has made clear the Government must stop these contentious buybacks, and that the scientific case for more water does not exist.
"We need to see action on carp control, repairing critical infrastructure and fixing fish passage, including viable fish ladders. These are the kinds of measures that improve river health without hurting food production, farm businesses and regional communities," he said.
"The continued reliance on buybacks ignores the very real socio-economic impacts on Basin communities, including reduced production, lost jobs and growing uncertainty for regional industries."
Mr Holm said recent engagement with Basin communities, including the Echuca roundtable, had raised expectations that the Government would move beyond buybacks. He said the NFF looked forward to the Minister confirming that at the earliest opportunity.
He warned the Government must provide clarity on how it plans to address any remaining shortfall in water recovery, while communities continue to face the prospect of further acquisitions tied to Sustainable Diversion Limit adjustment gaps.
"This must be the end of buybacks. The focus now must be on environmental, economic and social outcomes, not simply chasing another litre of water," Mr Holm said.
