STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr FARLEY (Farrer) (13:33): My constituents presented me with a question to bring to the chamber: Are we, within this chamber, committed to productivity for Australia—regional employment, growing and exporting to the world? If not, why not? And why aren't we debating this?

The winter rains have come, rivers are flooding, dams are filling, and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder's objectives are being met. Producers and processors don't have the confidence to risk capital, to employ workers or to commit to forward markets because policy distracts from prudent risk taking. Spring planting intentions are weak, not from drought but from policy.

Farmers cannot grow at current water prices. Water is being sold, not to grow crops but for speculation. Rice mills, cotton gins, vegetable processors, dairies, wineries—industries turning our regional produce into jobs are switching off quietly while members of this House sit with eyes closed to the collapse.

We call upon Minister Collins and shadow minister Chester. We need to debate this travesty into our sovereignty. We need to be having this debate preceding the delivery of the 2026 Murray-Darling Basin Plan review, preceding the 2007 Water Act review and preceding the National Food Security.

The last two were due in 2007. (Time expired)