The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has condemned the Federal Government following the Federal Court’s damning decision that exposed the complete failure of former Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek to read a Murray-Darling Basin water resource plan before approving it.
“This is incompetence on a grand scale,” VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy said.
“Farmers are forced to meet massive regulations, red tape and costs, yet the Federal Government can’t even be bothered to read the documents they sign off on.
"It shows a total disregard for process, for transparency, and most of all for the communities that depend on these decisions.”
The Federal Court ruled that Ms Plibersek breached her responsibilities by approving the New South Wales Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan without considering it and without fulfilling consultation obligations with First Nations groups.
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“Let’s be clear this is not just about First Nations consultation, this goes to the very heart of government accountability," Mr Leahy said.
The VFF said the ruling confirmed this government is more interested in ticking boxes than understanding the real outcomes and impacts.
“The Minister is approving plans she hasn’t even read and it’s appalling behaviour that’s been rightly called out,” Mr Leahy said.
While Ms Plibersek has since moved portfolios, the VFF said the onus is now on current Water and Environment Minister Murray Watt to demonstrate that he will not repeat the same mistakes.
“Minister Watt must not show the same indifference as his predecessor.
"He needs to take his portfolio seriously, visit the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District, sit down with farmers and other stakeholders and prove that he is actually listening.
“Minister Plibersek never even bothered to visit and Minister Watt cannot afford to follow that shameful example,” Mr Leahy said.
The VFF said it will continue to hold the Federal Government to account until farmers and rural communities are treated with the respect they deserve.
