MDBP consultation stymied by government inaction
25-January-2012
Senator Bridget McKenzie -
With just 12 weeks left to have their say, Victorians remain in the dark regarding consultation dates on the Draft Murray Darling Basin Plan.
The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has written to the Murray Darling Basin Authority and Minister for Water, Tony Burke urging them to announce the remaining meeting dates.
“The detailed schedule of public meetings must be released without further delay, to give community members a genuine opportunity to prepare for their attendance,” Senator McKenzie implored today.
“Over the past fortnight, I have travelled the length of the Murray here in Victoria, meeting with councils and communities. From Mildura to Wodonga, the MDBP was raised as a key issue.
“People are dismayed the Gillard Government has held just one lone day of consultation in our great state, a third of the way through the formal consultation period.
“The original draft Basin Plan clearly lacked local input and while Labor was sent back to the drawing board, little has changed.
“Labor has a terrible track record when it comes to managing water in Victoria so locals need and want to have their say.”
Senator McKenzie said the continued absence of consultation times and dates left Murray Darling communities with the impression the Gillard Government was not genuinely interested in their views.
“The draft Basin Plan fails to provide economic and social security for Victorian communities.
“The proposal to withhold billions of litres of water from productive use has the potential to cripple our economic base and devastate our region.
“Victorians have businesses, farms and households to run – they require and deserve more than five minutes notice to have their say on such a vital issue,” Senator McKenzie concluded.