Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC) submission to the Senate Inquiry on the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023

Dairy businesses in the Murray Darling Basin region produce healthy and nutritious products that are sought after and enjoyed by consumers every day of the year. These businesses support strong and connected communities across the Basin, providing around one-fifth of Australia’s fresh milk production and almost $2 billion to the local economy through jobs and local investment. What happens in the Basin affects every Australian dairy business.

On this basis, the ADIC has advocated for and supported the intent of the Murray Darling Basin Plan to improve environment outcomes across the Murray Darling Basin. Most recently we contributed to two submissions – the consultation on Delivering the Basin Plan – ideas to reach water recovery targets, and the Productivity Commission Murray-Darling Basin Plan: Implementation review 2023 – both of which are awaiting any formal government response.

The ADIC opposes the proposed Water Amendment Bill in its current form. Whilst we support extending the timeframes for completion of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, the existing need for social and economic testing must be retained and further water buybacks from the consumptive pool not allowed unless they can occur without negative social or economic impacts or deliverability impacts. The 1500GL cap on buybacks should also not be removed.

Read more in our submission here.

The Australian Dairy Industry Council (ADIC) is the peak national representative body of the Australian dairy industry. The Chair of ADIC is Australian Dairy Farmers (ADF) President Rick Gladigau, the Deputy Chair is Australian Dairy Products Federation (ADPF) President John Williams.