Finally a bit of government policy on natural resources that makes sense. Today the Federal Government announced the Murray Darling Basin Plan (Basin Plan). It basically phases in less use of water for farmers upstream. It is the first practical step in the realisation that we live in a country that doesn’t have enough water to sustain farming of things like rice for example. Rice farming… seriously. We live in a country that is mostly desert. My question is, why has this taken so long to figure out? These rice farmers have been pissing in the ears of the Coalition for years while the rest of us have seen quality of our rivers deteriorate and have been slogged with water restrictions.
As you can clearly see in the picture showing where rice in farmed worldwide, (International Rice Research Institute) the rest of the world has figured out something that we haven’t. This being that rice is farmed in and around the equator not as far down as NSW or even South Queensland. On top of this we are not even close to being in the top 10 traders of rice and, the biggest traders are on our doorstep. This tells anyone with half a brain that we can import rice cheaper than we can afford to buy it from our own farmers. So please tell me...what is the point here?????It is also interesting to note that when the weather is going well you will have noticed that we haven't heard any whinging from the farmers. This is because they have been making a packet. Why can't they pay a bit of it back to the government who have supported them through the tough years. I’m sure that students paying back HECS debts would agree.
I'll say it again, finally some policy that make sense in terms of international trading and sustaining the water resources for everyone, not just stubborn, pig-headed rice farmers.
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