Despite the warblings he made when appointed to the job, Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt has evidently been got to by the bureaucracy, environmental lobby and South Australian interests.
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Irrigators breathed a sigh of relief when he said he would not be pursuing water buy-backs for the environment, and there was no need to rule them out.
The minister said there would be no more buy-backs, but - when pressed - stated he would not introduce legislation to ensure buy-backs did not occur. He clearly stated that 450 gigalitres would only be recovered through off-farm projects, however the government continues to promote on-farm projects.
Currently, six on-farm projects have been approved in South Australia.
Pitt needs to take a close look at those advising him in his department. He was saddled with a speech announcing: "I could hear the groans go up in towns from Goondiwindi to Gawler at the suggestion of yet another review." Gawler is not even in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Social media is awash with posts showing the damage wrought on riverbanks by excessive river flows.
Our rivers have now become supply channels for downstream irrigators and burgeoning environmental flows.
The gut-wrenching fact is that irrigators and their communities have little political clout in the federal halls of power. Yes they can protest and they can march to be only fed breadcrumbs, patted on the head and sent home with a plethora of meaningless platitudes. Pitt has now joined the club.
WHEEL DEAL
In the past, a farmer could buy a hardy Australian-made ute for less than $20,000.
Now, a four-wheel drive top of the line probably made in a factory in Japan can set you back around $80,000.
Well, that is not a problem particularly with the current dosh being paid for cattle and sheep.
A pen of 30 cows and calves would cover an outlay and if it was top-flight first-cross ewe draft, 200 would do the job. And there is the current government incentive of an immediate total write-off.
Long may it continue, and fortuitous rains continue to fall. About bleeding time.
CHEESED OFF
The recent snapping up of Lion's dairy operations by Bega Cheese may have put bidding Chinese noses out of joint. However, the reaction and other events that have followed are beyond the pail. Suffering most is the rural sector, but what a wonderful world-wide response in support of our wine industry.
In case China does not get the message, it is called mud on your face. It's also very noticeable that Chinese landowners in Australia are quitting in a steady stream.
