According to the Member for Forde, Bert van Manen MP, everyone behind a shopping trolley at their local supermarket will be affected if plans for the basin affect our Nation’s food security.
“Around 40 per cent of Australians farms which produce, wool, cotton, wheat, sheep, cattle, dairy produce, rice, seed, wine, fruit & vegetables could be affected.”
“Many people living in Forde would wake up to a bowl of cereal each day and the Basin is home for up to 47 per cent of Australia’s cereal farms.”
“The CSIRO claims it takes 50,000 to 100,000 litres of water to produce one kilo of beef, 170,000 litres to make one kilo of clean wool and 1550 litres to make just one kilo of paddy rice.”
“If the government gets this wrong we will see our Australian food replaced with imported food resulting in currency fluctuations and food inflation.”
“Local people can’t afford to pay more at the checkout; we already have people living on the poverty line going without.”
Mr van Manen said the draft plan for the Basin fails to deliver a plan that balances economic, social and environmental outcomes.