Farmers Criticise Basin Plan Review

The Victorian Farmers Federation has raised concerns that agriculture has been largely overlooked in the 2026 Basin Plan Review Discussion Paper released by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority.

VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy says the document gives insufficient recognition to the economic contribution of farming and the thousands of jobs supported across Basin communities.

Federation analysis found significantly more references to environmental outcomes than to agriculture, food production, employment or food security.

The VFF argues the imbalance risks marginalising regional industries in a framework that will guide water policy for decades.

The organisation is due to meet with the Authority in coming days and will prepare a formal submission calling for a more balanced approach between environmental priorities and farming livelihoods.