VFF Calls For Basin Plan Transparency

The Victorian Farmers Federation is calling on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to release its recommendations from the Basin Plan review process, saying communities deserve more than a summary of consultation feedback.

The Authority's latest "What We Heard" report outlines differing views on water buybacks, climate change and environmental recovery targets, but stops short of revealing what action may follow.

VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy says basin communities spent months contributing to the review and should be given the chance to examine draft recommendations before they are finalised.

The federation is calling for an additional consultation stage detailing proposed actions, costs and likely impacts on regional communities.

It has also criticised suggestions that basin governments endorsed all aspects of the current framework, arguing states did not agree to the 2023 legislative changes that expanded water recovery targets and removed socio-economic considerations from Commonwealth buybacks.

The VFF says confidence in the Basin Plan process will depend on governments showing communities exactly what is being proposed before decisions are locked in.