THE Federal Government has done everything it can to avoid investing in the Murray Darling Basin's irrigation infrastructure.
All the evidence points to a government obsessed with buying water and draining irrigation communities of their wealth.
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The Weekly Times' analysis of the Government's financials shows that by June 30 the Government would have spent at least $1.7 billion in the past four years buying irrigators' entitlements to boost environmental flows.
The Government has even told The Weekly Times the figure may be more like $2.1 billion by June 30.
Whatever the final sum, it dwarfs the measly $457 million spent on irrigation infrastructure in the past four years. The Government has argued the sum is closer to $518 million.
It's an insult to irrigators, considering it includes projects promised by the former Howard government as far back as 2004, including $99 million for the Wimmera Mallee pipeline and $49 million for the West Australian Harvey pipeline.
How can any irrigator believe Federal Water Minister Tony Burke's claims that the Government is committed to delivering on its promise to spend $5.8 billion on infrastructure?
Just last month Mr Burke claimed he was determined to protect the basin's communities.
"This can only be achieved by investing in infrastructure upgrades and improving the efficiency and productivity of our irrigation industry while we recover water for the rivers," Mr Burke said.
But the facts prove Mr Burke is making another hollow promise to the people of the basin.
- Peter Hunt is The Weekly Times' state political reporter
