Fed: Vaile sells $10b water plan to farmers

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2007
Fed: Vaile sells $10b water plan to farmers

CANBERRA, Feb 14 AAP - The federal government will try to ease farmers' concerns over
its $10 billion rescue package for the Murray-Darling basin today as it faces fresh problems
about the details and costings for the plan.

Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile and Water Resources Minister Malcolm Turnbull will
meet National Farmers' Federation (NFF) members at Parliament House today in a bid to
allay the group's worries about water security for irrigators.

NFF chief executive Ben Fargher said the group would push for a consultative group
to be set up to address its concerns.

"There is still a lot of questions and detail that needs to be provided and worked
through before farmers and regional communities can have confidence in the benefits of
this package for them," he said.

The government has had a tough time convincing the states to sign up to the plan, with
the premiers walking away from a summit last week seeking more detail and concessions
from the government.

Federal Finance Minister Nick Minchin revealed this week that the package never went
before cabinet.

Officials from the finance department also said they barely glanced at costings before
the plan was publicly announced by Prime Minister John Howard on January 25.

The plan requires the four Murray-Darling states to hand control of the river system
to the Commonwealth in exchange for a huge upgrade of irrigation infrastructure and other
measures to address the over-allocation of water.

AAP rp/ks

KEYWORD: WATER DAYLEAD

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