NSW farmers are having their land flooded without consent or compensation as part of the Federal Government’s water buyback program, Nationals Leader Senator Matthew Canavan has claimed.
Senate Estimates heard that water owned by the Commonwealth is being released onto private land without permission and without compensation.
“This is not Labor’s land, it is productive land for farmers to grow our food and fibre,” said Senator Canavan.
“Farmers are having their land stolen from them by stealth.”
“This is a property rights issue, where farmers are being steamrolled by Labor who is using Water New South Wales to do the dirty work for them.”
At Estimates, Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Dr Simon Banks, of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, said the Department had not obtained any legal advice.
He said there is a “potential risk that some private landholders may have their land inundated by water that is being delivered in the system”, but said the Department was “operating within the rules”.
“It is not just wrong, it also blurs the line of Constitutional rights, despite the Department admitting it has not obtained any legal or property rights advice on this,” Senator Canavan said.
“Instead, they are taking away property rights, with zero compensation to the families, farmers and communities impacted.”
“It is astounding the Department has not bothered to get legal advice, despite the seriousness of this issue.”
As of 30 June 2026, the Government had recovered 380.7 gigalitres of water through buybacks. Another 70 gigalitres must be recovered to reach its 450 gigalitre target.
Shadow Minister for Water Michael McCormack said the Government’s treatment of irrigation communities was reckless and wrong.
“For the Government to admit it can take over property without consent is extremely worrying and the lack of empathy, as well as lack of morality, is just plain heartless,” Mr McCormack said.
“For a Government that pretends to have a ‘Made in Australia’ agenda, by their actions and policies in water, it is doing the complete opposite.”
“Labor also confirmed in Senate Estimates it is refusing to review whether or not its decisions contributed to 92 people losing their jobs through SunRice,” Mr McCormack said.
“Water buybacks don’t just destroy the farmer involved, but entire communities and regions,” he said.
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