NSW farmers are experiencing property takeovers and even forced flooding of land without their consent, as part of Labor’s devastating water buyback plan.
Senate Estimates has revealed water owned by the Commonwealth is being released onto private land, not only without permission, but also without compensation.
“This is not Labor’s land. It is productive land for farmers to grow our food and fibre,” Nationals Leader Senator Matt Canavan said.
“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 NSW to do the dirty work for them.
“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.
“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.”
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Dr Simon Banks told Estimates although the Department had not obtained any legal advice, and there is “potential risk that some private landholders may have their land inundated by water that is being delivered in the system,” the Department was “operating within the rules.”
Labor has so far recovered 380.7 gigalitres of water, as of 30 June 2026, meaning there is another 70 gigalitres of water to recover, for Labor to achieve its 450 gigalitre target.
Shadow Minister for Water Michael McCormack said Labor’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.
“Water buybacks don’t just destroy the farmer involved, but entire communities and regions.”
