I’ve spent more than half my life in or near the central Victorian electorate of Nicholls. I’m the product of a large extended farming family and I’ve worked in agriculture all my life.
My left-leaning mates think I’m a conservative, my conservative mates think I’m a lefty. The truth is I’m neither. The major parties lost me over a decade ago when they abandoned policy and humanity for political expediency.
They sacrificed people seeking asylum for votes and ruined thousands of lives. They ignored the climate crisis to keep the miners happy and ruined more lives affected by bushfire, drought and flood. Democratic governments aren’t supposed to ruin lives.
At 54 years old, this election is personal. For once in my life, my vote will count.
Nicholls is Victoria’s food bowl, growing and processing fruit, tomatoes and milk as well as cropping, sheep and beef cattle.
The northern part of the electorate is part of the largest irrigation scheme in the country, the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District, which I would argue did the heaviest lifting in returning water from private ownership to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder. Farmers now operate with half the irrigation water and 70% of the irrigated land area, compared with 1997.
The most southern part of the Murray Darling Basin is a long way from the rivers of Queensland and New South Wales. Much smaller hats and smaller farms and far less connection with federal political powerbrokers.
You need a thick skin, a smart brain and good supply of irrigation water to navigate northern Victorian irrigated farming.
In the millennium drought, many farmers sold their water, a considerable asset, back to the government. Those who kept their water, use the valuable asset for themselves or place it on the “allocation market”. It’s like an Airbnb for irrigation water in that you rent your water. Prices go up when demand is high or when supply is scarce.
During the peak drought of 2019, the allocation market price was 10 times the current price. Think of paying $3,000 a night for a room in Sydney instead of $300, in a place that you once owned.
For the irrigators of the Nicholls, the next water crisis and the next deep moment of trauma is only as far away as the next drought. Climate change means more droughts more often.
The deadline for implementing the Murray Darling Basin Plan is June 2024. Each state is under pressure to meet its commitment for water handed back to the environment. Most people around here feel further irrigation water buybacks will break people, businesses and towns in Nicholls. It must be avoided.
The next member for Nicholls will be responsible for influencing the federal water minister and the prime minister so the region is heard and a fair outcome is negotiated. Win the election and win that responsibility.
Yet federal parliamentary leaders continue to demonstrate they don’t take us or their responsibility seriously. Barnaby Joyce’s behaviour at the opening of Dhungala, the Echuca Moama bridge is a case in point.
That bridge opening was probably the biggest thing to happen in Echuca since Charles and Diana visited in the 1980s. It was a huge occasion for residents on both sides of the Murray.
It was also a time to pay tribute to the 60 years of delegations to Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne to lobby governments. That’s three generations of locals lobbying. Instead of paying tribute, Joyce grabbed the press conference with gusto only to remind wavering Nationals voters why they might look at other options.
The locals are livid. “Poor form”, said one. “Why didn’t they throw him in?” was another. “Frustrating but hardly surprising,” said yet another.
The main contenders for Nicholls are National Party Sam Birrell, Liberal Steve Brooks and Independent Rob Priestly. These three white men are locally raised with strong credentials in business and agriculture.
Before I cast my vote, I’ll be weighing up who will take this responsibility seriously and act in the best interests of the community.
The perennial problems of living in the bush: health, education, childcare, internet speeds, transport, jobs and fuel prices are aired alongside water reform policy.
I want to know who will put fair water reform, the climate crisis, asylum seekers, small communities and farming families ahead of personal political aspirations and the wishes of media moguls and mining magnates. Who can collaborate with either side of politics? Who will act with courage, conviction and a conscience? And who will give me some decent bloody mobile phone service?
Kate Burke is a Nicholls voter and agri-strategist based in Echuca.
