“I am over in Rome at the moment, praying for a miracle to save regional Australia from Labor’s plan to pull the rug out from whole communities,” says Senator Barnaby Joyce. 

“But the truth is there is one man who can end the uncertainty for the towns of the Murray-Darling Basin.”  

“Section 44 of the Water Act gives Minister Burke the final say. He has the ability to end the uncertainty. But he is out there trying to flick pass the problem to bureaucrats, the parliament and to communities themselves.” 

“Today's excuse is that this is just a guide and there is at least another 15 months of uncertainty ahead for Basin communities.” Mr Burke told ABC radio this morning: 

"All we have at the moment ... is a guide to a draft of a plan ... We don't actually get to finalising the plan for the basin until the end of next year. 

“Newsflash for Mr Burke - Banks are already concerned about the uncertainty created by the announcement of drastic cuts. Telling them that this uncertainty will not be resolved for another 15 months is not going to help."

A report by independent banking consultant Adrian Rizza, confirms that banks are already preparing to foreclose on loans to farmers in the Basin because a 20% reduction would be equivalent to “perpetual drought conditions”. The worst of this report is that at least 8 irrigation towns will not survive the proposed large cuts in water. 

"It's not good enough to see a fire going up the curtains, and say you will make a judgement about whether you will call a fire engine later.”

"Burke must now back away from Labor's commitment to accept whatever is in the final Basin Plan.” 

"The Coalition will accept a good plan, but not a plan to shut down whole communities, threaten thousands of jobs and resign Australia to becoming a net food importer.”