In response to a question in the House of Representatives this afternoon, Minister Burke claimed that if the Government did not buy enough water over the next 8 years then that “would land Australians in a world of potentially compulsory acquisition.”
Minister Burke needs to make clear whether he is backing away from Labor’s election commitment to not resort to compulsory acquisitionof the assets of Australian farmers.
I can confirm that the Coalition stands by its commitment to rule outany compulsory acquisition. Any requirement under a Coalition Governmentwould be met by a combination of further investments in water efficiency and purchases of water entitlements.