Greens welcome Fed Farmers' sustainability commitment

The Green Party welcomed Federated Farmers' commitment to environmental sustainability expressed today at the launch of its 2011 General Election Manifesto.

"Fed Farmers President Bruce Wills stated that farmers want clean water, which is a goal the Greens really support. We have a plan to make our rivers clean enough to swim in again," said Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman.

"The Green Party plan for clean rivers includes stronger standards for clean water, a fair charge for irrigation water and support for water clean-up initiatives.

"Our charge for irrigation water has a smaller transaction cost than water trading systems, which addresses Fed Farmers' concern about high transaction costs for market-based water allocation systems.

"The money generated by the irrigation water charge would be used to provide financial assistance to farmers and councils to help them clean up our waterways.

"We would spend $100 million each year for five years to match farmers dollar for dollar on fencing and riparian planting investment to help farmers meet our mandatory stock exclusion standard within five years.

"I look forward to working with Fed Farmers to clean up our waterways, and helping farmers maintain and improve our clean, green brand," said Dr Norman.