“MDBA is treating water like stale beer to be sloshed around without respect to the high-value agricultural assets and crops it should be growing,” Mr Farley said.
The $1.5 billion case, finalised in the NSW Supreme Court, determined the MDBA does not hold a duty of care to water license and landholders and that its obligations remain to basin states environmental objectives.
Irrigators in the central Murray region of southern NSW were in the case, as well as those from Victoria.
The plaintiffs have been ordered to pay the legal fees of the MDBA.
It’s not yet clear whether the matter will be appealed.
“What hope is there for Australia if statutes are governed and judged in this manner?” Mr Farley said.
“The government is eroding the equity securing freehold title and interfering with agricultural productivity without consequence, accountability and responsibility,” he said.
“The Federal and NSW Governments have effectively taken a free carry equity position in agricultural land akin to a tick on a dog - rent free, unproductive with the capacity to sicken the dog.”
Mr Farley, who is in direct communication with irrigators on the issue, said he aims to bring both the direct and unintended consequences of the matter to his constituency.
“I want to address this erosion of freehold value, the interference in cropping and grazing programs, and the reduction of arable land base to Australia,” he said.
“We need confidence in governments to equitably represent regional Australia.”
