Riverina MPs warn of job losses due to water shortages

Members of Parliament in the Riverina region are calling for urgent intervention from federal and state ministers to prevent significant economic fallout in the Murray irrigation district. Farrer MP David Farley warned that if water is not delivered before the rice planting window closes on October 28, the region's entire seasonal production could be lost.

Mr. Farley stated that the lack of water could result in the loss of 230 to 270 structural jobs within the Edward River Shire in just two weeks. This includes approximately 60 to 80 primary production jobs, 80 to 90 roles in the local service economy, and 90 to 100 industrial processing jobs at the mill. He described the situation as a potential demographic shockwave for regional hubs like Deniliquin.