Fed: Drought means we may need to import more food - Howard=2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2007
Fed: Drought means we may need to import more food - Howard=2

Mr Howard also called on the Victorian government to back the commonwealth's $10 billion
water plan.

Victoria has refused to sign on to the plan, instead proposing its own scheme.

Mr Howard today urged a national approach to the issue.

"This is Australian water, it's an Australia problem and it's got to be solved at a
national level and that can only happen if our plan is adopted," he said.

"So, far from dumping the plan, I am energetically recommitted to it and without Victoria
it won't work and if Victoria doesn't join Victoria is holding up a national solution
to our most critical conservation issue."

But at a meeting of the natural resources ministerial council in Brisbane today, federal
Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the scheme could work without Victoria, but
not as effectively.

"The plan can proceed without Victoria - it will be more cumbersome, it will not work
as well and of course it will mean none of the $10 billion (in funding) or any part of
that will be spent in Victoria," he said.

"It will be a very bitter blow to Victorian irrigators to see so much investment on
the other side of the border."

AAP bt/bd/hn/cp/bwl

KEYWORD: WATER FOOD 2 SYDNEY

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