The Controversy Over Beef’s Water Usage: Nationals vs. One Nation

The Nationals have criticized One Nation candidate David Farley for using an outdated figure regarding beef’s water usage, a topic that stirred debate six years ago.

In a recent video, Mr. Farley, a former managing director of the Australian Agricultural Company, asserted that it takes 15,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of beef, stating, “Without good water policy, you will not have good beef.”

This 15,000L figure gained traction in 2018 when it was highlighted by the ABC science program ‘Catalyst.’ The episode controversially claimed that insects, such as mealworms, could provide the same nutritional value while being more environmentally friendly than beef.

Following a complaint from Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), communications watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority found that the episode breached ABC’s duty to report impartially. The MLA presented evidence from the CSIRO indicating that the accurate figure is closer to 500L per kg of beef. Furthermore, other producers have noted that the water consumed by cattle is largely recycled back into the soil.

Nationals Respond to the Misstatement

Brad Robertson, the Nationals candidate for Farrer, expressed his disapproval, stating, “If he thought he was promoting better water management by falsely claiming our beef industry uses 15,000 liters of water to produce 1kg of beef, he is dead wrong.”

Robertson added that Farley’s comments could make beef producers targets for criticism and called for a public apology, emphasizing that local beef producers are rightfully furious about the misleading claims.

Farley’s Campaign and Water Security

Water security has been a central theme in Mr. Farley’s campaign for the Farrer seat in Southern New South Wales, especially with a by-election scheduled for May 9. His proposals include enhancing water storage capabilities and initiating a royal commission into the Murray Darling Basin.

In response to inquiries regarding his claims, Mr. Farley reiterated support for local beef producers, stating, “Australian beef is among the most water-efficient in the world due to the dedication of primary producers, not politicians.”

He criticized the Nationals’ handling of the Basin Plan and pledged that One Nation would continue to advocate for water resources necessary to sustain the beef industry.

As the election approaches, the debate surrounding beef production and water management continues to gain attention, impacting both agricultural policies and local producers.