I am extremely frustrated with inaccurate comments from Southern Riverina Irrigators pertaining to myself which have been recently published and I would welcome space in your newspaper to refute various claims and provide your readers with factual information.
In particular, SRI continues to promote the falsehood that I have “stated publicly the current canal agreement of $4/ML plus some conveyance is sufficient”.
This is 100 per cent inaccurate.
For the record, I addressed three MIL customer information sessions in Deniliquin, Finley and Wakool in September 2023.
MIL has audio recording of all three meetings, and at each one I used the same speaking notes; I am happy to share those speaking notes.
They do not support the inaccurate SRI claims around what I said.
For the benefit of MIL shareholders, here are the facts:
• At the request of CEO Ron McCalman, I was asked to be a ‘sounding board’, not to lead negotiations, for management on the canal agreement issue, due to my extensive business experience.
• I prepared some background notes on the current situation relating to the two current agreements, which I outlined at the customer information sessions. At no stage did I state that “$4 a megalitre is good value” and I believe it is mischievous for anyone to suggest that I did.
• For reasons unbeknown to myself, SRI continues with the false line that MIL only gets $4 a megalitre under the canal agreement. This is misleading, and does not account for the additional value of the conveyance water which is an integral part of the agreement, and ignores the fact that the service level for the user is significantly lower than that which irrigation customers receive.
• The context of the whole speech was about lifting the total return to shareholders from the current ‘Canal Agreements’.
During my time on the Murray Irrigation Board of Directors I have at all times advocated and argued for the best possible arrangement for shareholders in every way, and this includes maximizing the company’s returns from any agreement.
My goal, like fellow like-minded directors, is to ensure we have a financially stable business that efficiently delivers water to customers at the most affordable price.
I am not going to get involved in public discourse around the motives for these attempts to remove myself and Trisha Gorman from the MIL Board.
However, I would encourage shareholders to be informed, which includes making yourself familiar with our attributes as acknowledged by an independent assessor during the Alternative Dispute Resolution process.
I would also ask shareholders to carefully consider what your company may look like, how governments may respond, what skills the Board will comprise and what level of behaviours will be acceptable if the motion from the requisitioning directors is successful.
During 2½ years on the Board I have worked alongside some intelligent, fair-minded and committed individuals who want to continue building a successful company.
I have also unfortunately experienced dishonesty, inappropriate behaviour, and selectively using Board information out of context to suit a false narrative.
This must end. Myself and others have taken with gentle dignity the falsehoods and misinformation that have been perpetuated.
Now, we are fighting back and we need the support of shareholders so this great company can move forward in a positive manner for your benefit, and the broader community.
You have a chair, deputy chair and two non-member directors who have done everything possible to offer the professionalism, stability, water delivery efficiency and financial stability that we all want.
Please be well informed on this progress and ensure your vote at the general meeting is not influenced by personal agendas and misinformation.
Yours etc.
Robert Burbury
Non-Member Director – Murray Irrigation Ltd
24°C