A BIG black pipe loaded onto Lindsay Schultz’s truck trailor bears the slogan ‘From food bowl to dust bowl.’
The Benjeroop farmer plans to drive that message all the way to Canberra next month and park it outside Parliament House.
Other messages include a banner that reads, “We are fighting for food security for our nation” and an effigy of David Littleproud protruding from a toilet on top of the pipe.
For more than a decade, the 64-year-old has seen large sections of his farming community brought to their knees, and his feelings about the current federal water minister have always been colourfully expressed.
Mr Schultz made a splash in the national media in September when he took a noose to a protest where Mr Littleproud was expected.
He hopes to increase that impact in Canberra on December 2 and is prepared to get arrested in the process.
“I’m heading up there and I’m taking my truck to the top of Capital Hill. I don’t care what happens,” he told the Gannawarra Times.
“There will be no irrigation left if people don’t take a stand with this.
“I think it might be too late already.”
Mr Schultz has been “fighting the Murray-Darling Basin Plan” for 10 years, although he isn’t personally affected by the price of temporary water.
“I could sell my water tomorrow and not live long enough to spend the money,” he said.
“It’s not about me. It’s about the future of this community.”
With local dairy farmers “hanging on by the skin of their teeth” and community leaders anxious about the impacts they are seeing on farming families, Mr Schultz is determined to provoke action of some kind when he heads to the capital in 10 days time.
While convoy organisers are focused on getting a meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Water Minister David Littleproud that might lead to meaningful action, they have backup plans in case that doesn’t occur.
Mr Schultz’s sister, Carol Webb, has been busy making dummies that will take the politicians place of the a press conference the protesters will run.
It’s hoped the theatrics will guarantee their message reaches a national audience.
