MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton believes federal Water Minister David Littleproud should be stripped of his portfolio following allegations of mass water waste on the NSW-Victoria border.
Mr Littleproud was confronted by the allegations on Channel Nine’s 60 minutes on Sunday night, which reported two Sydney harbours’ worth of water had been lost along the Barmah Choke by the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
“This is like a Treasurer not knowing the country is in recession,” Ms Dalton said
“It’s his job to know about it, he’s the Water Minister.
“Either Mr Littleproud resigns, or Scott Morrison sacks him. I don’t see how he could possibly retain this portfolio after such a shocking admission.”
The program revealed water resources were “flowing” past farmers’ properties, but they were unable to touch any of it and told there was not enough water to fulfill their high security water licenses.
The water is being sent downstream to reach almond plantations, passing through the narrowest point of the Barmah Choke and laying in idle in an internationally recognised forest, the program reported.
“We all want water preserved for the environment,” Ms Dalton said
“But government departments are unable to provide any evidence of the environmental benefits of the vast quantities being flushed down the river.
“And now we have a federal Water Minister claiming to know nothing about it.”
Ms Dalton said the waste issue in Barmah Choke was one she had been outspoken about for the last year.
She emphasised the importance of calling for an immediate Federal Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
“A revised plan must be based on proper science and have some transparency around how our water is being used and preserved,” she said.
“The hundreds of farmers who have been put out of business while water is wasted deserve better.”
