Sussan Ley fends off farmer criticism over water meetings

MEMBER for Farrer Sussan Ley has hit back after she was urged to take a “more collaborative approach” and work with interest groups on solutions to the water crisis.

“Farming and community groups from throughout southern New South Wales are calling for a fresh start in 2020 from their federal member of parliament Sussan Ley,” farmer group Speak Up said in a statement.

“They want Ms Ley to take a more collaborative approach and work with them on solutions to the present water crisis.”

Speak Up was established by southern Riverina farmers to highlight the issues affecting southern NSW and northern Victoria.

Speak Up campaign deputy chair Lachlan Marshall said since last May’s federal election Ms Ley had not met various local organisations.

“Out of sheer frustration, during the election campaign many people in the water debate questioned whether Ms Ley was doing enough for her constituents,” Mr Marshall said.

“We believe this was reasonable commentary, considering the dire predicament our farmers and communities have been forced into under a failing (Murray-Darling) Basin Plan.

“Unfortunately, since the election we have been unable to effectively engage with Ms Ley.

“We all need to put aside past differences and start working together for our communities. I’m sure that is what people expect from their local member.”

Mr Marshall said Southern Riverina Irrigators (SRI) executive members had been unable to meet Ms Ley.

“The SRI chair, Chris Brooks, openly supported independent candidate Kevin Mack during the election campaign and has also been a driving force behind a class action seeking $750 million in damages from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority for alleged water mismanagement,” he said.

“Ms Ley has refused to meet with the key drivers behind the class action, which includes Mr Brooks and other members of the SRI executive, claiming she cannot do so for legal reasons.

“However, the Water Resources Minister David Littleproud met with Mr Brooks and SRI deputy chair Darcy Hare in Canberra last month.”

Mr Brooks said it seemed “a bit of a cop-out”.

“It’s a bit strange when the Environment Minister says she can’t meet us, but the Water Resources Minister says he can,” he said.

“All we want is for governments to listen to our concerns and help provide more water so we can grow food and fibre for our nation.

“We also want a stop to the environmental damage being caused by the basin plan; it’s hard to understand why the Environment Minister will not engage with us.

“We make no bones about the fact that we do not believe Ms Ley has done enough to get water for irrigation farmers in her electorate, but we would dearly like to change that.”

However, Ms Ley said her last contact with Speak Up was a thank-you email after she helped organise a delegation to meet Mr Littleproud during last month’s convoy and protest to Canberra.

“Out of that rally came the subsequent agreement for Mick Keelty’s special inquiry into how the states manage allocations under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, with face-to-face meetings in my electorate this week,” Ms Ley said.

“I’ve held around 30 separate meetings or kitchen table conversations with irrigators and farmers in or from my electorate since the May election.

“Those discussions helped form the idea of the Water for Fodder program, with vital water now being supplied to my part of the basin in a bid to help some of our farmers get through this drought.

“The primary goal of Speak Up and SRI has been to abolish or pause the basin plan, an objective which is not supported by any government or opposition, either Commonwealth or state.”

Ms Ley said she had promised to find whatever water she could for productive agriculture in Farrer.

“That goal has not changed and will not change regardless of the political attacks others choose to pursue,” she said.