NSW Water Minister must come clean, says Dalton

MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton says NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey must come clean on the evidence and lobbyists behind the “secret decision” to lift a floodplain harvesting ban on Friday.

Mrs Dalton said the NSW Government had allowed an unknown group of Northern Basin irrigators to divert rainwater away from the river, causing immense distress in Southern NSW towns still facing severe drinking water restrictions.

“It’s extremely disturbing to read allegations in the Herald Sun that Fiona Simson, National Farmers Federation President, lobbied two government ministers for the ban to be lifted,” she said.

“The ‘National’ Farmers Federation is supposed to represent all farmers, not do the bidding for a select group of Northern Basin irrigators.”

Mrs Dalton said Ms Simon denied the report, while Water Minister Melinda Pavey and Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall did not respond to the allegations contained in it.

She labelled the situation as “very strange” and Ms Simpson’s response as “vague”.

“The Ministers silence is deafening,” Mrs Dalton said.

“If Ms Simson didn’t lobby the Minister, who did?

“The Ministers must explain who did the lobbying and why this decision was made without any public consultation?

“It’s not good enough to simply blame the bureaucrats — as Water Minister, the buck stops with Pavey.

“If a few Department of Planning bureaucrats can make major water rule changes without ministerial approval, we are in big trouble.”

Mrs Dalton said this whole episode strengthened the case for a royal commission.

“Insider lobbying and secret decision making are a blight on our democracy,” she said.

“The NSW government ought to consult with both northern and southern stakeholders before making such decisions and explain the rationale for it.”

On Thursday, NSW Parliament will debate a petition from rural community group Speak Up, which requests the NSW Government petition the Federal Government for a water royal commission and a national water register.

Mrs Dalton will introduce the petition and lead the debate.