Dalton Cements Her Position - Behind Struggling Regional NSW Farmers

Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton proves she is not prepared to back down from her fight against water buybacks.

She has gone so far as to call out Premier Chris Minns who has claimed he doesn’t have the power to stop the federal government from buying back 450 GL of water from struggling regional NSW farmers.

Minns’ Victorian counterpart has already ruled out any federal buybacks in that state and Ms Dalton said the people of NSW deserved the same protection.

“We vote for Premiers and governments so they can step up and protect us from unfair and devastating moves like this.

“Chris needs to protect the people of NSW just like the Victorian government has done.”

Dalton released the key sections of the Water Management Act 2000 which allow the Premier to block the water transfers.

“The law is clear,” Dalton said.

“The Premier has the power to protect regional areas from these devastating buybacks, so why won’t he step up and save us?” Helen asked.

“Chris must come clean and admit he has the power to stop the buybacks.“

Then he must explain why he won’t use that power,” Helen said.

The planned federal government buybacks are the brainchild of federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek, who is keen to win the support of Greens voters in city electorates.

But Ms Dalton said the environmental buybacks would cause $500 million in lost production every year in regional NSW. The buybacks are also expected to cause job losses of up to 30 per cent in key regional industries.

“It’s no exaggeration to say this move by the federal government would destroy NSW regional communities up and down the Murray Darling River system,” Helen said.

“The Premier needs to put the NSW people first ahead of the Labor party.”

“Right now, the Premier Minns is agreeing to these buybacks as a favour to Federal Labor. But it’s coming at the expense of huge sections of the state of NSW.”

• Topics:

• Water
• Agriculture & Farming