Ms Pavey put forward a motion praising her government for “pro-actively investing in water infrastructure that is needed to address this drought’’.
In response, Mrs Dalton claimed a NSW Government hadn’t built a public dam since 1987.
‘‘I’d hardly call that proactive . . . Kylie Minogue’s Locomotion was topping the charts when government last built a dam,’’ Mrs Dalton said.
‘‘The last five Coalition premiers built zero dams between them.’’
Mrs Dalton also questioned the location of the proposed new dams.
‘‘Does anyone seriously believe a dam built in Barnaby Joyce’s electorate will provide water security for the rest of the state?’’
Mrs Dalton said while she supported investment in public dams, this government couldn’t be trusted on water.
‘‘Lots of private dams have been built for big corporates at the taxpayers’ expense. But nothing for the public,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s no use promising to build dams in the future when right now you’re pushing ahead with plans to flush an extra 450 gigalitres of our productive water to South Australia.’’
Mrs Dalton reiterated her call to pause the Murray Darling Basin Plan, and called for the state government to return voluntary water contributions taken from farmers in 2002.
‘‘By the time these mythical dams are built, we won’t have a food and fibre industry left,’’ she said.
‘‘We need to address the problem at hand now. Our rice and dairy industries are on their last legs.
‘‘Let’s save our family farms now.’’
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