It comes after a similar bill, modelled off Ms Dalton’s bill and introduced to Victorian Parliament after hers was tabled in NSW, has already been passed.
The Victorian bill was presented by fellow Shooters, Fishers and Farmers member Jeff Bourman and called on all Victorian state and federal parliamentarians to declare their interest in water shares including, but not limited to, the Murray Darling Basin.
‘‘I am very pleased to see the Victorian Parliament has endorsed the common sense motion that politicians should have to declare their water interests,’’ Mrs Dalton said.
‘‘It’s a no brainer. I’m glad my push for transparency is being embraced by other states, if not New South Wales.
‘‘Jeff Bourman put the motion forward and it was passed by the Parliament. He said he got the idea from me. I hope every other state copies my idea too.
‘‘Now, Victorian politicians can no longer play dumb on water ownership. The Parliament has endorsed the idea that they must declare it, so if we find out they secretly have water, they’ll be in big trouble.
‘‘Meanwhile, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian says we can trust politicians to proactively declare their water interests. How ridiculous.
‘‘They also deliberately stalled and delayed my bill for a water register, so they wouldn’t have to vote on it.’’
Mrs Dalton said the difference between Victoria and NSW in this situation is the ‘‘number of National Party MPs’’.
‘‘In the Victorian Upper House, where the motion was passed, there is only one National Party MP, and she was absent when the vote took place,’’ Mrs Dalton said.
‘‘However, New South Wales Parliament has 19 National Party MPs. They are desperate to protect their colleagues and corporate donors by keeping water ownership secret.
‘‘It’s plain common sense that politicians should have to declare their water ownership. They are making decisions on the supply, price and profitability of water. If they own it, the public have a right to know about it.’’
When the Pastoral Times sought comment from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on the delay on the NSW bill, we were redirected to the office of NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey which issued the following staement:
‘‘Members of the New South Wales Parliament are currently required to declare water holdings along with any associated income over $500 generated from them per financial year. Further information on member’s obligations to report water holdings can be found within the advice issued on this matter by the Clerk of Parliament in November of last year.’’
Mrs Dalton has called out this response as ‘‘an absolute lie’’.
‘‘There is nothing on water in our conflict of interest declaration form. I’d encourage people to go online themselves and look at this form,’’ Mrs Dalton said.
‘‘I’m not surprised the Premier dodged this question because in November she told me we can trust politicians to proactively declare their water interests.
‘‘The fact of the matter is this government has had nine years to change our conflict of interest form to include water holdings and they’ve refused to do so.
‘‘They’ve also stalled my bill, which tries to change the form, so it won’t pass parliament.’’
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