NSW must ‘call the bluff’ too: Dalton

By Zoe McMaugh

Apr 20, 2024

Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton is calling on the NSW Government to show the same strength as its Victorian counterparts when it comes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

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It comes after the Federal Government agreed to fund an environmental water project in Victoria, despite the state’s refusal to accept the water buybacks put back on the table by the current government.

“The feds have spent months threatening to stop these projects as payback for the Victoria’s Government’s opposition to the Commonwealth’s buyback plans,” Ms Dalton said.

“Luckily the Victorian Government called the Federal Government’s bluff.”

Ms Dalton notes that Water Minister Tanya Plibersek is still publicly claiming she wants to press ahead with Commonwealth buybacks in Victoria and NSW, despite Victoria’s refusal to allow this to happen.

Incredibly, under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, the Commonwealth has the power to force farmers to sell water if willing buyers can’t be found.

Ms Dalton says this is unlikely to happen.

She is calling on NSW Premier Chris Minns to also oppose buybacks in NSW in the same way that the Victorians have.

“Premier Minns should realise the Federal Government was always bluffing. It’s time for Chris to say “no” to buybacks in New South Wales also,“ she said.

By Zoe McMaugh

Senior journalist