Helen Dalton MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR MURRAY Minister Rose Jackson must put NSW first, or resign. The most troubling thing about the water crisis facing rural NSW is that it is completely man-made. Or perhaps we should say man and woman-made. That because the devastation is being caused by the men running the Murray- Darling Basin Authority and two women, NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson and Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek. Of course, nature affects our river systems. It has forever. But the current avoidable destruction of rural NSW is being caused by gross mismanagement and the prioritising of politics over the people of NSW. Few Ministries involve life and death choices. But the role of Water Minister is one of the few ministerial positions where, if you get it wrong, people's lives can be ruined immediately, and permanently. I have never experienced such levels of fear and anger amongst my constituents before. People have had concerns in the past, but this is different. Too many people believe the NSW government has abandoned them when it comes to water, and I am deeply worried about where this is going to lead. Goodwill towards the Government began to evaporate faster than water in a drought when the NSW government refused to block the buyback of 450 GL of Murray-Darling Basin water by the Commonwealth Government. People believed it was a case of Labor looking after Labor, and NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson and Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek. The NSW Government should have blocked these buybacks just like the Victorian Government has. Instead, the NSW Government has put its own party's interests before the interests of the NSW people. The second betrayal rural NSW has endured was when the NSW and Commonwealth Governments announced they were going to run government floods over private farms as frequently as every second year. These floods will wipe hundreds of millions of dollars off the value of private rural properties. NSW The government floods will also impact communities by rendering some roads unusable and cutting off parts of rural communities from each other. Schools may be cut off. Business may be cut off. Hospitals may be cut off. People will be kept apart and all so that the State and Federal Governments can send our water down to South Australia who will then send it out to sea. Farm prices will be devastated when people start to realise that parts of their land will become unusable because of the bi-annual government floods. This is government acquisition of property by stealth. What the hell ever happened to private property rights? The people of rural NSW won't put up with another year of betrayal like the one we've just endured. Rural NSW needs to be listened to. That's why I am demanding we hold an Inquiry into the social and economic effects of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan immediately. People need to know that the NSW Government is going to start listening properly. This Inquiry should begin as early as January. I'm desperately hoping it will help people to feel that all is not lost. And as for the NSW Water Minister, she has a choice to make, before the people of NSW make it for her. Rose Jackson needs to start standing up for the people of rural NSW, or stand down as Minister. It's that simple. Helen Dalton MP for Murray Authorised by Helen Dalton MP, Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements. GRIFFITH: 104-110 Banna Ave, Griffith NSW 2800 P: 02 6962 6644 DENILIQUIN: 228 Cressy St, Deniliquin NSW 2710 P: 03 5881 7034 BURONGA: Midway Centre, Midway Dr, Buronga NSW 2739 P: 02 6962 6054 murray@parliament.nsw.gov.au Helen Dalton MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR MURRAY Minister Rose Jackson must put NSW first , or resign . The most troubling thing about the water crisis facing rural NSW is that it is completely man - made . Or perhaps we should say man and woman - made . That because the devastation is being caused by the men running the Murray- Darling Basin Authority and two women , NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson and Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek . Of course , nature affects our river systems . It has forever . But the current avoidable destruction of rural NSW is being caused by gross mismanagement and the prioritising of politics over the people of NSW . Few Ministries involve life and death choices . But the role of Water Minister is one of the few ministerial positions where , if you get it wrong , people's lives can be ruined immediately , and permanently . I have never experienced such levels of fear and anger amongst my constituents before . People have had concerns in the past , but this is different . Too many people believe the NSW government has abandoned them when it comes to water , and I am deeply worried about where this is going to lead . Goodwill towards the Government began to evaporate faster than water in a drought when the NSW government refused to block the buyback of 450 GL of Murray - Darling Basin water by the Commonwealth Government . People believed it was a case of Labor looking after Labor , and NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson and Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek . The NSW Government should have blocked these buybacks just like the Victorian Government has . Instead , the NSW Government has put its own party's interests before the interests of the NSW people . The second betrayal rural NSW has endured was when the NSW and Commonwealth Governments announced they were going to run government floods over private farms as frequently as every second year . These floods will wipe hundreds of millions of dollars off the value of private rural properties . NSW The government floods will also impact communities by rendering some roads unusable and cutting off parts of rural communities from each other . Schools may be cut off . Business may be cut off . Hospitals may be cut off . People will be kept apart and all so that the State and Federal Governments can send our water down to South Australia who will then send it out to sea . Farm prices will be devastated when people start to realise that parts of their land will become unusable because of the bi - annual government floods . This is government acquisition of property by stealth . What the hell ever happened to private property rights ? The people of rural NSW won't put up with another year of betrayal like the one we've just endured . Rural NSW needs to be listened to . That's why I am demanding we hold an Inquiry into the social and economic effects of the Murray - Darling Basin Plan immediately . People need to know that the NSW Government is going to start listening properly . This Inquiry should begin as early as January . I'm desperately hoping it will help people to feel that all is not lost . And as for the NSW Water Minister , she has a choice to make , before the people of NSW make it for her . Rose Jackson needs to start standing up for the people of rural NSW , or stand down as Minister . It's that simple . Helen Dalton MP for Murray Authorised by Helen Dalton MP , Funded using Parliamentary Entitlements . GRIFFITH : 104-110 Banna Ave , Griffith NSW 2800 P : 02 6962 6644 DENILIQUIN : 228 Cressy St , Deniliquin NSW 2710 P : 03 5881 7034 BURONGA : Midway Centre , Midway Dr , Buronga NSW 2739 P : 02 6962 6054 murray@parliament.nsw.gov.au