NSW Shadow Minister for Water, Steph Cooke, has expressed shock and deep concern following an admission by the NSW Water Minister that when it comes to the Commonwealth's controversial water buybacks, her only option is to plead, "please don't do that."
Ms Cooke said the Minister admitted during Budget Estimates that despite the well-documented harm caused to regional economies by buybacks, the NSW Labor Government has little influence over the Commonwealth's buyback decisions, stating, 'We say publicly, privately, at Ministerial Council meetings, don't do that.'
"Clearly, the NSW Water Minister has zero influence and is seemingly satisfied with this passive approach to what is a critical issue for NSW's rural communities," Ms Cooke said
"I am shocked and dismayed by the minister's admission. It is unacceptable that, when water is the lifeblood of our NSW communities, the NSW Water Minister sits by idly and lets Federal Minister Plibersek ride roughshod over our communities and hardworking primary producers.
"This isn't leadership-it's surrender. Our communities and agricultural sector are being left high and dry by a Labor Government that can't tell the difference between Summer Hill and Broken Hill."
Ms Cooke said compounding this failure, the NSW Water Minister has also shirked responsibility for overseeing and implementing the structural adjustment package meant to assist communities impacted by the buybacks.
"Despite the Minister's own Aither Report-which cost NSW taxpayers over $80,000-clearly stating that buybacks will have devastating consequences, the Minister has failed to fight for more funding or support for NSW regional communities," Ms Cooke said.
"Instead, knowing full well that the $300 million allocated is woefully inadequate, she has simply flick-passed the responsibility to another NSW Minister, relegating this vital issue to the status of a political hot potato that no one in the government seems willing to own.
The Nationals have consistently raised concerns about the detrimental effects of water buybacks, with several reports confirming that taking water away from primary producers will jeopardise rural communities' future.
Buybacks will cripple regional economies, leading to job losses, business closures, long-term damage to the state's agricultural output, and will drive up food costs at a time when Australian families are already hurting.
"Regional communities deserve a government that fights for them, not one that throws up its hands and walks away. We need stronger advocacy, better water management strategies, and a steadfast commitment to protecting the future of NSW agriculture," Ms Cooke said.
