The bad news: you’re probably not invited. 

The NSW Farmers Griffith Branch is hosting an event in which MDBA and Water NSW representatives will feature in a Q&A panel at the Griffith Leagues Club, from 7pm on Monday 26 February.

“This forum in Griffith is timely and will feature a presentation and updates from the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and Water NSW. There is certainly plenty to talk about when it comes to water management,” NSW Farmers representative Mitchell Clapham said.

But if you want to attend the forum, you must be a paid up member of NSW Farmers. 

This has infuriated Griffith Business Chamber president Paul Pierotti.

“The MDBA hardly ever comes to consult with us, and when they do they only invite a select crowd of farmers.”

“The people most impacted by the disastrous plan are the community. Why are we being left out?". 

“Griffith has lost $180 million each year [due to the plan]”. 

"Griffith Business Chamber were not even informed about this event."

In response to Mr Pierotti’s comments, an MDBA spokesperson denied they were being exclusive.

“The MDBA is attending the forum as an invited guest of the NSW Farmers, to provide an update on the Basin Plan and also participate in a question and answer session. Where possible, we accept invitations to events hosted by stakeholder groups.”

“We take engagement with local communities very seriously. We have expanded our regional presence through three new regional offices and also a regional engagement officer network, with an officer located in Leeton”.

NSW Farmers see the event as a chance to provide some clarity for farmers given dramatic events in the past few weeks. 

Mr Clapham said the future of the Plan is in doubt and that of Basin communities uncertain, following the passing of a disallowance motion in the Australian Senate to quash amendments proposed by the Northern Basin Review.

“This was an action based on pure politics with little or no consideration for the impact on basin irrigators or communities.”

“The Basin Plan is a living document and there are still many elements of water reform that we need to address, however, we are at the final stages of the Plan, and shifting the goal posts after reaching agreements erodes confidence and is a move that could unravel the entire process and is not in anybody’s interests or that of the environment.”

“Water is a valuable resource that must be planned for and managed efficiently across the Basin states and we continue to advocate for secure water sharing regimes based on science.”