A new entrant Rise Up Australia Party (RUAP) has emerged.

There is a branch of Katter Party, the Liberal Democrats will be challenging Sussan Ley’s plan to phase out live sheep exports and they have a policy to legalise marijuana. United Australia Party (UAP) is committed to contesting Farrer and a pensioners party have indicated that they might contest Farrer. There will be at least one independent. 

RUAP is a Christian-based party and their policy detail includes looking at cutting the cost of water, opposing trading in water, advocating the Bradfield Scheme, selective reinstatement of tariffs and the establishment of a Government-owned bank.

RUAP accepts that the Darling River is dry because of a huge over allocation of water licenses throughout the whole of the tributaries of the Darling River. RUAP knows that theoretically water can flow throughout the system if no pump would be allowed to operate unless downstream water levels are acceptable.

RUAP knows that the reason that no party – that they know of – will accept that policy because it is almost impossible to achieve. They are prepared do whatever is possible to have the Darling River running into the Menindee Lakes System and to have water flowing by gravity to Broken Hill.

One day while doing Yoga (Pranayama – breathing exercises) early in the morning in my back yard I successfully held my breath for 11 minutes. We read in the ancient Indian holy books that Yogis in ancient India used to with hold their breath for a very long period, but after some time I felt a little bit of difficulty for one second. So I decided that in future I shall, with hold my breath only for two minutes. In this materialistic age (Kal Yug) you cannot follow the spiritual path through Yoga. You can only keep your body fit by Yoga and no more. You can follow the spiritual path only by singing the praises of almighty God by hymns as is done in the Sikh Temple and the church.

Fantastic news, a rose garden in Griffith to draw thousands of tourists, exactly what this town has needed. May I suggest building a huge rose bush which talks to our visitors, also incorporating a climbing maze so people can climb to the top without getting prickled by the thorns.

I am outraged at our state government. We as community members, living and working within our irrigation areas have our hands tied as we are unable to participate to help with the current fodder shortage.

Our irrigation areas were originally set-up to help drought proof our nation. Today, in our area, crops are dying, farmers are being charged for water that will not be delivered and the temporary water price is way too high for any of us to purchase. So instead our crops are turning into dust.

Recently hay was purchased from WA and delivered to the central west of NSW. Given the distance it is not sustainable to keep carting hay from the other side of the country, especially when we can help in NSW.

Our state government, today, are sitting on water in our dams that irrigators have paid for through voluntary contributions. Irrigation areas need be granted access to this water now, to help other farmers get through this drought, by being able to water crops to provide grain and hay. 

My husband and I have a family farm and also work as contractors. We are young industry players and worry that job losses will be felt throughout our community. Please join the fight to release the water now, as the clock is ticking.