Labor politicians came to Griffith for a team huddle on Tuesday morning before heading out to a fiery debate about water at the Griffith Ex-Servicemen’s Club at 6.30pm this evening.
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Labor’s Shadow Water Minister Chris Minns came to town at the invitation of Nationals’ Regional Water Minister Niall Blair, who threw down the gauntlet on January 25.
Mr Minns said he was well aware that he was entering the lion’s den, with Murray being a Nationals seat for over 40 years.
He said the seat of Murray had been a safe seat for too long, and that the Nationals needed a bit of a challenge to snap them out of their complacency.
He claimed the Nationals were taking Murray voters for granted, citing comments allegedly made by Member for Austin Evans.
Mr Evans allegedly said he didn’t need Deniliquin votes to win the upcoming state election, although he denies ever making those comments.
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“Voters have a way of punishing politicians that take them for granted,” Mr Minns said.
“Regardless of whether it’s a safe seat or a marginal seat, it needs to be respected.”
While in Griffith Mr Minns will be attempting to spruik Labor’s alternative water policy in favour of the Nationals’ “delinquent approach to water management”.
He thinks the status quo is unfair to irrigation communities like Murray, which are sending “gigantic” water contributions to South Australia.
“If you aren’t happy with water management and if you think four more years of the same administration is going to do damage to your community, we’ve got an alternative,” he said.
His comments were echoed by Federal Labor candidate for Farrer Kieran Drabsch, who said irrigators in his electorate were fed up.
“There is no fairness in the way the state government has managed their water savings plan; in fact they’re behind schedule,” Mr Drabsch said.
“It’s very clear to me they’re the lapdogs of the rabbid federal coalition government that are looking to tear apart the Water Act 2007 and we can’t allow that to happen.”
Labor Opposition Whip Shaoquett Moselmane said he hoped voters would vote for a change.
“It’s been the unfortunate practice of the government to take their voters for granted, ever since Adrian Piccoli was in power,” Mr Moselmane said.
Both Mr Drabsch and Mr Moselmane will come along to the water debate this afternoon to see Mr Minns clash with Mr Blair and Greens MLC Justin Field.
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