The MIA have welcomed the news the National Party have chosen to reject further water recovery of productive water.
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The Rice Growers Association (RGA) said their number one priority was to "avoid further productive water recovery", and see this move as the Nationals "finally acknowledging" the extent of the negative impacts on the economic viability of industries and communities.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton has credited "people power" after a 3000-strong community rally in Tocumwal, saying it was "no coincidence" the Nationals' voted to re-look at their plan in the aftermath.
At the annual federal council on the weekend, the Nationals held discussions relating to water and the Murray Darling Basin Plan was the hot topic.
Water Resources minister David Littleproud has remained committed to the plan, adamant there would be no deviations, however it was made even clearer this not a universal position in the party.
Littleproud voted against his party's motion on Saturday. He lost. He is a minority voice among the general public and within his own party.
- Helen Dalton
National's leader John Barilaro expressed extreme contempt for the plan after the Ministerial Council meeting in August in where he called the plan "untenable" for the region.
Mr Littleproud was challenged successfully by Victorian deputy leader Steph Ryan on the weekend, adding to the expressed discontent many Nationals have with the plan.
Ms Ryan proposed a motion opposing the third leg of the plan, which would allow the removal of 450 gigalitres of productive water from the Southern Basin Communities across the border to SA, conditional on no negative socio-economic impacts.
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"It is no coincidence this has happened just a week after our 3000-strong protest rally in Tocumwal... We now need to keep the pressure on until they fix this crazy plan completely," Mrs Dalton said.
"Littleproud voted against his party's motion on Saturday. He lost. He is a minority voice among the general public and within his own party."
Mrs Dalton said a petition for a Royal Commission into water by the community group "Speak Up 4 Water" needs 10,000 before she'll take it to parliament, 1000 of which was garnered at the rally.
Copies of the petition can be found here.
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