The debate over water registers has reached an impasse in NSW after the state water minister's water registry bill was voted down.
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NSW Labor, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, the Greens and One Nation voted against Melinda Pavey's water accountability and transparency bill in the parliament's upper house.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton first introduced her bill for compel parliamentarians and corporate interests to reveal their water entitlement ownership, however it was voted down in the lower house.
Mrs Dalton's water registry bill was backed by 11,000 signatures collected from around the Murrumbidgee and Murray irrigation areas.
"It's extremely frustrating that after nine months of debating and fighting, no laws are going to change," Mrs Dalton said.
"I don't care who brings a bill to parliament. I'm happy to support a government bill for a water register.
"The problem is, their recent bill did not provide for a water register. It was just an attack on me."
Mrs Pavey declared the vote against her bill a result of an "unholy alliance" voting against transparency on the ownership of water.
"Water transparency is my number one priority, it is vital for our regional communities, and this was an opportunity for us all to make improvements in water transparency and accountability for the greater good of regional NSW," Mrs Pavey said.
"Our bill outlined improvements to water transparency not at the expense of the privacy of mum and dad farmers.
"Labor, the Shooters and the Greens are willing to create 'Aussie Farms 2.0' by publishing individual address's online, and create water speculation where the market can be manipulated."
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Mrs Dalton's water registry bill is currently in committee which has been holding hearings about what it proposes.
Despite the current impasse, Mrs Dalton said she still wanted to see more transparency on water ownership.
"I'd love to be able work with the Water Minister to reach a compromise - so we can at least get some legislation passed to improve water transparency," she said.
"The problem is, she won't even reply to my letters. She has frozen me out and refuses to address the fact that even foreign governments can buy our water and keep their identity secret."
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
