Dear Editor,
I noted in a report in the Deniliquin Pastoral Times newspaper that the Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley and Nationals Senator, Perin Davey met with a small group of farmers from Blighty and Finley who wanted a meeting to talk about issues around the Barmah Choke.
I haven’t read anything about a meeting with our region’s farming advocacy groups, including Southern Riverina Irrigators (SRI).
Ms Ley uses the excuse that she cannot meet with SRI executives because some are involved in a class action against the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Of course, we know this is rubbish as it hasn’t stopped other ministers meeting with SRI.
For a region to grow and prosper it needs strong political representation; it needs members of parliament who are prepared to stand up and fight for their constituency, even if this threatens their political career or challenges the party they represent.
Unfortunately, we do not appear to have that level of representation in Farrer at present.
Ms Ley, over the years, has been loud in her condemnation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and its impact on our region. But what has she actually done about it?
The answer, in my view, is ‘not enough’. During the 2019 election campaign Ms Ley was strong in her rhetoric around water and the need for change. Since re-election and being promoted back into cabinet as Environment Minister she has been in a position to influence change.
As a community, we must ask: Why haven’t we seen these changes that are needed?
Political commentators are talking about a federal election in the latter half of 2021. Yes, not much more than a year away.
In the meantime, I would encourage everyone to think very carefully about our future. If we want more of the same – with communities suffering, farmers struggling and jobs lost because city-based environmental votes are more important than our region – we can continue along the same path.
If this is not what we want, we must be prepared to step out of our comfort zones and force the changes that will make it happen.
Carly Marriott
Barooga, NSW
