A National Party MP formally objected to the Speaker of the House on Member for Murray Helen Dalton (Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party) introducing and voting on an 11,000-strong petition, organised by the Speak Up campaign, on the grounds of conflict of interest (standing order 176).
However, Nationals leader and Deputy Premier John Barilaro distributed a media release after meeting with a delegation from Speak Up yesterday morning and stated: ‘‘The NSW Nationals have renewed their calls for a Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin Plan and Authority, confirming their support for a petition which will be tabled in Parliament today.’’
Mrs Dalton said she was the only member of the House to have declared her water interests, and there had been an attempt to block debate to protect politicians and donors who own water but have not declared it.
‘‘This morning I received a message from the clerk that said there was an objection about me voting for the petition,’’ she said when addressing media.
‘‘This is a democracy, so I was quite shocked to hear a National Party MP was trying to really obstruct this democratic process.
‘‘Water management across New South Wales is an absolute mess and having this petition come to Parliament highlights some of the issues; it is a small step but a step in the right direction.’’
Speak Up Campaign chair Shelley Scoullar also addressed media in Sydney yesterday and pleaded with New South Wales MPs and party members to ‘‘do whatever it takes in your power to make sure this debate goes on’’.
‘‘Everyone in this country needs to know the disastrous impacts water mismanagement is having on this entire nation and our food security.
‘‘I want to see this debate go ahead. Helen has declared her interests, she has declared her water ownership, she is the first one to do so.’’
The petition had not been debated as the Pastoral Times went to press yesterday afternoon.