Last week, public hearings for the NSW Legislative Assembly Inquiry into the Impacts of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Act 2023 on NSW regional communities moved to the north of the state, with hearings held in Narrabri and Bourke. This followed earlier hearings in the south and the far western parts of the state.

Cotton Australia’s General Manager, Michael Murray, presented to the Inquiry in Narrabri, where Namoi Water and Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association also gave evidence. The following day, members of Barwon-Darling Water presented evidence in Bourke.

A key focus of Cotton Australia’s evidence, along with other irrigator groups, was that although the implementation of the Basin Plan has had very significant impacts, the greatest current threat to the irrigation industry and water entitlements is the willingness of the NSW Government to introduce rules-based changes that diminish the reliability of water entitlements, rather than recognising the property right and implementing any required changes through the market.

Mr Murray cited the recent creation of a Special Access Licence of 14,000 megalitres for Wagga Wagga’s water supply and the Northern Connectivity Independent Panel recommendations as two clear examples of how rules-based changes fail to recognise property rights and diminish the value of entitlements, often without compensation.

The Inquiry is being chaired by the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, and includes representatives from across the political spectrum.

Read the full details of the Inquiry, including submissions and transcripts.