Water was front and centre when Cotton Australia hosted its annual Board and NSW Government Dinner in Sydney recently. The dinner, hosted by Cotton Australia Chair Liz Stott, was attended by the Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty, Minister for Water Rose Jackson, Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison, and Minister for Skills and Training Steve Whan, along with the Deputy Secretary for Agriculture and Biosecurity, Rachel Connell, as well as senior advisers.

While discussions were many and varied, key topics included the extraordinarily dire consequences of the Northern NSW Connectivity Review should its recommendations be implemented, and the bureaucratic challenges being faced with the roll-out of Floodplain Management Plans in southern NSW.

These annual dinners provide an ideal opportunity for members of the Cotton Australia Board and key staff to build relationships with the NSW Government and provide an informal environment to discuss key issues facing NSW and the cotton industry.

Following the dinner on Monday night, the Leader of the NSW Nationals, Gurmesh Singh, along with the Member for Albury, Justin Clancy, and NSW Upper House Member Aileen MacDonald, joined growers and Cotton Australia team members at Coogee as part of Cotton Australia’s Half-Yearly General Meeting.

According to Cotton Australia General Manager Michael Murray, having strong relationships with key decision-makers who have a sound understanding of our industry is crucial when hard conversations have to be had.