NATIONALS Senator Barnaby Joyce has called on regional Victorians to rally in Canberra next year.
Senator Joyce, Coalition spokesman for water, regional development and local government, visited regional Victoria to talk to people affected by the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
He was in Bendigo yesterday to meet Damian Drum and candidate Steven Oliver of the Nationals.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s first-stage document, with suggestions of cuts up to 45 per cent in water allocations, has sparked anger among affected communities.
Senator Joyce said the plan would pull the economic rug out from underneath communities in the basin.
“Whether it is Bendigo, Shepparton, Mildura – its the same story, the Labor party just doesn’t seem to get it,’’ he said.
NATIONALS Senator Barnaby Joyce has called on regional Victorians to rally in Canberra next year.
Senator Joyce, Coalition spokesman for water, regional development and local government, visited regional Victoria to talk to people affected by the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
He was in Bendigo yesterday to meet Damian Drum and candidate Steven Oliver of the Nationals.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s first-stage document, with suggestions of cuts up to 45 per cent in water allocations, has sparked anger among affected communities.
Senator Joyce said the plan would pull the economic rug out from underneath communities in the basin.
“Whether it is Bendigo, Shepparton, Mildura – its the same story, the Labor party just doesn’t seem to get it,’’ he said.
“They don’t seem to understand if you take away the water that they are prescribed to take away in the Murray-Darling Basin, the economic future of so many towns will be turned upside down.
“I’ll give you a simple solution: convince Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott to support the Coalition and I become water minister and the problem finishes that day.’’
Senator Joyce urged the government to attend the authority’s meetings and say “g’day” to the people.
“I know Tony Burke thinks this is a load of rubbish. I just want Tony to come out and say so.
“That would be the right thing to do – and what is morally correct. He can’t put these people’s economic lives at risk any more.”
He called on regional Victorians to rally in Canberra on the first day of parliament in 2011.
“You might create a stink in Bendigo about the guide, you might create a stink in Shepparton about the guide, you might create a stink in Mildura, but they can’t smell it in Canberra, so you’d better turn up.’’
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