MINNS REFUSES TO RULE OUT SIGNING ALBANESE’S SECRET NATIONAL WATER AGREEMENT

Labor Premier Chris Minns has refused to rule out signing the Commonwealth’s proposed National Water Agreement, despite mounting concern from regional communities and water users across NSW.

The federal government wants states and territories to sign the new agreement, which would rewrite Australia’s overarching water policy framework.

However, the details of the proposed agreement have not been publicly released, leaving farmers, irrigators and regional communities in the dark about how the deal could affect their livelihoods and water security.

The Queensland Liberal National Government has announced it will not sign the agreement, stating “the federal government have not made the case” for the deal.

In Question Time today, Premier Minns declined to confirm whether his Government would follow Queensland’s lead, brushing aside the concerns raised by NSW stakeholders.

Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke said farmers are being asked to shoulder enormous risk under a national agreement they have not seen and that has not been properly justified.

“NSW farmers are staring down the barrel of another national water deal that could reshape water access, entitlements and allocations, yet they are being kept completely in the dark,” Ms Cooke said.

“When Queensland says the federal government have not made the case, that should set off alarm bells for every irrigator, every food producer and every regional community that depends on secure water in this state.”

Ms Cooke said the Premier’s refusal to rule out signing the agreement sends a deeply worrying signal to farmers already battling uncertainty, rising costs and tightening water availability.

“This is not an abstract policy. For NSW farmers, water policy determines whether businesses survive, whether food and fibre continue to be produced locally, and whether regional towns remain viable,” she said.

“If Queensland can stand up and say no until the case is made, then NSW farmers and rural communities deserve the same level of advocacy and backbone from their Premier.”

Ms Cooke called on the NSW Labor Government to immediately release the full details of the proposed agreement, undertake genuine and transparent consultation with water users, and rule out signing any deal that does not clearly protect NSW farmers’ water security.

“We’ve seen the Victorian Government take a stand against water buybacks, and now Queensland has drawn a line on this new agreement,” Ms Cooke said.

“The people of New South Wales deserve the same level of decisiveness, not secrecy, spin, and dismissal.

“Signing a national agreement without clarity, without justification, and without the confidence of the people who depend on water most would represent a serious failure of leadership.”