Handing the water portfolio to the Nationals is another serious blow to Malcolm Turnbull’s credibility on the environment, according to shadow agriculture minister Joel Fitzgibbon.
‘Coming on top of his refusal to take meaningful action on climate change to avoid splits in the Liberal Party, it is clear that Malcolm Turnbull has put his ambition ahead of the environment,’ he said.
‘Water policy should be determined on the basis of science, not abandoned as part of a political horse-trade,’ Mr Fitzgibbon added.
‘The best way to ensure our limited and precious water resources are properly allocated to our food and fibre production in a sustainable way, is to have water policy based on science and productivity rather than on Barnaby Joyce’s re-election.
‘Furthermore, Australians have every right to question the National’s thirst for the water portfolio,’ Mark Butler, shadow minister for environment, climate change and water said.
Mark Butler said giving the water portfolio to the Nationals would be bad for South Australia and the broader Australian community.
‘South Australians are acutely aware of the consequences if governments don’t get the balance right on water.
‘One thing is for sure – the National Party doesn’t want the water portfolio so they can increase environmental flows.’
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