The appointment of a former NSW Nationals party leader as Interim Inspector-General of Water Compliance is taking ‘cronyism to new heights’, according to Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive, Chris Gambian.
Mr Gambian said, ‘They’re not even pretending anymore’.
‘Troy Grant was in charge when some of the worst policy decisions that favour big irrigators at the expense of communities, farmers and nature downstream [were made]’.
‘Fresh from stinging criticism from ICAC about water management in NSW, the federal government has appointed the fox to be in charge of the hen house.
‘The NSW Nationals have had a hyper-partisan role in water politics, their finger in every instance of water mismanagement and have been attacking other states. This is an entirely inappropriate appointment.
‘Downstream communities will suffer the consequences of their mismanagement for decades to come.
‘The public can have no faith that Mr Troy will be an independent, impartial and fearless watchdog when he is so compromised by his close ties to the dodgy past decisions.
‘This appointment was an opportunity to restore some confidence in the governance of our precious inland water supplies. This hyper-partisan appointment confirms the worst fears of many – that water policy in NSW is still captured by [big ag] industry and their political mates’.
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