The new leader of the NSW Labor Party Jodi McKay has accused the National Party of bringing on the drought through mismanagement of the state's water sharing system.
In her first speech to NSW Farmers, the former Gloucester girl, said she was unafraid to speak her mind on issues and accused the Nationals of bungling the management of the Murray-Darling river system.
"The review of water sharing has found the unfair allocation of water has brought on the drought three years early. The National Party has brought on that drought. It's a damning indictment of water management in this state."
"We do not think the National Party should be in charge of water and we have seen three National Party ministers preside over the portfolio where there has been unfair allocation."
Ms McKay promised to keep rural and regional NSW in her focus as the new Opposition leader.
She said regional NSW deserved "real jobs not just paper jobs". She said recognising and adapting to climate change was fundamental to Labor policies and seeking 50 per cent renewable energy in NSW by 2030.
She said people would be at the heart of Labor policy, and she saw no reason why country people should not vote for Labor as many Labor MPs such as herself were raised in the country.
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
