And he is concerned the lack of understanding could lead to even more buybacks to secure environmental water that can’t be delivered down the rivers.
Mr Brooks, an orchardist with a business background, was commenting on the shortfall of water the government was trying to make-up due to the savings that couldn’t be found through infrastructure measures.
There is a 265Gl shortfall created by the failure to find enough through efficiency measures.
Mr Brooks said the government had taken 380Gl of the 450Gl in buybacks.
But the government already knew the 450Gl could never go down the river unless it had enhanced environmental flows, which was basically flooding the river, Mr Brooks said.
“The only way they could justify getting the 450 was if they got the constraints relaxed,” he said.
“NSW has capitulated to federal pressure and passed the Water Management Amendment (Easements for inundation) Act, which allows the NSW Government to flood NSW rivers.
“Before the Federal Government can even talk about buybacks for 265Gl they are short on infrastructure projects. How about they come clean on what they are going to do with the 380Gl (most of which is largely gone to Victorian-linked rivers) when we won’t relax our constraints.
“We will not relax our constraints under a Liberal-National government.”
On other issues, Mr Brooks said conversations with his constituents always started with complaints about the roads and potholes.
“But they are furious about corruption,” he said.
“When they see the rural share of spending under Labor is 12 per cent when we are 25 per cent of the Victorian population, and they hear that $15 billion has been syphoned into the pockets of criminals, people are understandably furious.”
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