Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wyangala Dam in the state's Central West is a piece of infrastructure that needs to be enhanced. When in government, the coalition federal government put in place $650 million to increase the dam wall by 10 metres, to 95 metres, which would have added 650 gigalitres to that dam—that is, more than what the Sydney Harbour holds—and that would have enhanced the opportunities for farmers but perhaps, just as importantly, it would have prevented perhaps the six floods that Forbes has suffered, endured, copped, in the last dozen or so years. But Rose Jackson, who is the state water minister—well, she is the shadow minister; perhaps she will be the minister—said, 'Let's not worry about increasing the dam wall. Let's build a road so the people of Forbes can escape quicker.' I do hope she is not the water minister. If there is to be a silver lining out of the result in Monaro and if Steve Whan actually does succeed, then let's hope that some sense comes into the Minns government. I notice he didn't mention the regions in his acceptance speech. I accept the result, but New South Wales Labor needs to remember the regions.