Kingston wary of basin relocation plans

Independent candidate for Mallee Ray Kingston believes the Federal Government has ignored recommendations of its own report in announcing a relocation of Murray Darling Basin Authority jobs to Mildura, Griffith and Murray Bridge.

Mr Kingston was referring to the Nationals’ Regions at the Ready report.

He said the Nationals needed to realise that ‘making a success of decentralisation takes more than just a token announcement’.

“It’s a process that requires careful planning and long-term commitment,” he said. “I am a strong supporter of decentralisation, so while I welcome this move in principle, I have deep reservations about what looks like another ad hoc process knocked up on the back of an envelope in an attempt to sure up country seats in the lead up to an election.

“These matters require a longterm strategic approach.

“The government has been talking a good game in this space for ages, but all we’ve seen so far is the near destruction of the pesticides regulator through the relocation to New England when Barnaby Joyce’s seat was under threat.

“This decision by the then Ag Minister came at a massive and long-lasting cost to agriculture.”

Mr Kingston said the government risked further dysfunction of the Murray Darling Basin Authority and discrediting the concept of future decentralisation through poor planning.

“Decentralisation done right needs a long-term bipartisan approach, as an Independent for Mallee, I can act as an honest broker to push both sides of parliament towards positive outcomes,” he said.