Mr Haigh’s case for greed is not supported by any fact contained in his opinion piece, and his claim that the Northern Basin Alliance seeks to avoid governance by the yet to be formed Commonwealth Basin Authority is untrue and unsupported by any written or oral statements made by the Northern Basin Alliance. The members of the Northern Basin Alliance have and will continue to seek specific Darling River Northern system input in the Basin Authority under its legislated governance arrangements. Whether this role is titled commissioner or otherwise is relevant to substantive issues of governance.

Mr Haigh’s assertions of greed and political influence are not new; he made many such claims, proved unfunded in the last election campaign. Mr Haigh is self described as a former diplomat and political commentator, what is not mentioned is he is also a serial candidate for federal elections. The public should know that in the last campaign the ALP preferenced Mr Haigh, and Mr Haigh preferenced the ALP (with a Greens candidate inserted between the preferences to provide just a little separation but no impedance to vote flow between these strange political friends).

The Northern Basin Alliance took the issues of the social, environmental and economic needs of our region to both ALP Governments recently in a public, transparent and effective manner. I am sure that some of the ALP is smarting from a very effective regional campaign and as such, attacks on the Northern Basin Alliance by Government mouthpieces are to be expected.

The public should be aware that for those who enjoy centralised power, such roles exist in the yet to be formed basin authority. Four part time commissioners/members and a basin community committee are to be appointed by the Commonwealth Government. I hope that the

politically captured will not achieve these roles. Our communities need experienced advocates, proven to be actively committed to transparent regional debate, not ALP mouthpieces seeking powerful positions in remote Canberra.

John Clements

NAMOI WATER

executive officer