A packed rally of around 500 irrigators backed a motion to invite Scott Morrison to hear firsthand how they were suffering due to lack of water for crops.

They made the call on Monday morning at Denilquin’s RSL during a two-hour meeting organised by the Speak Up organisation which agitates for those in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Ten speakers, including federal MP Sussan Ley and NSW state MP Austin Evans, addressed the rally.

In addition to calling for the Prime Minister to visit Deniliquin, a motion pushing for immediate steps to be taken by the Commonwealth and state to have an early allocation of water was also unanimously endorsed.

The farmers are hoping they can access environmental water to save winter crops, which in turn may allow for more fodder to be transported to severely drought-hit farmers further north.

They want an answer in the next seven days, with the latest official allocations due to be announced next Monday. 

Former Murray Irrigation chairman Bill Hetherington moved the motion to have Mr Morrison come to the region immediately.

“I want to talk to people who make it happen and the Prime Minister is the one,” Mr Hetherington told the gathering.

He noted Mr Morrison’s predecessor Malcolm Turnbull had given $500 million to assist the Great Barrier Reef “without the flick of an eye”.

Speaking to The Border Mail after the meeting, Ms Ley welcomed the motion calling for Mr Morrison to visit.

However, she said her immediate priority would be seeking a visit from drought co-ordinator Major General Stephen Day, who she described as Mr Morrison’s “eyes and ears” when it came to learning of the impact of the big dry.