The lobby group representing more than 1600 southern Riverina farmers has begged a handful of NSW politicians to hear their calls to pause the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
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Southern Riverina Irrigators chair Chris Brooks was on his knees at Parliament House in Sydney last week pleading with the nine politicians who met with him to learn more about the impacts the plan was having on irrigators.
"We explained that if this plan is allowed to continue in its current form it will destroy communities," Mr Brooks said.
"It needs to be paused and we need a royal commission. We also need the Murray-Darling Agreement reviewed - southern NSW should not be penalised when the Darling doesn't flow.
"Downstream of the natural constraints of the system, demand continues unabated, this and floodplain harvesting issues need to be addressed.
"We also spoke about the Lower Lakes, including the false science around their historic condition.
"As recent reports have proved beyond doubt, the lakes were historically estuarine, not freshwater which is the basis the basin plan was built on."
Mr Brooks said he understood that the plan was "more about politics than the environment" but implored all politicians to try and put the politics aside.
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"And work with farmers and communities to fix the mess that has been created," he said.
The forum organised by One Nation's Rod Roberts was addressed by Mr Brooks, his deputy chairman Darcy Hare and NSW Farmers' representative Chris Stillard.
Mr Brooks said while he would have liked more politicians to attend, especially those from the National Party, he met with those he aimed to and they gained a better understanding of the problems being faced.
He also thanked the politicians for taking the time to listen to their concerns about the "failing water policy".
Member for Murray Helen Dalton was the only southern NSW MP to attend the meeting.
The other politicians who attended were Liesl Tesch, Matthew Manson-Cox,, Lou Amato, Jonathan O'Dea, Phil Donato, Mark Banasiak, Mark Latham and Rod Roberts.
Mr Roberts didn't hold back when explaining what the forum was about.
"It was a platform for our farmers to speak on failed government policy, the flawed Murray Darling Basin Plan and the destruction of the environment and of local economies impacted by the plan," he said.
"Most importantly is was an opportunity for members of this Parliament to listen, meet and ask questions of these farmers who traveled hundreds of kilometres in their own time and at their own expense begging members of this Parliament to hear their stories.
"The attendance record was disappointing given the importance of this issue.
"I implore all politicians to make contact with these farmers and start acting on their behalf."