The NSW Labor Government has confirmed in Parliament that it has no intention anytime soon of honouring its own election commitment for a water filtration plant for Clarence Valley Council, Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson says.

“I arranged for a question to be put in Parliament on this key issue to Sydney Labor Water Minister, Ms Rose Jackson MLC,” Mr Williamson said.

“Labor’s commitment before the election was ‘priority investment for this project’ however the Minister now says ‘we are exploring options’, code for yet another broken promise to regional NSW.

“The Government wasn’t ‘exploring options’ when it passed a law in June to protect Sydney water security, but not that of regional NSW,” Mr Williamson noted.

Labor’s Constitution Amendment Bill 2023 guaranteed public ownership of the Sydney Water Corporation and the Hunter Water Corporation, but not NSW Water, which serves the regions.

“When it is something for Sydney, Labor cash splashes our tax dollars, but when it is a basic necessity for regional communities like the Richmond and Clarence Valleys, they hold a review and/or blame the previous Government. Not good enough,” Mr Williamson concluded.