Member for Murray Helen Dalton: “Rogue operators must be held to account”

Member for Murray Helen Dalton said the allegation raised in last week’s Riverine Grazier “must not be swept under the carpet.” Image: supplied.

By Krista Schade

Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton (above) has responded to The Riverine Grazier’s story last week regarding reports of a fuel spill at a district property.

“The allegations are incredibly serious and must not be swept under the carpet,” Mrs Dalton said.

"We cannot have a situation where foreign-owned agricultural enterprises act as if Australian laws do not apply to them.”

Reports have emerged that 11,800 litres of diesel fuel spilled at Gundaline Station, east of Hay, and was drained into a main irrigation channel.

Management company Customised Farm Management (CFM) denied the report, which was delivered to The Riverine Grazier, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), SafeWork NSW and NSW Fisheries.

“The EPA and the DPI’s responses to the Riverine Grazier are indefensible,” Mrs Dalton said.

“For starters, the EPA should be independently establishing how much diesel was actually spilt.

“Until that is independently determined, we will never know how bad things were on the property.

“The DPI’s response seems to be more buck passing and it’s not good enough.

“The State Government should appreciate the seriousness of what has been alleged.”

Mrs Dalton has called for further investigations by the NSW Government authorities, and not be left to Murrumbidgee Council.

"Every allegation must be investigated thoroughly,” she said.

“In my view the investigation can’t be left to the Council.

“Councils just don’t have the resources or expertise to handle a proper investigation into the kind of matters that are being alleged.

“There are multiple agencies and authorities who should be acting right now, and it’s not good enough for any of them to be pretending it’s someone else’s problem.

“Ultimately, I believe the State Government needs to take a leadership role in matters like this, because the agricultural sector is vital to our state’s survival, and any rogue operators must be held to account.”

Mrs Dalton has offered her assistance to any rural workers in her electorate who may have information on unsafe or questionable farm practises.

“Rural workers should never be afraid to come forward and tell the truth,” she said.

“That’s why it’s so important that authorities step in and investigate.

“This would send a clear signal that businesses will be held to account when they do the wrong thing.

“This will hopefully make rural workers feel more confident to come forward with what they know."