Since being endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Nicholls I have stated that the next member for Nicholls must have a sound understanding of water policy.
I have spent my life living and working in agriculture, from selling billions of dollars of Aussie wheat direct to overseas flour millers, to now running my own 6000-tree pomegranate orchard.
My credentials in agriculture extend far beyond being born in a regional area or a fleeting few years in a loosely-related agricultural business.
It has come as a surprise for me then, that two of my primary opponents have listed water as their major priorities.
If you look through the public record there is no history of either candidate advocating about this major priority of theirs.
Not until they decided they wanted to run for parliament.
In stark contrast, four years ago in 2019, on the public record, I addressed around 500 delegates at the Victorian Liberal state council and asked, among other things, that the 450Gl be redressed, and that environmental water be made available to food producers.
The three motions were passed unanimously.
In addition I have spoken at multiple forums on water policy, been interviewed on national media, and made submissions to inquiries on the failings of water policy for our region.
Far from me being a lone advocate on this issue, my family has also spent considerable time, money and effort in advocating for sensible water policy including against NSW National party efforts to license floodplain harvesting, which would have adverse implications for our region.
Over the past years, I have never sighted either candidate at any of the water rallies held across the Murray or Goulburn regions as fury over water policy has escalated.
An independent would have no capacity to alter any of the issues he has raised about water policy.
Furthermore, I am more than happy to have my agricultural and water policy credentials held up to any of the current National party candidates, members or senators.
In fact I urge voters to assess what these candidates have actually done on this important issue, rather than just reading from talking points.
So if you are serious about positive change, and a more sensible water policy being adopted away from the Labor Party’s 450Gl buybacks, I ask you to vote for someone who has fought for these issues longer than the announcement of their parliamentary career aspiration. I ask for your vote.
Steve Brooks is the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Nicholls
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