Murrumbidgee Irrigation board no confidence motion defeated at Annual General Meeting

Around 120 Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) shareholders attended MI’s nineteeth Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Historic Hydro Motor Inn in Leeton.

Some 75 per cent voted against the no confidence motion. 

Farmer and shareholder Kel Williams put forward the motion to protest what he called MI’s “arrogance, lack of transparency and lack of genuine consultation”.

Despite the defeat, he was satisfied with what he achieved.

"We got 25 per cent of the vote, which was a good result."

"MI stacked the room with old board members and their cronies to get their way.”

"Usually people are silent at the end of the meeting, but there were eight questions. We learned a lot about problems in other areas, which is encouraging".

Questions shareholders raised at the meeting included the effect of the pricing review and customer communications.

MI Managing Director, Brett Jones, said that communications have improved.

“And we need to continue this improvement,” he added.

“We understand that with the many changes occurring at MI it is critical to maintain open and constructive

communication.”

“A dedicated customer engagement team is being built to improve customer communications.”

Mr Williams said, “we hope this [vote] will be a wake up call for the MI board and they'll be more responsive to shareholders in the future".