Member for Murray Helen Dalton said the government could be doing more to prevent job losses in the MIA
MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton said now was the worst possible time for employees to find out they would soon be out of a job.
Mrs Dalton's comments follow the recent announcement from SunRice it would be cutting 55 more jobs from its Leeton mill, as well as others from its Deniliquin and Australian Grain Services operations.
"My heart goes out to the SunRice workers who have been retrenched at the worst possible time for their families - just before Christmas when spending bills are huge and very few jobs are advertised," she said.
"The company have now shed a total of 232 employees over the past 12 months.
"When you compare populations, that's like a company shedding 58,000 jobs in Sydney.
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"If this had happened in Sydney, government would be offering a rescue package.
"But here, government is just twisting the knife.
"The insanity of so many job losses in the shadow of full rivers is hard to comprehend."
As she has said after speaking following similar announcements of job losses at SunRice, Mrs Dalton said the drought was not to blame.
She said the NSW government could "stem job losses tomorrow" with some simple rule changes allowing farmers to access water currently being wasted.
Mrs Dalton said there was too much at stake to not take any action.
"I'll be talking the fight up to the government on this," she said.
"I've taken these issues up directly with ministers and I've also asked (radio presenter) Alan Jones if he can help too.
"He's aware of how stupid water policy is here and will be beating the drum loudly.
"I know people are frustrated at the lack of government action on this, but I want to assure everyone out there I will try and change policy by any means necessary."
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