MOMENTUM has been gaining for MP Helen Dalton and her water register bill, after rural advocacy group Speak Up 4 Water launched an online petition to show their support.
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The Member for Murray has urged NSW residents to cast their digital vote, which will demand NSW Government create a public register listing all owners of the state's water entitlements.
"In early August, the NSW Government voted down my bill to force politicians to declare their water interests and to create an online water register," Mrs Dalton said.
"This means foreign corporations can continue to buy our water whilst keeping their ownership secret.
"If you're appalled by this, you can now have your say."
Mrs Dalton is determined her bill remains "on the right track", insisting the strong opposition has only highlighted those who she says have something to hide.
During a parliamentary inquiry, the register was labelled as an invasion of privacy and a waste of time by those in opposition.
Mrs Dalton says she will reintroduce her bill to NSW Parliament in mid-September, with an amendment to protect privacy.
"I don't really think this amendment is necessary," Mrs Dalton said.
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"A public water register was never going to include phone numbers and addresses, you could argue the White Pages violate privacy more than a water register.
"But if the NSW Government is using privacy as their excuse, this new clause addresses this concern."
A recent policy change means NSW Parliament are obliged to debate and vote on any electronic petition with more than 20,000 signatures.
This includes the now circulating amended water register bill, which Mrs Dalton says has strengthened disclosure requirements for irrigation corporations.
"At present, it's easy for foreign companies to hide their water entitlements inside an irrigation corporation. They won't be able to do so if my bill passes," Mrs Dalton said.
"If I have the weight of 20,000 petition signatures behind a public water register, it will be difficult for the NSW Government to resist it."
