Media release 5 August: Regional Job Cuts Threaten Service Delivery – Water Price Hike Adds Insult to Injury

Member for Albury, Justin Clancy, has warned that the NSW Government’s ongoing cuts to regional jobs are putting essential services and infrastructure at risk particularly in water management.

Mr Clancy said this Labor government continues to slash regional jobs across TAFE, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Transport and now we’re seeing the same thing happen in water.

‘We are already losing critical staff who provide on-the-ground support for farmers and water users, and now the government is cutting services that help people understand and comply with complex water laws.’

‘It is deeply concerning that these job losses and cuts are happening at the same time Water NSW is hitting water users with an 8.3 per cent price hike for 2025–26.’

‘Farmers and water users are being asked to pay more, with no clarity from the government about how this will improve outcomes whether it’s better service delivery, stronger compliance support, or the maintenance of major assets like the Hume Dam,’ he said.

‘These changes undermine the capacity to deliver what matters on the ground whether that’s access to reliable water advice, transparent infrastructure maintenance, or timely responses to local issues.’

Mr Clancy also criticised the Government’s bill expanding the powers of the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR), labelling it a heavy-handed move in the absence of sufficient community support services.

‘You can’t keep tightening compliance while removing the very people who help communities understand and manage their obligations. It’s regulation without support and that doesn’t work.’