Helen Haines has voted for the Albanese Labor Government's destructive 450GL of water buybacks in a brazen betrayal of regional communities.
Dr Haines joined with Labor, the Greens and teal 'independents' in a vote that ignores the social and economic neutrality test, smashing the bipartisan support that has driven the Murray Darling Basin Plan since its inception in 2007.
Just moments after she spoke of the destruction these buybacks would inflict on her own communities in the Indi electorate, she shockingly backed that destruction.
Today, Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said Dr Haines has demonstrated an alarming disconnection from the sensible views of regional Victorians.
"Dr Haines' support for Albanese's destructive buybacks prove that she and other so-called 'independents' are just Labor in disguise," Mr Walsh said.
"Only The Nationals will stand united for what's right for regional communities, whether that's in Canberra or with the team we have in the Parliament of Victoria."
Shadow Minister for Water Tim McCurdy said these buybacks threaten to destroy regional communities and force grocery prices up for families already struggling under Labor's cost-of-living crisis.
"Dr Haines has turned her back on our regional communities and all Victorians doing it tough by supporting Labor's destructive buybacks," Mr McCurdy said.
"Labor and Dr Haines have effectively admitted that buybacks hurt communities by removing the social and economic test for these buybacks.
"This water is the lifeblood of our communities and the food on supermarket shelves, and Dr Haines has helped Labor bleed all of us dry."
