HISTORIC DEBATE WIN

Yesterday, I stood in the NSW Parliament and we made history.

After a 40-minute debate, the House voted to officially support a Royal Commission into water management. This isn't symbolic.

This is the Parliament of New South Wales putting its name to the fact that the current system has failed our communities.

What does this mean?

The NSW Parliament now has to formally call on the Federal Government to establish a Royal Commission into water. The Premier and the Government can no longer claim there's "no interest" in examining water policy.

The democratic will of the House is now on the record.

Why is this such a big deal?

For an Independent MP to win a Public Interest Debate against the major parties is a giant-killing moment. It proves that when we work together across the political divide, we can break through the two-party system and demand accountability.

This was first debated this in 2019. Chris Minns voted for it. Senior Labor and Nationals figures supported it. Parliamentary committees recommended it in 2018.

Six years later, our communities are still paying the price because governments chose not to act.

That changes now.

This is about truth. When billions of dollars are spent and entire communities are turned upside down, you deserve to see the evidence, understand the decisions, and trust the process.

Good policy survives scrutiny. If it can't withstand examination, we fix it—we don't defend it.

To everyone who has fought for this moment: this win belongs to you. We're not done yet, but today we took a massive step forward.

The fight for water continues.