Local State of Play

Ian Tiley, Clarence Valley Mayor: still strongly defending Council's opposition to water diversion proposal.
[See Mayoral Minute, 17 April 2007, at www.clarence.nsw.gov.au]

Chris Gulaptis, Nationals candidate for Federal Seat of Page: publicly states he opposes damming the Clarence River, but will not rule out supporting any future nationalisation of water and won't commit to crossing the floor to vote against
water diversion if elected.

Ian Causley, Federal Nationals MP for Page: apparently supports the Howard-Turnbull water diversion options and intent on flipping the bird to the electorate as he leaves the building for retirement.

Luke Hartsuyker, Federal Nationals MP for Cowper:
says he is against damming the Clarence, but confines his appearances at Question Time to asking Dorothy-Dixers on unrelated subjects.

Steve Cansdell, Nationals MP for NSW Seat of Clarence: opposes diversion of Clarence River or its tributaries to Queensland, but needs to do more than distribute a petition.

Andrew Stoner, Nationals MP for the NSW Seat of Coffs Harbour and Leader of the NSW Nationals: opposes damming the Clarence River and water diversion to anywhere, but needs to do more than talk.

Don Page, Nationals MP for NSW Seat of Ballina and Shadow Minister for the North Coast: does not support damming or diverting Clarence River water.

Ernie Bennett, Kyogle Mayor and former candidate for Nationals preselection: changes his mind every time he changes his shirt.

Note: The Iemma Government does not currently support interbasin transfers in relation to the Clarence catchment area.
Anthony Albanese, Federal Opposition Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Water strongly opposes the Clarence water diversion proposal.
[See Media Release, 17 April 2007, at www.anthonyalbanese.com.au]
It appears that it is NSW Labor policy that the Clarence River not be subject to such water diversion.