'Shooting the messenger': water experts say NSW minister wrong to question drought findings
Written by Anne Davies
Correspondence shows NSW Natural Resources Commission anger at being criticised by water minister Melinda Pavey over Barwon-Darling findings
The New South Wales Natural Resources Commission has warned the water minister she is “shooting the messenger” over their findings that water management in the Barwon-Darling river had brought on drought conditions in the Lower Darling three years early.
The Sydney Morning Herald has obtained correspondence from the commission in which it strongly refutes the minister’s assertions that its report on management of NSW’s largest river was wrong or tarnished by a conflict of interest by its scientific expert, Professor Fran Sheldon.
Related: Coalition divided over water policy in wake of damning Barwon-Darling report
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