Nathalia irrigator accuses minister of cherry picking facts

Ms Ley said: “No mature stands of river red gums have been killed or negatively affected by environmental flows".

Ms Ley is cherry-picking here — it is total flows that are causing major environmental damage.

River red gums are only a part of the total biodiversity of the Barmah-Millewa National Park.

Each time a river red gum falls into the river due to erosion of the banks, from excessive flows, it is of little consequence if it is environmental water or irrigation water that has done the damage, the environment is damaged.

Each time unseasonal overbank flows occur it is of little consequence if it is environmental water or irrigation water that has done the damage, the environment is damaged.

Each time there an unseasonal flood of the Barmah-Millewa National Park there is a loss of biodiversity.

Due to the increasing demand for below the Barmah Choke water, we have cold water releases — these impact on native fish.

The Barmah-Millewa National Park is a Ramsar-listed wetland and is so much more than river red gums — I would have expected far more from the environment minister.

If this is a case of Ms Ley not seeing the forest for the trees, then maybe she should look at expanding her knowledge — or finding a job in the government that better matches her skills.