Cootamundra MP Katrina Hodgkinson has fired back at allegations of wrongdoing when she was water minister.
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There have been allegations levelled at Ms Hodgkinson that she changed laws to benefit irrigators.
The Nationals MP made a shock announcement last week that she was retiring and social media has been alight with allegations it was due to a scandal.
The Daily Telegraph said they obtained a 2012 letter to lobbyist and cotton farmer Ian Cole showing Ms Hodgkinson had requested amendments be made to the water sharing plan.
Ms Hodgkinson wrote to Mr Cole: “Following consideration of a number of WSP (water sharing plan) matter raised with me, I requested the Office of Water to make several amendments which I believe now present a fair and equitable outcome for all.”
Ms Hodgkinson said she stands by her record as a member of parliament and her retirement was not due to any scandal.
"There is nothing sinister, no scandal, I have been thinking about my future for a little while, and I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve achieved in state Parliament, what I am likely to achieve in the future, and I decided to retire,” she said.
I am confident I got the best deal possible for NSW as a result of those tough negotiations, and I stand by my record
- Katrina Hodgkinson
“The Murray Darling Basin Plan was a complex negotiation exercise, involving four states, all of whom had their own interests front of mind. I am confident I got the best deal possible for NSW as a result of those tough negotiations, and I stand by my record.”
Ms Hodgkinson said the NSW government was determined to take a triple bottom line approach between environmental, social and economic perspectives prior to signing off on the plan.
“I inherited a one-dimensional plan from Labor as the incoming minister,” she said.
“I also inherited into my portfolio the very grave concerns of affected regional communities, particularly in Western NSW. I am proud of my record as a minister.”