The Royal Commission’s most strident criticisms were of water bureaucrats it said were doing the bidding of politicians.

But, Minister for Regional Water Niall Blair said the report should be seen through the eyes of South Australia and the state Labor government that initiated it.

Mr Blair said whilst the NSW Government acknowledged concerns around the legality of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, it was “an issue for the Commonwealth”.

He also took umbrage to what he calls a “crusade” against irrigation farmers.

“This crusade against NSW irrigation farmers must stop,” he said.

“Water is the lifeblood of our basin communities and this continuous campaign to brand the farming community as environmental criminals is dangerous to every citizen in the basin, our state’s economy and our standing in overseas export markets.  

“The suggestion by Bret Walker, SC that further water buybacks should occur is also strongly opposed by NSW as it would decimate our regional communities.”

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National Party candidate for Dubbo Dugald Saunders was approached for comment but did not respond.

However, Federal member for Parkes Mark Coulton was more action orientated in his response to the commission's findings.

“If there are suggestions on issues that have been identified that have merit and need to be acted upon than the Commonwealth government will be doing that,” he said.

“I do point to Mr Walker’s statement about not demonising cotton farmers and that is pleasing to see.

“There are other things in there that I am concerned about and I think it is a little bit rich to see the South Australian slant on this because at the moment their irrigators are on 100 per cent allocation. The lakes down there have got water in them, but the northern basin is completely parched and somehow is expected to suffer much more pain than it already is.

“I’ll take a balanced approach to this report, but I am not going to take it on the chin that farmers in my electorate are to blame for fish kills and other things that are mentioned in the report.” 

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Labor candidate for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence said the royal commission report is a scathing indictment of the coalition’s handling of water. 

“It is nothing short of wonderful to see the brilliant intellect of Bret Walker SC unleashed on the officials and vested interests who are destroying our water systems,” he said.

“It is now up to the people to deliver political judgment. The coalition deserves to lose government over this alone."

Dubbo Greens candidate Rod Pryor Greens said it is no surprise that the NSW government is trying to discredit the Royal Commission.

“Brett Walker SC has not held back, and I am appreciative of him taking Niall Blair to task over the Menindee Lakes project; a project that has little logic in it,” he said.

“Scientific advice should have been acted upon, but unfortunately the Murray-Darling Basin Authority became politicised and appears to do the bidding of the minister.

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Shooters Fishers Farmers candidate Lara Quealy said the SFF support a Royal Commission.

“No one likes to see the mass fish deaths,” she said. “The NSW LNP government have pandered to interest groups and appeasing the Greens. To ignore locals, who have lived on properties adjoining the river for generations is irresponsible.”

Independent candidate for Dubbo Mathew Dickerson said he is convinced that people across the electorate are more concerned about environmental issues than the current government acknowledges.

“It is clear that the entire Murray-Darling process has been mismanaged and I would support a federal royal commission into the plan,” he said.