The Great Artesian Basin, the forests, the premier Gladys Berejiklian: is nothing safe from the NSW Nationals?

Just weeks ago, academics reported that 19 major ecosystems that sustain life are collapsing across the continent, posing an existential threat to our survival. Regions critical for growing food are affected, including the Murray-Darling Basin, whose rivers and freshwater systems support more than 30% of Australia’s food production.

Given the key role that NSW’s Pillaga Forest plays in recharging the Great Artesian Basin, the largest and deepest artesian basin in the world, the destruction about to occur in the Pillaga should be of national concern. This natural wonder provides essential freshwater to rural Australian communities and a vast network of ecosystems.

Covering about 500,000 hectares, the Pillaga is the largest remaining…