A Federal MP believes New South Wales irrigators should be allowed to borrow environmental water to finish their winter crops.

Some are facing zero allocations of general security water while more than 500 gigalitres of environmental water is stored in the southern Murray Darling Basin.

Regional Liberal MP Sussan Ley tells Alan Jones water in the Hume Dam could be allocated, then paid back, saying it’s a “win-win”.

“This environmental water is just sitting there. It’s not looking after the environment when it’s sitting in the dam and it’s not needed, in some cases, for up to three years.

“So why on earth can’t we get it to finish our winter crops which are dying as you and I speak and could provide fodder for the drought?”

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