NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has said the Murray-Darling Basin Plan should be ripped up if the situation doesn't improve for regional NSW.Credit:Joel Carrett
"If we can't see a change in how the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is working for the people of NSW,forget pausing the plan,rip the bloody thing up and we will walk away,"Mr Barilaro said.
"The reality here is water is running out in real terms."
The NSW Nationals leader told a budget estimates hearing he had already asked Water Minister Melinda Pavey to"look into what responsibilities[the state has] and get some legal advice on it".
Ms Pavey confirmed that she waiting on"internal[government] legal advice"on the"financial and legal penalties"NSW would face if the state pulled out of the plan.
It comes as the government looks at using trains to cart water to towns at risk of running out.
Ms Pavey said water had already been carted by trucks to hundreds of properties in the upper Hunter and other areas of the state that are being ravaged by the drought.
"We will get through this summer with some carting to farms and some of our small towns but our big worry is if we don't get some rain next year,"Ms Pavey told a budget estimates hearing.