DESPITE a warning it "wouldn't be constructive" for his political career, Riverina MP Michael McCormack gave a voice to the community with a passionate speech against the Murray-Darling Basin Plan on Thursday night.
He was one of only five members to do so.Less than an hour later, he crossed the floor to vote in favour of his own disallowance motion.
The lone figures of Mr McCormack, Murray MP Sharman Stone, Independent Bob Katter, Member for Hume Alby Schultz and Greens member Adam Bandt were a stark contrast to the packed seats on the opposite side of the chamber.
Thirty members did not vote, many of them Nationals MPs who boycotted in support of Mr McCormack and his seconder, Ms Stone.
"You don't get sent to Canberra so you can be meek and mild, you go there to stick up for people who otherwise wouldn't have a voice."I was told this wasn't perhaps constructive for my future career but I believe you have to represent the people who put you there so it was something I had to do," Mr McCormack said.
"It's very tough to cross the floor because you're voting against your party's collective wishes but I would absolutely do it again if it meant a better deal for my community."
While the vote didn't go Mr McCormack's way, his motion led Opposition leader Tony Abbott to commit to a 1500-gigalitre limit on buyback if his party took government at the next election.
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