I take exception to this, because I represent farmers, and when I receive evidence suggesting that government is deliberately doing the wrong thing by them – or anyone else for that matter – then I am obliged to do something about it.

When I was elected I pledged my loyalty to Australia and the people of NSW, and as a former police officer of 22 years I take my integrity very seriously.

The leaked report shows farmers have been overcharged by more than $32 million over the past 20 years for their concessional vehicle registration.

VIDEO: Member for Orange Philip Donato in NSW Parliament ...

Addressing the issue at Macquarie Street.

Alarmingly, the report shows the government actually knew about this error since at least February, yet did nothing. Instead, Minister Pavey buried the document in secrecy.

In fact, the document outlines the government’s projected financial yearly losses of $12.5 million at a rate of 12.7 per cent interest per annum, should the error be remedied. Perhaps that was the motive for the government’s clandestine management of the blunder?

This made me think back to a few months ago, when the government refused to listen to my continuous calls for them to introduce freight subsidies and help our farmers, but instead they insisted their loans available to farmers were sufficient.

What we now know from this secret document is they knew full well that more support for farmers was already available by applying the correct cap and refunding the money that was overcharged.

I accept that a 20-year blunder involves several governments, but what I will not accept is the Minister and her Nationals-Liberal government deliberately withholding the information and failing to notify farmers of the error, when they knew many of our farmers are struggling to feed starving stock and themselves.

The integrity of the Minister and the government is questionable, indeed. I would remind them of their responsibility, and the pledges they made or the oaths they took, too. How long was it going to be kept a secret if I did not receive the leaked information and bring it up in Parliament myself?

I asked the Minister when did she intend to tell our battling drought-affected farmers who had been fleeced of their hard-earned money and owed by the RMS, and when would they be refunded.

Minister Pavey avoided answering the question by stating that it was “important to acknowledge that the government is working alongside our farmers”.

She then went on about various other drought measures that have been applied.

That’s all well and good – but what about addressing my question which has still gone answered?

After this, Ray Hadley followed up on his radio show by asking Minister Pavey about the blunder. Her response to his questions was that the situation is “very complicated”. Well, let’s ‘uncomplicate’ it, shall we? The solution is to publicly declare the issue, apologise to the affected farmers, and get cracking on refunding them their money.

It never ceases to amaze me that the National Party has the audacity to claim it represents farmers but then kick them in the guts when they are down.