NSW Irrigators Council chief executive, Andrew Gregson, says the promised transparency has not been delivered.

"In amongst a host of data, we needed one critical piece of information – how much did the government pay for licenses in each individual valley?" Mr Gregson said.

The data provided on the website has been aggregated across multiple valleys, rendering it almost impossible to compare prices paid by the Commonwealth against normal trading patterns.

"The website aggregates the Murray and the Murrumbidgee – two of the biggest systems

in NSW.

"These are very distinct markets and should be treated as such.

"In terms of price, the website has aggregated across the entire Murray Darling Basin – rendering that data useless."

Whilst recognising privacy issues, NSW Irrigators Council contend that the Commonwealth must practice what they preach in terms of an effective and efficient water market.

"Compare this to the stock market – nobody would be content with an aggregate price for 'mining stocks' or 'industrial stocks'," Mr Gregson said.

"That market demands disclosure of prices paid for each individual stock.

"In the same way, we need to see prices paid for each category of water in individual valleys.

“The Commonwealth promised transparency. We haven’t received it.

"Our support for Minister Wong’s market activity is predicated upon it. Transparency must be provided in all government water purchases."