Government ministers are using police protection when they travel to parts of the Murray-Darling Basin after receiving violent threats as the water debate rages.
Mick Keelty, the interim inspector-general for the Murray-Darling Basin, said state and federal ministers had been the target of several threats over the past year.
"That some ministers have had to engage police protection, and some departments have directed staff not to visit certain parts of the basin for fear of physical violence, is not acceptable," he said.
"Our democracy is better than that.
"The optics and cost of police protection does not sit well with our democracy and should not be ignored."
A range of issues including fish kills, dry rivers, dwindling water supplies and a lack of access to irrigation water for farmers has seen tensions flare across basin communities in 2019.
Earlier this year, Niall Blair resigned as NSW water minister after violent threats were made against his family and staff.
In September, a protester carrying a noose approached Federal Water Minister David Littleproud during a visit to Swan Hill.
The same week, an effigy of Mr Littleproud was thrown into the Murray River.
'We are better than that'
Mr Keelty, a former Federal Police commissioner, was appointed to oversee integrity across the basin in August, having initially served as Northern Basin Commissioner.
"We have been working hard and constructively with groups who see problems with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and associated policies," he said.
"I happen to agree with some of their concerns, but I will not advocate change for those wishing to use threats or violence or intimidation against our elected representatives and public servants.
"We are better than that."
Across the basin, protesters have called for major policy reform and some want to scrap the Murray-Darling Basin Plan before it concludes in 2024.
This week, Mr Littleproud called for calm in the debate after NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro repeated threats to withdraw his state from the $13 billion bipartisan plan.
"Those who want to destroy or walk away from the plan are showing a lack of leadership and are abrogating their obligation to bring about change through effective and constructive debate," Mr Keelty said.
"No-one has ever brought about change by walking away from the argument, and no-one I have met has produced a viable working alternative that addresses the needs of all stakeholders."
