22nd May 2009

The Prime Minister
The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Parliament House
Canberra

Dear Prime Minister,

I acknowledge receipt of a response to my recent letter, provided by  Russell James, Assistant Secretary, Water Resources Branch, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (their ref: C09/7887).

Unfortunately the statement does not provide the requested answer to the question directly posed to you. Fair Water Use is well aware of the measures planned by the Federal Government, but, in common with most informed observers, we feel that in total they are probably too little and most-definitely much too late: immediate and decisive action is required if the Murray-Darling Basin is to be restored or even salvaged.

The comment offered, that the Government is "acutely aware of the difficult challenges associated with the drought and underlying climate change" completely ignores the fact that the Darling has barely flowed this year, despite above average rainfall in much of its headwaters, as has been the case for several years.

On behalf of the hundreds of members of FWU, representing all sectors of the community from responsible irrigators to water activists, I repeat my request that you respond personally to the question posed in our original communication; namely, whether you are giving urgent consideration to:

1)      the declaration of a State of Emergency to enable your Government to override the self interest of the States and allow meaningful action to be taken to address the multiple, non-drought, causes of the crisis.

2)      the establishment of a Royal Commission of Enquiry into the management and governance of the Murray-Darling Basin: past, present and future.

As per the original letter, if you are not contemplating the above actions, we would be grateful if you would detail the reasons why you believe that the crisis does not warrant such an approach.

Sincerely,

Dr Ian Douglas
Coordinator

Bureau of Meteorology data continues to confirm that the underlying cause of the water crisis in the Darling Basin is not drought:

When thus reminded of human frailty, one can usually find solace in the permanency of iconic natural structures: the immense red-gum outside the study window, the curve of the hills - and the river that lies beyond.

And lies it does: sadly there is no more meaningful flow in the Murray-Darling than before the Global Financial Crisis provided our elected decision makers with a smoke-screen behind which, almost without exception, they have all gladly run for cover. A predicament resulting from the same irresponsible speculative behaviour as is driving the Murray-Darling Basin to its knees.

Blue-Green Algal Bloom, Lake Hume (Image courtesy ABC)

As soon as the laws of financial karma came into play internationally, once fiercely-independent, red-neck trading, banking institutions wasted little time in sidling up to global treasuries, cap in hand, seeking charity – and forgiveness for their previous irresponsible activities. As we all know, the cost of such clemency will be borne by the tax-paying public.

One can reasonably accuse many groups and individuals invested in Murray-Darling water of the same maverick use of resources, as they extract tomorrow’s water from the Basin, apparently ignoring warnings that ever-increasing levels of extractions are unsustainable, and happy to leave it to the Federal Government to attempt to buy its way out of the water crisis with public funds. We continue to hear their glib assertions that, as they are acting within the laws of the land, it is unfair to describe them as water-barons or ecological pariahs.

Fair Water Use has made two submissions to the Senate inquiry into water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes, for consideration as amendments to the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008.

This submission calls for a declaration of a State of Emergency:

Fair Water Use has made two submissions to the Senate inquiry into water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes, for consideration as amendments to the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008.

This submission calls for the establishment of  a Royal Commission of Inquiry and proposes its terms of reference:

MEDIA RELEASE

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on August 15th confirms calculations published four months ago by Fair Water Use (Australia) indicating that rice and cotton cultivation are indeed the most water-profligate agricultural activities undertaken in the Murray-Darling Basin. 

In 2005-6, to create one dollar of product, the cotton sector consumed 1828 litres of Murray-Darling water, whilst rice growers sucked-up a staggering 4569 litres. This compared to a mere 228 litres required to produce non-rice grains, 371 for non-grape fruit and 662 for grapes. Dairying, which has come under the spotlight in recent times, required 1098 litres to generate one dollar of product: however this is largely destined for the refrigerators of Australia, as opposed to the export-driven production of cotton and rice.

* All calculations based on data obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics

1500 billion litres of water is needed to make a moderate improvement in the health of the Murray-Darling River system.

With your help, we can keep the pressure on the Federal Government to return the water to where it belongs - the rivers.

Register as a supporter of Fair Water Use and assist us in our efforts to save the Murray-Darling, its environment and the communities which depend upon it.

Help us get the rivers running again.