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.

MEDIA RELEASE 

Fair Water Use welcomes yesterday?s announcement that the Federal Government is now seeking to purchase large irrigation enterprises and associated water licences in the Murray-Darling Basin and applauds the urgent independent audit which was also promised at the Community Cabinet meeting in South Australia. 

However concerns still exist about the depth of Government understanding of the problem and available treatments. 

On leaving the meeting in Hallett Cove last night national coordinator, Ian Douglas, stated that Senator Wong?s playing down of the merits of purchasing water currently held in the upper Darling suggested that once again she had been poorly advised by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission: ?Her concerns that transmission losses will be up to 80% are ill-founded as Fair Water Use is not asking that water be released from the northern Darling at this time,? Dr Douglas said. 

He continued, ?Water acquired in northern NSW and southern Queensland should not be released into the dry bed of the upper Darling River, but should be used as collateral to enable the immediate release of at least 300 gigalitres from the Menindee Lakes into the lower Darling.  As 200 megalitres per day is currently being discharged from the Lakes, the Darling below Menindee is in flow. The required water bolus would therefore reach the Murray with little being lost in transit. Fair Water Use urges the Government to acquire any available strategic properties irrespective of their location?. 

He went on to say that the Federal Government ?debt? would be repaid when the currently dry upper reaches of the Darling started to flow again after summer rains, enabling water to be transferred from purchased properties into the Menindee Lakes with minimal transmission losses. 

Dr Douglas added, ?The promised water audit will only be of value if it clearly defines the volume of water in public storages that is not allocated for critical human needs?. 

MEDIA RELEASE

On national television yesterday, coordinator Ian Douglas indicated that a Fair Water Use team, currently in the Upper Darling on a fact-finding mission, has confirmed reports that the Darling River is dry above Wilcannia, whilst, not far to the west, the Paroo River is flowing strongly.  

Dr Douglas stated yesterday that both the upper Darling and Paroo catchments have largely received above average to well above average rainfall over the past nine months, and added that the Paroo is the only significant river in the region that is free from major dams and diversions. These findings tend to refute, for once and for all, the mantra emanating from those involved in water interception in the region, that they have insignificant impacts on flows into the Murray-Darling system.

5th August 2008 

Dear Prime Minister and Senator Wong, 

New data confirms that the Murray-Darling continues to collapse despite average to well-above average rains in the majority of the basin over the last nine months: 

As the months tick by, your argument that we must wait for the drought to break is becoming more and more untenable. If your Government persists with its refusal to proceed with compulsory water acquisition, only immediate, massive and continuous rains will resolve the problem ?naturally? in time to save the nation?s most vital river system. Sadly, Bureau of Meteorology projections refute this possibility.

How much more data do you require before you are willing to conclude that the current crisis is more about over-allocation than drought? 

Does the electorate have any choice other than to assume that this Labor Government is deaf to the voices of independent experts and is listening more to those promulgating the economic interests of water-hungry agribusiness enterprises which are increasingly annexing the Murray-Darling from its headwaters and groundwater? 

Fair Water Use implores you to look to your social and environmental consciences and act now to order the release of water as advised by the CSIRO, or else you and your cabinet colleagues will risk being remembered as the Government that stood and watched as the nation?s bread basket was devastated by those who sought to profit from their abuse of the ever-dwindling natural resource that is Murray-Darling water. 

Australians will neither forget nor forgive. 

Sincerely,

Dr Ian Douglas

National Coordinator 

MEDIA RELEASE

Data provided by the MDBC yesterday (7th August 2008) with respect to Murray-Darling water reserves cannot be accepted at face value as it is largely a combination of indicative figures and estimates provided by the very bodies that are the root cause of the current crisis: State Governments and private, and not uncommonly foreign-funded, agribusiness enterprises.

An accurate and independent audit of all water reserves, public and private, legal and illegal, is urgently required.

MEDIA RELEASE 

Today?s statement (14th August) by the Prime Minister, that he has been advised by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission that there is only 2,250 gigalitres in the entire system, raises major concerns about the competence of the Commission and the impartiality of advice provided to the Ministerial Council by its Community Advisory Committee. 

The figure put forward today appears totally at odds with the August 7th announcement by Leo Roberts, the acting chief executive of the MDBC, that total public active storage in the Basin was approximately 4800 gigalitres and that private holdings were estimated at over 800 gigalitres. 

The PM?s statement comes shortly after the NSW Department of Water and Energy announced that water allocations to their irrigators may be further increased as a result of recent inflows into upper Murray storages following recent rains. 

Fair Water Use is calling for the disbanding of the advisory body that is the MDBC and its replacement by a totally independent authority with vested powers to act in the interests of the river system, upon which more than 3 million Australians depend.

 MEDIA RELEASE

Any competent medical professional appreciates that meaningful efforts to address life-threatening disease necessitate both direct and symptomatic therapy.

Were those responsible for the care of the Murray-Darling subject to standards applicable to the medical profession, there is no doubt that their licence to practice would have been revoked long ago. 

MEDIA RELEASE 

Reported comments today from the MDBC, that Government purchase of large irrigation enterprises would have no impact on turning around the lamentable demise of the river system, raises profound and disturbing questions as to the commission?s understanding of the causes and short and long term implications of the current water crisis.

 Fair Water Use coordinator, Dr Ian Douglas, responded to the statement, saying that in failing to support the ACF / IRN proposal, already approved by representatives of at least one of the identified properties, the Commission appeared to be acting in a manner detrimental to the Murray?Darling as a whole.

He added that concerns must exist about the quality and impartiality of the advice the Commission receives from groups such as its Community Advisory Committee, membership of which is known to include representatives from large irrigating enterprises.

Dr Douglas indicated that Fair Water Use has contacted the Commission requesting clarification of their stance on Government acquisition of irrigation properties.

Dear Mr Rees,

Recent comments in the media, ascribed to you, appear to confirm suspicions that the NSW State Government has no intention of contributing in an urgent and meaningful manner to efforts to increase environmental flows in the Murray-Darling. In fact your actions and statements will have a markedly detrimental impact on the status of the entire river system.

MEDIA RELEASE 

The consensus amongst contemporary historians is that Roman emperor Nero was not in fact guilty of sawing on the violin while his capital was consumed by fire. However Senator Wong appears to have assumed his erstwhile mantle, fiddling about while the Murray-Darling continues to implode and insisting that there is insufficient available water to allow her to do what is necessary.

As it is now apparent that there is in excess of 5000 gigalitres currently held in public and private storages within the basin, in addition to that in the Murray River itself, it is simply unacceptable to for the Minister to refuse to release the 1500 gigalitres required to revive Australia?s most vital river system.

If Nero had actually serenaded the Latin conflagration, at least he could not have been accused of inactivity. Given her current approach to the water-crisis, had the Roman empire been headed by our 21st century Senator at the time the flames started to take hold, it is likely that her response would have been to order an urgent review of fire-fighting protocols.

Fair Water Use urges Senator Wong to take the meaningful steps that are urgently required to turn around the continuing demise of the Murray-Darling.