MEDIA RELEASE

21st May 2011 

In responding to the news that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority is likely to recommend that less than 3,000 GL of additional water is allocated to environmental flows under its Basin Plan, Ian Douglas, from environmental and public water-rights advocacy group, Fair Water Use (Australia), commented today,

“As many of us feared, it appears that the MDBA version 2011 may be about to renege on its statutory responsibility to manage the Murray-Darling in the national interest, and will in future merely be a mouth-piece for those who seek to continue to over-exploit the environment and waters of the river system.”

MEDIA RELEASE

Claims that reductions in diversions, proposed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority in its guide to its Draft Basin Plan, will lead to the widespread implosion of Basin communities are not supported by the facts, according to a statement released today by environmental and public water rights advocacy group, Fair Water Use (Australia):

“In common with many Australians, Fair Water Use has been disappointed by the fear-mongering tactics of some sections of the irrigation lobby in response to the release of the Guide to the Draft Basin Plan.

MEDIA RELEASE

Last week’s statement from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority that it “might be much more like angels” in the eyes of irrigators when the draft Basin Plain is released in the near future, raises serious concerns as to whether the Authority is staying true to its overriding responsibility - clearly stated only a few months ago by its Chairman Mike Taylor - to place the health of the river ahead of all other considerations.
 
Although the paper released recently by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists was roundly criticised for its inequity, the proposal was based on the sound premise that, if outflow is consistently reduced by more than one third of natural levels, a working river will progressively degrade and lose its ability to provide services to those who depend upon it.

MEDIA RELEASE