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)

The chronic debility of our beloved Murray shows no sign of abating. Below the Hume Dam - one can no longer reasonably describe it as a reservoir - the largest bloom of blue-green algae ever seen in that reach of the river is heading inexorably downstream. Meanwhile both Victorian and ACT legislators persist with their malignant plans to dramatically increase extractions from the catchment in coming years, despite consistently grim climate predictions; blindly maintaining that they have no other option if water supplies to their respective electorates are to be assured. Therein, as we all know, lies the rub.

Blue-greeen alga affected area (Image courtesy ABC)

Are we as a nation growing to accept the condition of the Murray-Darling as part of an aberrant and irreversible ageing process? – This simply must not happen: we must never become inured to the effects of the myopic prevarication of governments and the manic water-mongering of the privatisation lobby.

Calls for declaration of a State of Emergency and establishment of a Royal Commission of Enquiry continue to be ignored while the frustrations of those most affected by the decay of the Murray-Darling continue to escalate.