12^th October 2009

The water crisis has stimulated much discussion of effects and treatments, but little open debate of what many view as a key underlying cause: the 1994 decision of the Council of Australian Governments "to implement a strategic framework to achieve an efficient and sustainable water industry".

This brief statement heralded the unsanctioned privatisation of Australia’s water.

A radical policy, with far-reaching consequences for all Australians, irrespective of their political hue; a presumptuous and divisive move, implemented without the mandate of any electorate, federal or state. The lack of public consultation seemed strange at the time. It beggars belief that this Governmental mind-set persists to this day.

Since 1994, successive administrations, state and federal, have reneged on their clear and Constitutional responsibility to manage the Murray-Darling as an integrated whole. They continue to allow a once vigorous and productive natural resource to be plundered - for the sake of economic rationalism and political expediency.

As a result of this deregulated exploitation, surface and groundwater reserves are now critically dehydrated and the river system is no longer able to sustain itself through protracted periods of drought - which, as we all know, are a normal occurrence in the Basin.

Despite the signing of the intergovernmental agreement on Murray-Darling reform in July 2008, the Basin States, without exception, continue to demonstrate an absolute willingness to sacrifice the overall health of the Basin to further their parochial and conflicting agendas.

Promising initiatives implemented by one legislature are frequently negated – or even actively obstructed - by another.  Dodgy water-allocations, virtually donated by state governments, are now purchased for millions of dollars, commonly by multinational corporations with little interest in the land or rivers, but a detailed understanding of the huge profits they can reap investing Australia’s water on global markets - and meanwhile a unique and vital river system continues to collapse.

The free-market has brought us all many benefits, but do any of us truly believe that it should be left to dictate the future of Australia’s all-too-finite water reserves and its equally fragile environment?

The National Water Commission report released last week is a clear admission of the failure of the current state-based and market-driven approach to water policy. The Murray-Darling has been bled dry; because, for far too long, we have allowed interstate rivalries to obstruct meaningful progress.

Times have changed. The collective voice of concerned Australians is growing ever louder - Enough is most definitely enough.