Fair Water Use Australia | striving for a revived Murray-Darling basin by supporting environmentally sustainable water-use - Continuing MDBA resignations confirm pressure to abandon environmental responsibilities

Home

Media Releases

Politics

Continuing MDBA resignations confirm pressure to abandon environmental responsibilities

MEDIA RELEASE

Today’s announcement of the resignation of Rob Freeman, Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, is a strong indication of the relentless pressure being applied to the Authority to abandon its clearly defined role of managing the Basin’s water resources in the national interest, according to the following extract of a statement released today by environmental and public water-rights advocacy group, Fair Water Use (Australia):

. . . The fact that, in the last few months nearly half the members of the Authority, including the Chair, Chief Executive and one member, have now quit, clearly demonstrates the untenable position that the MDBA is being forced into by those who wish to continue to overexploit the river system in their persistent drive for growth and profit.

Unless the Basin Plan being drafted by the Authority recommends that environmental flows are increased by at least 3000 gigalitres annually, the Murray-Darling will be unable to continue to provide vital ecosystem services those all who depend upon it; services recently valued at 187 billion dollars per year, dwarfing the less than 5 billion dollars historically derived from irrigated agriculture in the Basin. Any less than 3000 gigalitres would be a disaster for the longterm future of the Basin and would confirm the impotence of the Authority.

Governments and particularly the Federal Water Minister, Tony Burke, must demonstrate a mature understanding of the inherent, irreplaceable value of the river system to all Australians - and resist the pressure being placed upon them by those who favour production at any costs.