The following is an extract of a  letter received from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in response to our request to consider the prohibition of cotton cultivation in this country. It appears that the Federal Government is largely happy to let the farming industry grow whatever it chooses, purely on the basis of financial returns - no mention of environmental or social impact:

"In relation to your suggestion to phase-out certain crops, I note that generally the Australian Government does not favour certain types of production over others, or prescribe to farmers what they should or should not grow. Instead, this is an important role for farmers in response to water markets, pricing and trading."

Fair Water Use encourages all supporters to contact the Minister, The Hon. Tony Burke, informing him of the need to amend this antiquated policy, requesting that he acknowledges the impacts of cotton and rice cultivation on the Murray-Darling Basin and takes action to proscribe their cultivation in the region.

Please email the Minister via: http://www.alp.org.au/people/nsw/burke_tony.php