Politicians can’t fix our rivers - get someone who can - 7 March 2007

The State of the Darling report indicates once and for all that the decision making process for the Murray Darling Basin needs to be taken out of the hands of politicians and into the hands of experts, according to the Greens.

“This report has outlined a whole range of problems. It is clear that there needs to be a major overhaul of the way we manage this country’s water resources,” said NSW Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“Our river system clearly needs long term planning, but merely handing power over from the states to the Commonwealth is not the answer.

“Only yesterday Federal Nationals leader Mark Vaile was quoted as saying that the Nationals would not support the buying out of over allocated water licences because it was too politically sensitive.

“It is clear that both major parties at State and Federal level are still putting their short term political needs ahead of the long term health of the river system.

“The report’s claims are extraordinary – an amount of water equivalent to a quarter of the river’s annual average flow is evaporating from storage dams along its route.

“The NSW Government, along with Queensland, are still looking to extract more water despite a cap on extractions and the fact that the river is already drastically over allocated. The report is also critical of the NSW Government’s monitoring of water levels and water quality.

“The report makes it clear that the government cannot blame the drought for these problems. It has exacerbated them, but the root of the Darling’s dilemma lies in poor management and massive over allocation of both surface and groundwater.

“Flows are likely to decrease in the future. It is clear that strong long term planning to protect the river is needed now. It is equally clear that both Labor and the Coalition at all levels of government do not have the political courage to implement it.

“The protection of the long term health of the Murray Darling is too important to be left to the whim of politicians whose idea of long term planning is ensuring they survive the next election.

“Our dying rivers need decisions that are based on scientific knowledge and a long term vision, not short-term political expediency. The premiers and the Commonwealth should stop playing politics and appoint an independent expert panel to administer the Murray Darling,” concluded Mr Cohen.

Further Information: Michael Hidden 0431 320085 or Ian Cohen: 0409 989 466