[Greens-Media] Mark Parnell MLC : Drought crisis response: too little, too late

[Greens]

Drought crisis response: too little, too late
06/09/06

While welcoming yesterday's announcement by Minister for Agriculture,
Rory McEwen, of the formation of a 'drought crisis team', Greens MLC
Mark Parnell says the government's knee-jerk response is a classic case
of 'too little, too late' in the face of long term climate change
trends.

"There's no doubt some of our farmers are doing it really tough,
including many in areas where rain is usually pretty reliable, so there
is certainly a need for some immediate help and support. The problem is:
a phone hotline and a photo-op of a politician in an Akubra hat is
usually where it ends, until the next 'drought crisis' comes along.

"We've got to start facing the reality of a long term change in our
climate. These 'drought' conditions didn't come out of the blue. The
Eastern states have been living with it for a decade and the trend in
our weather is overwhelmingly clear: hotter temperatures and lower
rainfall. As the head of the Bureau of Meteorology's National Climate
Centre, Dr Michael Coughlan, has said, 'it's very hard to find some
other reason other than global warming for what is causing this'.

Mark Parnell says the 'drought crisis team' needs to be augmented to
include experts in climate change adaptation. This expanded team can
then undertake a comprehensive scan of all South Australian communities
and key commodities so that long term and targeted adaptation strategies
can be put into place to respond to climate change trends.

"This announcement by Rory McEwen is symptomatic of a government that is
strong on climate change rhetoric, but has failed to integrate it into
its day to day thinking. Why must we wait until farmers are doing it
really tough before the government reacts? A long term response to
climate change instead of a band-aid crisis solution is required.

"Our farmers deserve better," he said.

For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893


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