[Greens-Media] Campbell failing Macquarie Marshes and local graziers - Brown

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Monday, 11 September 2006

Campbell failing Macquarie Marshes and local graziers - Brown

Environment Minister Ian Campbell has failed to produce any rescue plan
for the bird populations facing collapse in NSW's Macquarie Marshes.

In the Senate today, Greens Leader Bob Brown (who visited the marshes on
the weekend) called for action as more than 80 per cent of the
world-renowned Macquarie Marshes is dead or dying.

"It's mainly due to the big foreign-owned cotton growers siphoning the
water off upstream, not drought," Senator Brown said.

Minister Campbell failed to answer Senator Brown's call for an action
plan to save the breeding grounds for thousands of egrets which have had
no success breeding for 6 or 7 years and have a life span of only 11
years.

Senator Brown attacked the government for failing to help local graziers
who have seen incomes fall drastically over the last decade as water was
diverted by the upstream users.

"The Minister says the problem is drought. The local experts say that's
wrong. The massive allocation to cotton irrigators is killing these
RAMSAR listed wetlands which are a national heirloom requiring urgent
rescue," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603


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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au