[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE - PM needs minister for climate change with responsibility for water

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

Tuesday, 26 September 2006

PM needs minister for climate change with responsibility for water

The Australian Greens today called on Prime Minister John Howard to
appoint a minister for climate change and energy with responsibility for
water rather than approach the water issue in a piecemeal fashion.

Greens climate change spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said the
Prime Minister's belated interest in water was welcome but the issue
must be dealt with as part of a wider response to climate change.

"Prime Minister Howard is looking for an issue to take to the federal
election next year because he has realised that people are worried about
climate change, the drought and increased stress on our rivers and water
supplies," Senator Milne said in Hobart.

"The Greens are concerned that the government's focus on water as an
isolated issue will lead to poor responses.

"The growing pressure on Australia's water resources is tied to the
impacts of climate change, such as forecast changes to temperature and
rainfall patterns and evaporation rates, which in turn increase pressure
on water supplies. 

"The CSIRO projects an overall drying trend for Australia due to
increased temperatures and evaporation and changes in rainfall.
Australia experienced its driest August on record last month, the
bushfire season has started early and with ferocity, while Toowoomba
moved onto level 5 water restrictions today.  

"Prime Minister Howard has not made the connection between more extreme
droughts, floods and fires, and climate change.

"It is imperative that Prime Minister Howard address water as part of an
integrated response to climate change. The best way to do that is to
appoint a minister for climate change and energy with responsibility for
water.

"Prime Minister Howard's plan will focus on water trading and
entitlements but the government needs to put the environment's water
needs first. That means ensuring environmental water flows for the
country's stressed river systems, something the government has failed to
do in the past decade." 


Contact: Katrina Willis 03 6234 4566 or 0437 587 562


Katrina Willis
Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone 03 6234 4566
Fax 03 6234 2144
Mobile 0437 587 562
www.christinemilne.org.au