[Greens-Media]

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Wednesday, 30 April 2008			

Greens dub Wong's plan - 'Water for the (distant) Future'
The Greens today responded to the release of the Federal Government's
Water for the Future plan, raising concerns that the plan did not go far
enough or move fast enough to make the changes to water use needed to
save the Murray Darling system.
"After all the talk of a brave new approach I expected Penny Wong's plan
would deliver real change to the system - not just more of the same,"
said Senator Rachel Siewert today.
"Most of the plan is just a re-badging exercise, and the crucial changes
needed - like ensuring sustainable water use as quickly as possible -
simply aren't there."
"The Water for the (distant) Future plan will deliver far too slowly. In
reality the Basin Plan doesn't start really changing water use practice
until 2019 - when existing water sharing plans in Victoria have run
their course," said Senator Siewert.
"Unfortunately this is locked in because of the deal done to get
Victoria on board."
Senator Siewert claims that the plan is 'soft on the environment',
pointing out that:
"There is still no commitment from the Government about how much water
is going back into the river or how the health of its ecosystems will be
monitored and managed."
"It is foolish to rely so heavily on markets without first ensuring an
allocation for the environment.
If the health and survival of the river is dependent on the
Environmental Water Holder having to go cap in hand to Government every
year for funds and compete on the water market, then the environment
will always lose out.
"We need to fix the system once and for all in a way that ensures the
same old problems are not locked into place, and we need to act now to
save the river - not some time in the distant future," concluded Senator
Siewert.
For more information or comment call Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025
senator.siewert at aph.gov.au   |    www.rachelsiewert.org.au   |
www.greensblog.org