[Greens-Media] Urgent Senate Action to Save Murray

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

		Urgent Senate Action to Save Murray

		The Australian Greens will move to set up an urgent
Senate inquiry when Parliament resumes on August 26th, aimed at securing
water for the Coorong and lower lakes of the Murray before Christmas,
Greens Senators Bob Brown, Rachel Siewert and Sarah Hanson Young said
today.

		"The Coorong and lower lakes need a drink before
Christmas. The water is there but the political will isn't. When
Governments fail to act, the people, through the Senate, must provide
action," Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Canberra today.

		Senator Brown said the inquiry would report back by the
end of September and that the Greens would urge the committee to visit
the Coorong. The inquiry will investigate current water stocks and
options for amending the Water Act to accelerate the purchase of water
allocations and entitlements for the Coorong.

		"Governments across four states and the Commonwealth are
dithering while Australia loses the great RAMSAR-listed wetlands of the
Coorong, and the entire social and economic fabric of the lower lakes
and their communities have been thrown into turmoil."

		SA Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said, "There is a
cry for help coming from the communities of the Lower Murray to save the
Coorong. That's a call that is being keenly felt by the river
communities along the length and breadth of the Murray-Darling system." 

		"They do not accept Senator Wong's statements that the
Coorong is lost."

		Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens water spokesperson said
there was enormous goodwill in river communities upstream to contribute
to a revival of the Murray River.

		"We don't want the federal government to simply hold a
vigil for the death of the Murray"

		"We need action now, and an emergency Senate inquiry can
deliver that," Senator Siewert said.

		 For more information: Ebony Bennett 0409164603