[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Maywald changes her tune on saving the lower lakes

[Parnell]

Media Release
Friday 5th December, 2008


Maywald changes her tune on saving the lower lakes 

	
Greens MLC Mark Parnell has reacted angrily to the statement by Water
Security Minister Karlene Maywald that the only thing that will save the
lower lakes is rain.

In January 2007, the Advertiser quoted Minister Maywald: 

"River Murray Minister Karlene Maywald said the Coorong had been
deprived of water from natural floods for at least 10 years as water had
been over-allocated across the system. She said water in the
Murray-Darling Basin must be managed by one overseeing body so that
areas at the end of the Murray River receive what they need."

Yet, now that a national body has been delivered, this morning this
Minister is saying: 

"The Water Security Minister, Karlene Maywald, says a new national body
to manage the Murray-Darling Basin will not save the lower lakes.....Mrs
Maywald says the only thing that can save the lower lakes now is rain
(ABC Online)."   

One thing that hasn't changed is her praying for rain as a solution:

"In the meantime, I suggest everyone be alert to the fact that we have a
very serious water situation on our horizon - and our worst drought ever
and it could get even worse yet......but Governments can't make it rain
and neither can oppositions" (News Release, 30 Aug 2007)

 "For the last 2 years, the Minister for Water Security has defended the
lack of water for the lower lakes by saying 'the Government can't make
it rain', and 'we need a national body for the Murray'," Mr Parnell
said. 

"Of course no Government can make rain fall from the sky, but they do
have the ability to control what happens when that rains hits the earth.
Yet, now that Minister Maywald has her national body over-seeing the
Murray, which she argued 2 years ago would deliver flows, she is
changing her tune once again. 

"This is devastating for those desperate to see some action.  Both the
Federal and State Labor Governments are sleep-walking to an
environmental catastrophe - the flooding of the lower lakes with sea
water - despite scientific experts, River communities and a Senate
Inquiry finding there is fresh water available to avert this.

"The water is there, but it is becoming increasingly clear the political
will isn't.  Unlike Labor, the Greens have not given up the fight to get
desperately needed freshwater flows to the lower lakes," he said. 

	
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

	
 


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