[Greens-Media] Cubbie sale forces Government to act

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Cubbie sale forces Government to act
Monday 17th August 2009

"The sale of cotton property Cubbie Station in Southern Queensland must
force Federal Water Minister Penny Wong to address the appalling state
of Australia's water laws," said Senator Rachel Siewert today. 

"A Federal purchase of the property would only serve to reward the bad
behaviour of the owners, who have long exploited Queensland's inadequate
approach to water management, intercepting floodplain flows and
depriving other farmers and the environment downstream."

The Greens believe that a complete overhaul of Queensland's water
regulations is needed before any Federal buy-up should take place.

"This problem highlights the need for a consistent national approach to
water regulation. While States committed to deliver such reforms under
the National Water Initiative decades later they have failed to deliver
- making it necessary for stronger action from the Commonwealth."

"The Commonwealth must legislate to protect our water including the need
to ensure environmental flows are protected so that water allocated for
the health of the river cannot be diverted."

"For years the Queensland Government has failed to act. The Commonwealth
must ensure that the interception of overland flows is properly
regulated and all water extraction activities are licensed to reflect
sustainable use."

"The asking price of more than $450m for this property seems to be much
greater than the commercial value of cotton production on the land -
they seem to be banking on a Federal Government buy-out," said Senator
Siewert

"It would be pointless for the Federal Government to fork out hundreds
of millions of dollars to buy this property, when there is little to
stop someone building another Cubbie Station a few kilometres upstream
or downstream and grabbing all the water," she concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180