[Greens-Media] Parliament Committee pushes false jobs vs environment choice on water

[John Kaye]

Parliament Committee pushes false jobs vs environment choice on water

Media release: 2 July 2013

A NSW Parliament Committee's recommendations to prioritise commercial uses
of water like abattoirs and mines ahead of protecting the environment was
short sighted and would ultimately cost jobs, according to Greens NSW MP
John Kaye.

The report of the Standing Committee on State Development of the NSW
Legislative Council into 'Adequacy of water storages in New South Wales'
can be read here: http://j.mp/WaterAdeq

The Committee which was dominated by Coalition MPs and a Christian Democrat
recommended that water allocation priorities during droughts be reversed to
put commercial uses ahead of protecting the health of water course and
wetlands (Recommendation 8).

It also advocated for a review of allocations in each valley in NSW after
hearing evidence from irrigators keen to get their hands on water reserved
for environmental flows (Recommendation 7).

(See: 'Push to put commercial water interests before environment' Sydney
Morning Herald, 2 July, page 9 http://j.mp/smh130702)

Dr Kaye said: "While the Committee rejected most of the proposals from
enthusiasts for massive new water storages, it succumbed to the environment
versus jobs myth.

"Putting water for industrial uses like abattoirs and mines ahead of the
health of rivers, streams and wetlands will inevitably cost jobs. The
natural water course will be so badly degraded they will never again
function effectively.

"The Committee was dominated by conservatives who are stuck in the old
'jobs or environment' myth despite decades of progress towards more
efficient agriculture and industry. They ignored the growing understanding
that healthy rivers and wetlands provide important ecosystem services.

"The irrigators who saw this inquiry as an opportunity to have another go
at reducing environmental flows were keen to get access to even more water
for themselves. The Committee fell for their line, ignoring the importance
of protecting the health of the water ways for the future of irrigation.

"The Committee should have taken a longer term view and rejected the false
choice between sustaining employment and the health of the rivers, streams
and wetlands. Instead it should have pushed the modern adaptive management
approach of encouraging industries and agriculture to become more efficient
and flexible in their water usage," Dr Kaye said.

For more information:  John Kaye 0407 195 455

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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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