[Greens-Media] Media Release: Victoria vulnerable to drought, BoM report shows

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Greens leader Greg Barber MLC said today's Bureau of Meteorology update on 
the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)* shows that Victoria is at risk of 
several dry months. He called on the Victorian government to explain its 
plans to deal with impacts on agriculture, emergency management and water 
supply.

Greg Barber said, "The Bureau of Meteorology has upgraded its El Niño 
alert, warning that the Pacific Ocean is moving close to El Niño 
conditions.

"The return of El Niño raises important questions in this election year 
and the Premier needs to be open with the Victorian community.

"Will the El Niño push the government to turn on Labor?s desalination 
plant and if so, what will the cost be to the Victorian community? At what 
point will water restrictions be reintroduced?

"Has the government done proper modelling of the impacts on agriculture 
and water supply?

"What is the projected impact on state GDP of the El Niño, based on 
changes to agricultural productivity and prices?

"Will more firefighters be recruited? Is the heatwave response going to be 
expanded?

"Victoria has had record rainfall and dams are at a high level, but the 
Bureau of Meteorology has today updated its El Niño alert and says that 
conditions are very likely to become dry in eastern Australia. The 
government is sleepwalking.

"The Liberal government has dropped the ball on water conservation and has 
no plan to deal with El Niño drought.

"We need to prepare in case we have a heatwave and a bad fire season.

"This drier, warmer weather will have a major impact on the global 
economy, through increased agricultural commodity prices.

"During the first two years of this government healthy rains filled the 
dams but that has turned around and we are headed into a drought. The 
Premier needs to show he has a plan to deal with this.

"According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the central Pacific has warmed by 
0.6 °C since February this year," said Mr Barber.

For comment: Greg Barber - 0433 044 771

*  http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/index.shtml#tabs=Overview 

********************************************

Liz Ingham
Office of Greg Barber MLC
Northern Metropolitan Region
Victorian Greens Leader

P: 9348 2622
M: 0409 333 595
E: elizabeth.ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au
W: http://mps.vic.greens.org.au


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 

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