The government’s Murray-Darling bill is a step forward, but still not enough

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 04:08:42 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/the-governments-murray-darling-bill-is-a-step-forward-but-still-not-enough-217002>

"This week, the Senate is debating changes to Australia’s most important water
laws. These changes seek to rescue the ailing A$13 billion Murray-Darling Basin
Plan to improve the health of our nation’s largest river system.

The Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 is a crucial step
forward. It proposes to lift the Coalition-era cap on water buybacks, allowing
the federal government to recover more water for the environment through the
voluntary purchase of water entitlements from irrigators.

It also proposes to extend the deadlines for the many beleaguered
water-offsetting projects put forward by state governments.

Through the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists – an independent group
working to secure the long-term health of Australia’s land, water and
biodiversity – we strive to restore river health for the basin’s communities,
industries and ecosystems. Here we ask whether the bill can fulfil the Albanese
government’s 2022 election promise to deliver the plan."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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