The manner in which our nation’s leaders misrepresent and mislead for their political advantage is of massive concern.
The politicisation of water and environment policy, as one example, is detrimental to our future and risks significant consequences for food security.
Yet the Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek seems more intent on winning political points (and votes) than protecting our environment and regional communities.
She again claimed this week that “only two gigalitres of the 450 gigalitre target for additional environmental water had been banked” (when she took office). This is grossly misleading by omission.
To date, through various water reforms, the environment owns 4,834GL in the Southern Basin alone.
Under the Basin Plan, we were promised the 450GL to which the minister refers would not be recovered if there were negative social and economic consequences.
With job losses already exceeding 3000 from water recovery, the damage to regional communities was plain to see.
As such, a common-sense approach would be improved water management, not unnecessary recovery.
And any additional water recovery should obviously come from environmental projects, not water buybacks which further exacerbate the harm to our rural communities.
Despite all the evidence, and her constant comments that “all options are on the table”, the minister ignores advice of respected scientists who promote a focus on environmental outcomes, not water volumes.
She insists on pursuing lazy and expensive buybacks, to the detriment of our nation’s finances and exacerbating the cost of living crisis by reducing food production and therefore increasing food prices.
Nor will she meet with the most impacted local communities to gain a better understanding of how river systems work, and therefore be better placed to make informed decisions.
It is extremely frustrating when politicians are so focused on their political narrative and winning votes, they seem to forget their responsibilities to our nation’s future, and are prepared to mislead the public to achieve their goals.
Yours etc,
Sharni Lundie
Deniliquin
21°C