We could have led the world and saved a river system, but for politics
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This is partly because water reform has resulted in the dominance of two crops – cotton and nuts – replacing a more diverse agricultural base that included fodder, dairy, fruit, vegetables, flood plain grazing and rice. Large, often foreign-owned, agribusinesses are replacing family farms. These shifts are matters of major social importance, and are not being discussed under the basin plan’s unofficial code of silence.
Other problems are logistical. Water bought for the environment in parts of the basin can’t be delivered without flooding individual land holders, and the likelihood of subjecting governments to liability claims. Rather than open debate about how to deal with this problem, governments engage in creative water accounting, such as “rebadging” existing water as environmental water bought and paid for by the taxpayer, who, along with the environment, bears the cost.
Beyond these socio-economic and logistical questions, major scandals have emerged around water theft while responsible departments have either been captured by industry interests or deeply politicised.
Like a scene out of Hollowmen, a former MDBA director gave evidence to the SA royal commission that staff were instructed that the “scientifically determined” number for water recovered for the environment should “start with a 2”, as opposed to previous recommendations for figures above 3,000 gigalitres.
Water bureaucrats have since learned that good spin is central to water policy reform, and much safer than science or facts. It is to the detriment of the entire basin environment and social fabric that within government and the MDBA, criticism of any aspect of the implementation of the plan is seen as jeopardising the entire reform.
Article source: https://hollywoodlife.com/2018/11/19/ariana-grande-kisses-courtney-chipolone-instagram/
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