Thu, 3rd July 2008

COAG deadline to save the Murray lower lakes

The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Urban Water

Today’s COAG meeting must see the Rudd Government finally take action to start work to save the Murray River’s Lower Lakes and Coorong and support the land-holders who rely on it.

18 months after the Coalition delivered its $10 billion National Plan for Water Security the Rudd Government is still talking and not acting on solutions for the dying Lower Lakes region.

I witnessed the unfolding environmental emergency at a visit to Lakes Alexandrina and Albert last Sunday. It is a desperate situation which requires an emergency response.
The Government cannot be allowed to get away with sitting on its hands until November when it is due to receive another report on this vital issue. The Coorong and the Lower Lakes won’t wait until then.

Penny Wong received an expert report back in May which said we only have until October to take action to save the Lower Lakes and Coorong.

The Minister said she would seek advice on what could be done. But what has she done? Will she produce any new solutions at COAG? Or will she defer action again?

I call on Minister Wong to immediately release the “urgent advice on what we can do in the short term” which she promised last month after her secret report emerged.
We need the following:

• A national emergency must be declared for the Lower Lakes and Coorong at COAG.
• COAG must agree on an emergency plan that provides capital works to help both the Lower Lakes and the Coorong and save this Ramsar listed area.
• A plan for the farmers and towns. This means emergency water supplies for Meningie, Narrung Peninsula farmers and the Indigenous community on the Narrung Peninsula. The farmers are realistic and at this stage are seeking urgent stock and station water rather than irrigation water.

In addition to an emergency declaration for the Lower Lakes and Coorong the Prime Minister should:

• Explain whether he still supports Victoria taking a further minimum 75 gigalitres out of the Murray Darling Basing for Melbourne when the river system is in such dire straits
• Find time in less than ‘due season’ to actually visit the Lower Lakes and Coorong to see the problem first hand and to talk with affected land holders.