Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink .........

The ABC - 4 Corners investigation which aired last night, 24.07.2017 is a must see as the issues raised in the program are alarming. It focuses on the alleged misconduct by some, but not all, cotton growers in regard to the drawing of irrigation water from the Barwon River in the Brewarrina area of north west NSW., Hopefully the serious allegations raised in the program will be urgently and independently investigated to get to the truth. Water is probably Australia’s most valuable resource. We cannot live or survive without it. In fact it was revealed during the program that the water the cotton growers hold in dams can sometimes be sold off to other farmers for a greater financial return than their cotton product delivers. No surprises there, if you’re a farmer then, “no water, no livelihood.” The Murray-Darling Basin Authority was set up in 2007 to co-ordinate the states involved in the program, but each state has the power to control and regulate their own water systems including enforcement in regard to the detection, the investigation and prosecution of any alleged breaches. When the MDBA receives information about any alleged unlawful activities it passes that information onto the relevant state authority for investigation and prosecution if appropriate. In regard to the governance of the MDBA, it reports to the federal Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, [Deputy Prime Minister] Hon Barnaby Joyce MP., So the Murray-Darling Basin ‘water sector’ is a “state issue” and we know that the ‘mining sector’ is also a “state issue’. Both state sectors receive the benefits and are responsible for controlling and policing the two areas. The two sectors, water and mining have the same conflict of interest. A news report today advised that the states responsibility for water is contained within the Australian constitution. We, all Australians, will not have a healthy environment without adequate, well managed water resources. This debacle is another reason to have “The Right To A Healthy Environment” [TRTAHE] included in the Australian constitution. That is Federal responsibility and accountability, directed by law, L.A.W., law. The Federal government won’t involve themselves in state matters and take action to ensure a healthy environment unless a law says they have to.