The Greens have renewed their call for immediate action on the
Murray-Darling crisis, as the Australian Conservation Foundation CEO
Don Henry today slammed the major parties for their negligence on this
crucial issue.

“Australia is experiencing a water emergency. Here in South
Australia the water crisis is inherently linked to complex problems in
the Murray-Darling Basin and we need urgent action to restore water
security for both our farming communities and our suburban residents,”
Greens Senate candidate for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said
today.

“We need a re-think of how we manage water, and share this limited
resource across different states. For too long SA has had to survive
off the dregs of what is left at the bottom of the river system; this
needs to change.

“SA farmers in particular are copping the brunt of years of inaction
and poor government management of the Murray-Darling system. The
long-term impact of over-allocations coupled with the severity of the
drought is having a devastating affect on our rural communities.

“We need immediate action to address over-allocation and provide
significant support to help landholders and basin communities’
transition to sustainable new enterprises. There is an urgent need for
governments to act to prevent a serious tragedy for our community and a
disaster for the environment,” Ms Hanson-Young said.

“The lack of water in the system is already having a devastating
affect on the health of the Coorong, with massive changes to the
biodiversity of the wetlands and loss of various bird and plant species.

The Greens’ plan includes immediate action to address
over-allocation, the creation of an independent water management
authority and immediate purchase of water for the environment.

“Last election the Government and the Opposition both pledged to put
500GL back into the system, and we are still waiting. The science now
tells us what we need is 3500GL to give the Murray a good chance of
survival.

The Greens have again called for a full sustainability audit of land-use and extraction within the Murray-Darling Basin.

“When it comes to water and water security, the old parties just
don’t get it. We need a strong Green voice in the Senate to fight for
the future of SA, and that’s what I’m planning to do,” concluded Ms
Hanson-Young.