Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young has described the Federal Government’s announcements on the River Murray yesterday as falling far short of what is urgently required to save the devastated river system.

“Prime Minister Rudd still has not committed to sending water down to SA by the end of the year. Before summer begins and the evaporation rate rises, we must give the river a drink before Christmas,” said Senator Hanson-Young.
 
“While it’s a good thing to have extra money in the coffers, it won’t do much unless we change the current approach to water buybacks. The Government must actively find water to be sold, and not just wait for people to offer it up for sale,” said Senator Hanson-Young.

The Greens yesterday called for an urgent Senate inquiry into the River Murray crisis, to report back by the end of September.

Senator Hanson-Young said the Government’s agreement to conduct an emergency water audit needed to go beyond simply adding up the figures offered by the states.

“The audit needs to take the form of a thorough search for water, in both public and private storages. Then we need to determine and what it is best used for, and how we can transmit what is needed down the system to the Lower Lakes,” she said.

“We need a truly independent water authority and a timely plan for national sustainable water use. The Rudd Government has failed on both counts, so the Senate must take action, which is why we’ll be calling for this inquiry as soon as Parliament resumes on August 26.

“We’ve already had 11 years of inaction. Australia can’t afford to wait another 11 years, we need a 2008 plan,” Senator Hanson-Young said.