national water summit requried

National Water Summit Requried to Address Growing National Crisis


Australian Democrat Environment spokesperson Senator Andrew Bartlett, today called on the Federal Government to take urgent action on Australia's growing water crisis and hold a national water summit to develop a national strategy to approach the issue.

"Australia is a dry continent, it has experienced one of its driest and warmest winters on record and this pattern is not set to change any time soon," Senator Bartlett said.

"We have seen Goulburn on level 5 water restrictions for years, South Australia is now contemplating restrictions and South-East Queensland is looking at the introduction of level 5 restrictions early next year."

"A national summit involving the States and Territories is necessary to develop a co-ordinated national approach to the crisis, and would mean that authorities wouldn't be re-inventing the wheel or arguing over best practice every time another part of Australia succumbed to the pressure of drought."

"Funding should be urgently provided for recycling water for industry and inclusion in our domestic supplies as it is by far the cheapest environmentally sustainable option available."

"The Federal Environment Minister should also urgently use his ample power under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) to put a stop to Queensland's proposed dam projects. These are environmentally, socially and economically damaging and will do nothing to alleviate the water crisis in South-East Queensland, particularly if drought conditions continue."

"All Governments need to start acting smarter on water," Senator Bartlett said.