With respect what would Julia Gillard know about how dams work to mitigate flooding? It seems like the issue is being decided by academics who know little or nothing in practical terms about the subject. One expert is quoted as being a university professor (so?) and a researcher. Sounds impressive, but his quoted post brands him as being woefully ignorant on the subject.
There would seem to be little hope for serious argument, and genuine progress. Its all about political point scoring, to the county'e cost.
Today I heard the most appalling example of this. In two to three months, the current Queensland flood water will be passing though South Austrlia. Given the loss of food production in Queensland, I was astounded to hear that the South Australian Government has declared that current drought restrictions on water uptake by farmers there will not be increased. So the food lost in Queensland will not be made up in South Australia, and all that priceless flood water will run uselessly out to sea, - to score a few political points. Its pathetic.
