WAC call for SA public inquiry into water and environmental management
The lobby group Fair Water Use (Australia) has written to the Prime Minister requesting a State of Emergency into the Murray-Darling Basin and a Royal Commission into its management. The terms of reference are available, together with a supporting article by John Caldecott.
On 1 December 2009 WAC sent an Open Letter to all SA MLCs (see below) detailing the Terms of Reference for a Public Inquiry into the management of water and the environment and referring to the Proclamation of the WAC Rally on 10 October 2009. The Media Notice was released on 3 December 2009.
Mark Parnell has also spoken to the issue in Parliament and moved in the Legislative Council WAC's proposal for a public inquiry into water management - defeated (No - 12, Yes - 6).
Debate took place on last sitting day of Parliament (3/12/09) with the support of the Liberals:
Open letter to all SA MLCs
1st December 2009
Reference: WAC Public Inquiry Open Letter_ MLC
South Australian
Members of Legislative Council
Parliament House,
North Terrace,
ADELAIDE SA 5000
The Water Action Coalition (WAC) is a diverse and broadly represented group of concerned South Australians that are calling on all members of the South Australian Parliament to support WAC's call for a Public Inquiry into management of water and the environment. This call was made at a rally on the steps of Parliament House on the 10th October 2009.
At the request of WAC, both the Hon Mark Parnell MLC and Mr Mitch Williams MP read WAC's Rally Proclamation into Hansard on the 28th and 29th of October respectively.
WAC has since prepared a "South Australian Public Commission of Inquiry Water and Environmental Management Terms of Reference" to provide a framework for the consideration of Parliament to support its call for a Public Inquiry.
On Wednesday, the Legislative Council will be voting on Hon Mark Parnell's motion that supports the WAC's call for the Government to initiate an urgent public inquiry into water and environmental management without delay. WAC is seeking support from all members of the Legislative Council for the motion.
Those that support the motion will be sharing the concern of most South Australians that our river systems and iconic wetlands are collapsing. Interdependent ecosystems are dying and our fragile Gulfs are being destroyed.
The WAC movement, at its rally held on 10th October 2009, rejected the State Government's current water security strategies. We demanded that the River Murray and its rivers and creeks flow freely again to the Lower Lakes and to the sea. The Coorong must be reconnected to its freshwater sources in the South East.
Our urgent plea to Parliamentary Members during its final days is to rethink your position and to support the community call for an urgent far reaching Public Inquiry with the authority of a Royal Commission. Our right and that of generations to come is for a sustainable water future not only for the rights of human beings but the rights of our environment.
A sustainable water future without compromising our environment is the only acceptable outcome. We will be monitoring the vote of every MP in the hope that our legislators will finally recognise that a quantum change of attitude is required if we are to avoid environmental disaster.
Yours sincerely,
John E. Caldecott
Convenor
Attachment(s):
Our Water Our Rights Rally 10th October 2009 - Proclamation dated 20th October 2009
Water Action Coalition "South Australian Public Commission of Inquiry Water and Environmental Management Terms of Reference (WAC-D-001, Draft Issue 0.1b, dated 1st December 2009)
Water Action Coalition Contact Information: http://civictrust.net.au/page19.htm
PO Box 190, Henley Beach SA 5022
John Caldecott jec@ciq.com.au Jim Douglas jdouglas@picknowl.com.au Richard Watson richard@thinkstrat.com