1^st August 2012, Alan Scott Auditorium, 5.30 PM for 6 PM Start, Finishes 7.30 PM

Jointly presented by the Water Action Coalition and The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre of the University of South Australia  

The natural water resources of the River Murray are critical to the environment, economy and population of South Australia. Any Basin Plan that fails to ensure that South Australia receives a fair share of the water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin, for consumptive use and to sustain its precious environments, presents a significant threat to the rights of this state. In addition, South Australia's share will only be truly fair if it is sufficient to allow for the full range of natural variability of climate cycles, the projected impacts of climate change and the requirements of a growing population.

This forum seeks to discuss the legal matters of those rights at a community level, with an emphasis on South Australia, their history, the problems with sharing those rights and to discuss what can be done to achieve water justice for all South Australians.

Forum Topics & Keynote Speakers:

1. Brief History of Water Allocation & Creation of Property Rights as Water Shares - Professor Jennifer McKay.

2. What are the Problems with Sharing Water between & within States? - Professor John Williams & Adam Webster

3. What can be done to Achieve Water Justice for all South Australians, including indigenous Australians? - Shaun Berg

Forum Key Questions;

-     Given the consequences of water reform for South Australia during the Millennium Drought from 1997 to 2009, do South Australian's have a case for compensation when water use by upstream states is unreasonable?

-     What indigenous and citizens rights to water are being ignored by the Proposed Basin Plan?

-     Does the Proposed Basin Plan free trade and compensation provisions transform the state's natural water resources into private property and what are the implications given free trade agreements?

-     What laws can be used in the future to protect the public interest i.e. Common Law Public Trust Doctrine?

Registration Available on the Hawke Centre's Website: http://w3.unisa.edu.au/hawkecentre/events/2012events/WAC_MRBP.asp

Privatisation: The Cost of Water Reform? 18 May 2011.

See also the Brochure, Media release and YouTube http://www.unisa.edu.au/hawkecentre/events/2011events/WAC.asp.