Life in an empty basinWhile scientists fret about a future world without water, for the people of the Murray Darling Basin, it is already a way of life. Meet the communities who have literally been left high and dry.
Murray Darling Basin
National Water Commission report: going backwards on environmental management
The National Water Commission’s report on water reform may be one of the most dispiriting government reports ever compiled. River systems are collapsing and regional communities suffering.
Queensland farmers rise up to take on the miners
Queensland’s Surat Basin has the third largest energy resource in the world but farm groups are warning that mining areas risk catastrophic environmental damage to food-producing areas, reports Amanda Gearing.
Murray Darling deals in a shocking state
While NSW and the Commonwealth have agreed to a deal that will see the lifting of NSW’s embargo on water trading, Victoria and Queensland aren’t cooperating. Bernard Keane breaks it down.
Crikey Says: We really are the lucky country, but…
Alright, we’ll admit it. Politicians have done a fairly decent job of running the nation for the last 20 years. However, climate change failings won’t be easily forgiven.
Cubbie won’t wash away govt water woes
The government is doing too little too late with water allocation in the Murray Darling Basin. Buying the controversial Cubbie Station will not improve the water woes, writes Ben Eltham.
Snatch the Murray-Darling Basin from the states to save it
There’s a clear solution to the management problems of the Murray-Darling, at least in the view of many South Australians: a full Commonwealth takeover of the Basin, writes Bernard Keane in his second special water report.
Murray-Darling: same mess it always was
In the first of a two-part series, Bernard Keane looks at just how little has changed — and how much has been spent — in the fight to save the Murray-Darling Basin.
Mungo MacCallum: Another week of carry on up the Murray
For the casual observer, last week was political Send in the Clowns week, writes Mungo MacCallum.
Murray River a toxic open drain – why don’t we care?
How did this become okay? Asks the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.
Stimulus secured: A Xenophon stunt — on a massive scale
Today’s passage of the stimulus package is Nick Xenophon’s biggest stunt yet, writes Bernard Keane.
Water regulation reveals our dysfunctional federal farrago
Rarely has there been such a clear example of why we need a massive program of regulatory harmonisation between the states, writes Bernard Keane.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
GM food … World Youth Day … the Murray Darling … GM Food … global warming …
Tips and rumours
Myer’s Dubai announcement deserves a closer look (and it’s a shame that no journalists has yet done so, apart from swallowing the company’s spin). Just what are they exporting? As many Crikey tipsters have rightly pointed out, service at Myer is bad and getting worse. Labour is one of the biggest costs, and hacking it […]
How to do a “murraydarling” i.e: absolutely nothing
Our political leaders issued a statement yesterday on the Murray-Darling Basin. Thanks guys — even we city folks had noticed that the Murray-Darling is up sh-t creek, writes Bernard Keane.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
The Garnaut Review … the Murray-Darling Basin is doomed … our love affair with gas-guzzlers … the death of the Democrats …
Why the Murray-Darling Basin is doomed
Yesterday’s COAG was a test of whether our Federation is capable of managing Australia’s water resources. They failed again, writes Peter Cosier from the Wentworth Group.
Hey Rudd, when you bribe someone, you should get something back
Yesterday at COAG Kevin Rudd’s “cooperative federalism” met old-style politics, and came off second best – along with the Murray-Darling Basin and, in particular, the immensely stressed lower reaches of the system in South Australia.
Murray Darling deal leaves too many unanswered questions
Looking at the details of yesterday’s COAG deal on the Murray Darling Basin, there are more questions raised than answered, writes Professor Max Finlayson, Director, Institute for Land, Water and Society at Charles Sturt University.
Tug of Water: Can Kevin Rudd save the Murray?
Today’s COAG meeting and the Murray Darling crisis have suddenly combined to provide a real test of the Prime Minister’s cooperative federalist model, writes Bernard Keane.
Fixing Politics: How to think long-term on water
As with climate change, the previous Government remained in denial about water until the very end of its days. The Rudd Government has its own structural problems on water, writes Bernard Keane.
Kohler: Political courage runs dry over water
There are two issues that flow from the end of Australia’s 50-year wet: the impending collapse of the Murray-Darling basin and urban water rationing. Not that politicians are addressing the issues, writes Alan Kohler.
Glenn Milne’s rising star and the Murray-Darling Basin deal
The Glenn Milne-Peter Costello show ran for some years without, sadly, ever making onto Broadway. Milne, however, may now have a new partner, writes Bernard Keane.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Comments, corrections, clarifications, and c*ckups
Earth Hour … COAG and the Murray-Darling deal … The Oz’s and the SS Macklin … the last act of Orkopoulos … binge drinking … mortgage stress …
Rudd pulls out the chequebook to deliver Murray-Darling deal
Kevin Rudd bribed his way to a win at COAG, particularly on the Murray-Darling Basin, reports Bernard Keane.
