Water

Greens plan for national water efficiency standards

Media Release | Spokesperson Rachel Siewert
Thursday 19th August 2010, 1:45pm
in

The Australian Greens will move to introduce national mandatory water efficiency standards for residential and commercial buildings in the Senate after the federal election.

Public Still Waiting For Detail On Murray-Darling Plan

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 10th August 2010, 1:43pm
in

The people of the Murray-Darling Basin are still waiting for certainty over their water future despite the Prime Minister's announcement today, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on the Murray-Darling Basin, says the Greens know Australia can't afford to wait for action to fix the system, which makes the lack of available information all the more frustrating.


"The Prime Minister's announcement does not change the fact that the public are still flying blind when it comes to the detail of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, which will have an impact on everyone who lives in the basin states,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

Greens call for national rural land and water register

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Wednesday 28th July 2010, 10:30am
in

Speaking in Orange today Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown called for a national register of foreign purchases of land or water in rural Australia. 

"In the coming century food and fibre production will be a huge issue as the world population soars to 10 billion people or more,” said Senator Brown.

Greens: Australia must not block UN water resolution

Media Release | Spokesperson Rachel Siewert
Friday 23rd July 2010, 7:24pm
in

The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to change its stance and to support a draft UN resolution on the Human Right for Water and Sanitation.
Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson for Water, says Australia needs to show international leadership and defend the basic rights of disadvantaged people across the world.

Basin Plan Delay Fails Murray-Darling Communities

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 20th July 2010, 5:36pm
in

The decision to postpone the release of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan yet again leaves communities on and around the river in the dark about the region's water future, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young, Greens Spokesperson for the Murray Darling Basin, says the Federal Government has reneged on its promise to release the plan before the election.

"The failure to release the plan ahead of the Federal Election is unacceptable,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

Wild Rivers

Speech | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Wednesday 23rd June 2010, 8:55am
in

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (7.07 pm)-The reason Senator McLucas did not get to complete her speech is that this debate has been crammed into 25 minutes on a Tuesday night. I would like to make some remarks before I comment on the substance of the Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2010 [No. 2]. We are debating tonight the process that has brought us here. This is the first time in my experience, having been here for two years as a full member of the Senate Legal and Constitution Affairs Legislation Committee, which Senator Crossin chairs, that I have ever seen a proposed motion come through this parliament to cut short the reporting period of a committee. That is what happened. Senator Crossin, in her brief time, did not make mention of that. Then we saw the procedural chicanery that occurred this afternoon, and which has been going on for the last 48 hours, to find some time to have this debate. The Greens have been proposing, and the coalition opposed our proposition, additional sitting hours so that we could debate the bill-and we will get to the merits of it in a moment-without the farce of everybody watching the clock for periods of four, five or six minutes.

SA Voters Need Answers on Water, Mr Rann

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 16th March 2010, 3:19pm
in

The Australian Greens have called on the Rann Labor Government to come clean about the details of the prospective water deal done with upstream states before this weekend's state election, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on the Murray Darling Basin, says she welcomes the prospect of more water coming down the river, but says that the government must release the details.


"It's always good to see more water for the river, but one has to question the timing of this announcement - luckily for Mr Rann it happens in the last week of a tight election campaign,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

Greens Challenge Government over Northern Australia

Media Release | Spokesperson Rachel Siewert
Monday 8th February 2010, 10:47am
in

The Australian Greens have challenged the Government to commit to implementing the vision outlined in the Sustainable development in northern Australia report released today.


The Australian Greens congratulate the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce on their Sustainable Development in Northern Australia report, saying it provides a vision for sustainable development of northern Australia based on mutual respect, respect for indigenous peoples of the north and the environment.


"This report clearly demonstrates that there are significant constraints to development of Northern Australia," said Greens Water Spokesperson, Senator Rachel Siewert.

Floods Buy Time For River But Federal Govt Must Act

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Wednesday 20th January 2010, 12:26pm
in

The announcement that 148 gigalitres of water will be released from NSW to the lower Murray River and Lower Lakes is welcome, but it doesn't let the Federal Government off the hook, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.


Senator Hanson-Young, Greens Spokesperson on the Lower Murray, says Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did little to help resolve the conflict between the states on how much water would be released to the bottom end of the river, and that his government's attitude needs to change.


"The 148 gigalitres of water will be is a welcome reprieve for the Murray and Lower Lakes, but it doesn't mean the Federal Government can relax,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

It's Not THAT Easy Being Green, Tony

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Friday 15th January 2010, 2:07pm
in

The Liberal Party may have made valid criticisms of the Federal Government's lack of action on the Murray-Darling and other issues, but neither of the major parties have proven their credentials on the environment, according to the Australian Greens.


Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on the Lower Murray, says last night's speech by Tony Abbott has attracted a lot of attention, but that the Liberals have to do more than just talk to convince people they are serious on the environment.


"Tony Abbott's proposals have some merit, but so far there is no reason for the Australian public to believe him on the environment,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.