Murray Darling

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.

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.

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.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Management

Motion | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Thursday 4th February 2010, 10:11am
in

Senator HANSON-YOUNG (South Australia) (3.58 pm) - I, and also on behalf of Senator Siewert, move:


That the Senate-
(a) notes that:
(i) Tuesday, 2 February 2010 was World Wetlands Day,


(ii) the day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran on 2 February 1971, and


(iii) in 2010, the focus of World Wetlands Day is on ‘caring for our wetlands - an answer to climate change', highlighting the continuing threat our wetlands face from unsustainable human practices and the likely impact that climate change will have on our wetland ecosystems;

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.

Coal or Food: 48 hours on the floodplains

Blog Post | Blog of Scott Ludlam
Monday 5th October 2009, 1:30pm
by ScottLudlam in

One moment last week sums up why I wouldn't swap this job for anything.

At about 11am on Tuesday morning the Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts (ECA) Committee is confronted with an unusual sight in the Felton Valley, about 20 km south of Oakey on the Darling Downs in southern Queensland. A crowd of people have taken over the road; a sea of green T-shirts and triangular yellow placards, kids lined up with banners, hand-made signs; all the essentials for a home-grown demonstration.

WONG MUST GIVE RANN GOVT “THE TALK” ON MURRAY

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 29th September 2009, 6:30am
in

Federal Water Minister Penny Wong needs to tell the Rann Government to start preparing Adelaide for life without its traditional water dependency on the Murray, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on the Lower Murray, said Minister Wong has been willing to lecture Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull on climate change, and that she had to show the same determination in dealing with her own side of politics on the issue of water.

"Minister Wong needs to have a full and frank discussion with the State Government - if it is going to get serious about weaning Adelaide off its dependence on the Murray,'' said Senator Hanson-Young.

Environment Minister must prioritise Lakes, Coorong visit as international experts observe shameful case study

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Thursday 10th September 2009, 11:09am
in

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says it is embarrassing that a new delegation of international water experts has visited South Australia’s Lower Lakes and Coorong to study its challenges, while the federal Environment Minister is yet to visit.

An international delegation of scientists from countries including South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States toured the Lower Lakes and Coorong yesterday as part of this week’s Global Wetland and Rivers Expert Conference in Goolwa.

“How many more international experts need to come down to our Lakes and Coorong to observe it as an ecosystem in crisis before our own Environment Minister will prioritise a visit?” asked Senator Hanson-Young.

Greens launch Lower Lakes and Coorong action plan

Media Release | Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young
Friday 28th August 2009, 12:27pm
in

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young today launched the Greens’ action plan to rescue South Australia’s Lower Lakes and Coorong, saying the federal Water and Environment Ministers have a responsibility to save the Murray from its mouth up.

“Since I entered the parliament last year as South Australia’s first Greens senator, I’ve been consulting extensively with people in the Lower Lakes and Coorong area to learn from their expertise and understand what these communities are crying out for,” said Senator Hanson-Young.