Page 169 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019

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(a) the ACT is wholly situated within the Murrumbidgee River Catchment, which feeds into the Murray-Darling Basin;

(b) Canberra is the largest population centre within the Basin; and

(c) its contribution to the ACT’s security of water supply;

(3) notes with concern:

(a) the grave issues raised in the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission Report regarding the negligence and maladministration from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and Federal Government including, but not limited to:

(i) failing to ensure the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was lawful;

(ii) contributing to further issues regarding climate change and the impact of this on communities:

(iii) ignoring scientific knowledge in making decisions; and

(iv) a predilection for secrecy;

(b) the massive fish kills in the Murray-Darling river system, in particular at Menindee in summer 2018-19;

(c) the public funding cuts to water science and research; and

(d) the impacts of the dramatic changes in water supply on communities throughout Australia;

(4) acknowledges the ACT Government’s actions to contribute to healthy waterways, including:

(a) being an active and responsible participant in managing the resources of the Murray-Darling Basin;

(b) the depth of the ACT Water Strategy 2014-44: Striking the Balance in managing water in the ACT and the resulting report card for Implementation Plan One;

(c) maintaining the health of the Murrumbidgee River system; and

(d) that water use in the ACT is such that much of the water is returned to the Molonglo River, on to the Murrumbidgee River and eventually into the Murray-Darling system;

(5) commends the ACT Healthy Waterways initiative, noting the contribution it is making in improving water quality throughout the ACT and delivering improved amenity and environment for Canberrans; and

(6) calls on all Members of the ACT Legislative Assembly to:

(a) condemn the maladministration of the Murray-Darling Basin; and

(b) support the ACT Government’s actions in respect to the Murray-Darling Basin.

Water is essential to the life of every single person in this city and every single person in this country and, indeed, in this world. But yet again, thanks to the actions of others, the ACT’s water supply is under threat. Last year I stood up in this chamber and condemned the New South Wales government’s reckless decision to protect feral

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