Page 175 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
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Canberrans can be assured that we are doing our part to maintain the health of the Murrumbidgee River system, which feeds into the Murray-Darling Basin. However, the environmental significance of the Murray-Darling Basin cannot and should not be underestimated. With 120 waterbird and 46 native fish species calling the basin home, the natural habitats within the basin contribute to the strong biodiversity of Australia.
Further, for the wildlife inhabitants of the basin, there are around 15 bioregions, with a vast array of ecosystems that contribute to the natural significance of the Murray-Darling. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has identified 23 rivers and more than 30,000 wetlands that depend on regular or intermittent water supply. That water supply is decreasing. And real action is required to fix this catastrophic situation.
Along with its environmental significance, the economic activity right across the basin contributes to the nation’s economic growth. It is estimated by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority that tourism is worth $8 billion each year to the communities within the basin. I am sure many Canberrans have visited the natural sights and regional centres that offer fantastic opportunities for recreation and business.
The economic value of tourism is, of course, in addition to the strong farming and agricultural sector that is worth $24 billion annually. Farmers, their families and the regional businesses across the basin play a vital role in maintaining Australia’s food security and quality exports. These 9,200 agricultural businesses across the basin rely on governments to get policy right and manage the basin effectively.
Whether it is the natural ecosystems and bioregions that rely on the basin, the over three million people who rely on access to its fresh, clean drinking water or the agricultural and farming communities that rely on quality water supply to provide our nation with the resources we all need, there must be serious and meaningful policy changes to protect and better manage the river systems in their entirety.
Ms Cheyne has outlined the serious issues that are occurring within the basin due to maladministration. I am pleased to join her in condemning this maladministration from our federal and state counterparts and place on the record my support for the ACT government’s actions in respect of the Murray-Darling Basin.
I would just like to take a moment to address some of the previous comments levelled at the ACT Labor backbench: that perhaps we should be focusing on more local issues. I think that fails to recognise that our environment does not know borders, the way we put borders in place, and that what we do impacts what happens across the whole basin. We have to do our bit. And where we have had so much maladministration and so much contention for such a long period going on, there is a role for us to say, “No, no. We’re going to do the right thing. We’re going to go ahead with this and lead the way in what we can do there.” With that in mind, I say it is vital that we look after the Murray-Darling Basin and recognise its environmental significance so that it can look after us.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (4.05): I thank Ms Cheyne for raising the issue of the Murray-Darling Basin. It has obviously been very topical in recent weeks and an
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