I have been writing letters to the editor for many years and I can’t ever remember complimenting government, but I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our governments — state and federal — for the way they have focused on and handled the coronavirus epidemic acting for the good of all Australians.
Could this possibly be the way of the future?
Unfortunately, this has not been the case with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, the mounting devastation just continues to grow day by day:
● Food shortages.
● Closing down of many farming enterprises.
● Decimation of country town businesses.
● Mass unemployment through our river communities.
● Social destruction.
● Environmental disasters, for example, drowning red gum trees, damage to creeks and rivers.
● The biggest fish kill in Australian history due to the mismanagement of our water.
● Rising mental health issues.
The recently released Keelty report does little to alleviate the pain and suffering.
It heads back to the good old norm with state governments blaming the Federal Government and the Federal Government blaming the states, while the country goes broke and all the politicians pick up a big fat salary increase.
Just look at how much food and fibre was produced before the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
It’s obvious the southern Murray-Darling Basin has been the nation's insurance for the population’s food security; it has given the government the tool to balance our economy.
Selling our water to those outside agriculture to make money at the farmers’ expense — and not producing food — doesn’t balance an economy, nor does allowing millions of litres of water to run out to sea or killing our beautiful red gum forests with continual flooding.
But what would I know, I’m just living it!
6°C