Greens win Indigenous role in Murray Darling Basin water management

Australian Greens spokesperson on Water, Senator Rachel Siewert, today
welcomed cross-party support for amendments to the Water Bill enabling
better Indigenous representation in the Basin plan, but pointed to the
need for further work on cultural flows and Indigenous water rights.

"This is only the first step in achieving proper Indigenous
representation in decision making about the Basin Plan," said Senator
Siewert.

"Both the Government and Opposition supported the Greens' amendments
aimed at enabling the formation of an Indigenous water subcommittee and
the participation of an individual with expertise in Indigenous water
issues on the Basin community committee."

"While it is good to see all three sides of politics - Labor, Liberal
and Green - agreeing on this important matter, several other important
amendments were defeated. These amendments would have given legislative
recognition to Indigenous water rights and delivery of cultural flows in
the Basin for the first time," said Senator Siewert.

Cultural flows are water entitlements that are legally and beneficially
owned by the Indigenous Nations to improve the spiritual, cultural,
environmental, social and economic conditions of those Indigenous
Nations. 

"Indigenous people make up 4% of the population of the Murray Darling
Basin, yet currently control less than 0.2% of the land - fertile land
which once supported large and vibrant Indigenous communities," said
Senator Siewert.

"The Government needs to improve Indigenous representation in all areas
of Government, particularly in the management of land and natural
resources."

"The Greens will continue to work for First Australians to have true
involvement and recognition in the management and governance of their
lands," she concluded.

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