Ord River irrigation expansion needs careful planning: Greens
The Australian Greens today expressed their deep concern over expansion of the Ord River irrigation project in North Western Australia, following Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's announcement of funding under the Federal Government's infrastructure package.
Salt water flooding option demands more public consultation
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says ten days is not long enough for public consultation on the prospect of flooding South Australia's Lower Lakes with salt water.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett provided a ten-day period for public consultation which concludes today, and is set to decide whether or not he will approve salt water flooding by December 31 this year.
"Ten days for public consultation on such critical environmental, social and economic impacts is a joke, said Senator Hanson-Young.
Wong fails water leadership test
The Australian Greens have urged Water Minister Penny Wong to rise above parochial politics and live up to her role of leading the nation on water policy, saying the House of Representatives should accept the amendments passed by the Senate today. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she was surprised to find
Nationals put mining ahead of farmers
The Australian Greens are appalled that the Nationals have buckled to mining industry pressure to allow mining exploration under prime farming land without a water sustainability study. Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown, who today moved amendments to the Water Amendment Bill, originally proposed in the lower house by New England
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
Farmers get reprieve from coal miners under Greens Water Act amendment
The Federal Government should adopt a Senate amendment to the Water Act that protects fertile farming land from mining, according to the Greens.
Senator Brown today successfully moved amendments to the Act originally proposed by the Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor in the lower house.
Last month Senator Brown and Mr Windsor visited farmers at Caroona, near Tamworth, who are strongly opposed to plans by BHP to mine coal in the area. It's feared the mining may damage local hydrology and greatly affect the productivity of surrounding farms.
Saltwater flooding of Lakes a disaster, not a strategy
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says the agreement by state and federal water ministers today to flood the Murray's lower lakes with seawater in a worst-case scenario of low rainfall is an environmentally, socially and economically disastrous option that should not be considered. Senator Hanson-Young said there were better options than saltwater
Garrett Asks for Urgent Inquiry into Mary River Dam Works
Environment Minister Peter Garrett has ordered an urgent review of works being carried out at the Traveston Dam site on the Mary River in Queensland, prompted by a question from Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown. Senator Brown has raised concerns that some 20,000m3 of dirt is being dug from the site where the dam is
Water Bill still needs work: Greens
The Australian Greens today expressed concern about the Government's Commonwealth Water Act, saying there is a need for further work in the detail.
"The Greens are concerned that this legislation will not deliver the reform needed to solve the Murray-Darling water crisis," said Senator Rachel Siewert today.
BHP trading Liverpool Plains food bowl for coal - Brown
BHP should listen to the concerns of local farmers and put the Liverpool Plains food bowl ahead of its insatiable appetite for coal, Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said today. Senator Brown today visited the site of a farmers' protest blockade at Caroona, near Tamworth in NSW, with Independent Member for New England,