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Iemma needs to stop being the Beattie's water bunny
Friday 12 January 2007
NSW Premier Morris Iemma’s failure to get tough with the cotton irrigators and the Queensland government over cross-border water flows is another disaster for the future of the Murray Darling, according to Greens MP Lee Rhiannon.
The Beattie government's plan highlights the need to rein in the cotton industry that is devastating NSW’s rivers
Ms Rhiannon said: “The Beattie government is planning to auction 8 billion litres of water out of the Warrego river. This water will end up with the massive cotton growers in Queensland.
“That is 8 billion litres that will not be flowing into NSW to give life to the Murray Darling environment and the communities and smaller farmers who depend on it.
“It’s a gift to Queensland cotton barons who will be allowed to suck the Warrego dry and put another nail in the coffin of the Murray Darling.
“It highlights the need to rein in the cotton industry that is devastating NSW’s rivers.
“Premier Iemma has a one-off opportunity to negotiate with Peter Beattie to bring to an end the water wars and hammer out a negotiated settlement that ends the grip cotton irrigators have on water.
“If the two Labor premiers fail to reach an agreement that clamps down on the cotton barons, there is no doubt that Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Water Malcolm Turnbull will be only too happy to jump in and take over the entire basin.
“Beattie and Iemma should not give the Howard government the excuse it is desperately seeking.
“They need to negotiate a truce in the water wars that puts communities, smaller farmers and the environment ahead of the cotton barons.
“This can only happen if Morris Iemma shows he is a tough advocate for NSW and prepared to stand up to the Queensland government,” Ms Rhiannon said.
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