SMH Headline today "People first, river second"

Well, atleast they're being honest I guess, but doesn't it go to show that the short term focus of our political system just ain't working?? I remember as a kid seeing pictures of the Murray mouth on the news and politicians and others saying what a dire situation it was, and something had to be done!

In today's article, "A scientific report, commissioned by a similar group of ministers in 2002, found 1500 gigalitres of water - enough to fill Sydney Harbour three times - was needed to address the decline of the whole Murray-Darling system. A meeting of ministers the following year agreed to find a third of that water to sustain five key environmental sites along the river system, but none of that water has yet been returned to the river."

Plenty of hot air has been found though!!??

Now we get the ministers deciding to have another look at it all, with little Johnny saying that "it will be apparent what some of the options are, including the draining of wetlands and allowing some of the dams to dry up. They will be considered. The purpose is to get a warts-and-all action plan. It's serious and we all understand that."

It was serious 20 years ago!! Now it's dire and focusing on keeping people 'on the land' without considering all of the consequences, including those regarding the Murray Darling herself, is ridiculous.

I guess we'll get another report, which will release its findings just in time for the next election and give Johnny his Tasmanian rainforest issue for this election ... more hot air about saving people's livelihoods while destroying our environment, more cheers from people with as short a focus as the government and Johhny's back in the White House, sorry, Kirribilli. Lucky for Howard it's not the White House ... if it was, atleast his reign would have ended years ago!!

Just a thought!!?