This blog post explores the critical issue of water management in Australia, where a battle between truth and post-truth claims is hampering much-needed reforms. It delves into the controversial water buyback program, the paradoxical impacts of irrigation efficiency improvements, and the inequities in Australia’s water markets. The article also sheds light on the alarming state of water quality and supply in rural and remote areas, as well as the over-extraction of water resources, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin. With a focus on the importance of acknowledging verifiable facts and enacting real reform, this post aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing Australia’s water future. Water management in Australia, Murray-Darling Basin
The Controversy Over Water Buybacks
One of the key issues explored in this article is the debate surrounding the Australian government’s water buyback program. The program aims to purchase water rights from willing sellers in order to return water to the environment and improve the health of Australia’s rivers. However, this initiative has been the subject of much controversy, with some irrigators opposing the buybacks and preferring subsidies for more efficient irrigation infrastructure instead.
The article delves into the nuances of this debate, highlighting the fact that the conversion of state water licenses to a system of tradeable water rights has actually gifted irrigators rights now worth tens of billions of dollars. In return, the government was supposed to buy back enough water from willing sellers to restore the health of the rivers. But the article argues that insufficient water has been bought back due to a combination of factors, including inadequate federal funding and a cap on buybacks imposed by the Abbott government, which was justified by the post-truth claim that buybacks were ‘destroying’ irrigation communities. The article counters this claim, citing research that shows buybacks from willing sellers are more cost-effective than taxpayer-subsidized irrigation infrastructure, and that the overall net social and economic impacts of water buybacks are positive.
The Paradox of Irrigation Efficiency Improvements
Another issue explored in the article is the paradoxical impact of investments in irrigation efficiency improvements. The article states that while Australia’s irrigation industry is generally considered to be efficient, with the use of various technologies and practices, the spending on these efficiency improvements has not actually saved much water.
In fact, the article suggests that these taxpayer-funded efficiency upgrades may have actually reduced stream flows in some of Australia’s largest rivers. This is because more efficient irrigation can decrease the amount of water flowing from farmers’ fields to rivers and aquifers. The article highlights the need to carefully examine the unintended consequences of such infrastructure investments, as they may not always lead to the desired water savings and ecosystem benefits.
Inequities and Challenges in Australia’s Water Management
The article also sheds light on the broader issues and challenges facing Australia’s water management system. It notes that while Australia has one of the world’s largest formal water markets, this does not necessarily mean that everyone benefits equally. The article points out that First Peoples, who were dispossessed of their land and water since 1788, still have only a tiny share of Australia’s water rights.
The article also highlights the problem of over-extraction of water resources, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin, which is described as Australia’s ‘food bowl.’ The article explains that too much water is being diverted in multiple places, which can have devastating consequences for downstream irrigators with perennial plantings, such as grapes or fruit trees. Furthermore, the article discusses the alarming state of water quality and supply in rural and remote areas, where residents regularly face multiple drinking water threats, including microbiological pollution and health warnings about contaminants.
Overall, the article emphasizes the need for real reform and a comprehensive approach to addressing the complex and multifaceted challenges facing Australia’s water management system. It calls for acknowledging the verifiable facts, rather than accepting post-truth claims, in order to secure a sustainable water future for the country.
