No reason to hold plan

Editorial & Letters|Wednesday, Jul 28 2010 | Free article|Subscribe for full access

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TEXT THE EDITOR1

HOW INDEPENDENT is the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)?

If the MDBA is an independent statutory agency why does it need to adhere to the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions and not release the long awaited proposed basin plan?
If indeed it should be consistent with the Caretaker Conventions, the conventions are not legally binding and there are no hard and fast rules. It is, after all, only a guide.
Ultimately the decision to release the basin plan rests with the MDBA, however Labor Minister Penny Wong can provide information and advice to the MDBA during caretaker mode and recommend releasing the basin plan.
Does Labor want the basin plan released during the election as it seems every other interested party does? Penny Wong could make this happen.
The plan is ready for public discussion and consultation now and what better time than during an election campaign for open and transparent talks about our most valuable Australian resource.
The independent MDBA has had the responsibility to find the right balance between the water required to sustain irrigation communities and the water needed to return the basin's rivers and wetlands to health.
Have they done this?
Release the basin plan now and let’s move forward.
K. PAGE
Loxton