My favourite author of the moment ("The Rational Optimist") Matt Ridley has given a highly acclaimed speech on Climate Change. I commend it to you_
http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/ridley_rsa.pdf
28 November, 2011
Murray Darling Basin Authority Draft Plan-November,2011
After a quick "skim" of the new Report I have prepared the following Questions for the Authority-
Guidelines For
Questioners At MDBA Plan Meetings –November, 2011
·
What is the specific evidence on which you state
the Basin is “unhealthy”, particularly after the recent wet years?
(The MDBA website states -“Our use of the
water in the Basin has changed how the rivers flow. These changes in
volume and timing have led to increases in salinity,
blue-green algal blooms and water quality degradation, while wetlands, red gum
forests, native fish and water bird populations are decreasing (my
emphasis). All of these features are symptoms of overuse and they are
what have led to the latest impetus for water reform.
What is the scientific basis for these
claimed symptoms? They are inconsistent with the practical observations of many
on-the-ground, knowledgeable, riparian dwellers.
·
Are you sure that you are not confusing the
natural results of a typical (but extreme) Australian dry period with chronic
“ill-health”?
·
Does the Authority accept that the ACF claim
that the Murray Darling Basin is on the point of “eco-collapse” is nonsense?
·
Given that the Water Sharing Plan guided allocations saw a cut of over 4,000 GL in
extractions during the recent drought and given that critical human needs and
assessed environmental needs have first priority; what is the point of the
Government buying entitlements?
Won’t this only prevent production when water is plentiful?
·
Does the Authority acknowledge the point made by
Harvard Professor John Briscoe that Australia achieved a rare accomplishment in
keeping the Murray River flowing when run-off was at all time (since European
settlement) record lows? Does the Authority acknowledge that this was achieved
by the existence of upstream storages, the Snowy River diversions and strict
limits on irrigation extractions? Does this not call for additional storages to
better spread the extreme variability of our river flows?
·
When, during the Millennium Drought, there was
no water available for irrigation extractions or to maintain the Lower Lakes in
there unnatural fresh water state, what was the logic for not allowing sea
water to enter the Lower Lakes as it always did under such dry conditions before
the Barrages were built?
·
Why does the report not examine the management
of Snowy Scheme diversions, particularly the use of Eucumbene Dam, the largest
storage feeding the Basin? Evidence suggests that Snowy Hydro are not required
to give sufficient weight to water conservation and supply considerations, consistent
with their hydro electricity generation objectives.
17 November, 2011
MDB Water-Two Contradictory Quotes
Quote -
"A very uneven distribution of water resources across Australia and high year-to-year variability means that water resources in some regions are fully or over allocated, while others remain largely undeveloped"
"A very uneven distribution of water resources across Australia and high year-to-year variability means that water resources in some regions are fully or over allocated, while others remain largely undeveloped"
CSIRO Water -Science and Solutions for Australia, 2011
Given allocations are not fixed but made subject to availability, how can anyone argue that water resources are over allocated?? Sure, irrigators face great uncertainty because of Australia's variable rainfall. It is the system of allocations that we use to deal with the variability'
A great quote-
"Perhaps more than any other parts of the Australian economy, farmers understand uncertainty. They live with uncertainty about rainfall and growing conditions. They live with uncertainty about the costs of their key inputs. And, of course, they live with uncertainty about the world prices for their outputs. It is this ability to deal with uncertainty that is one of the strong and enduring characteristics of the Australian farming sector.
Philip Lowe, Assistant Governor (Economic), Reserve Bank of Australia.
"Perhaps more than any other parts of the Australian economy, farmers understand uncertainty. They live with uncertainty about rainfall and growing conditions. They live with uncertainty about the costs of their key inputs. And, of course, they live with uncertainty about the world prices for their outputs. It is this ability to deal with uncertainty that is one of the strong and enduring characteristics of the Australian farming sector.
Philip Lowe, Assistant Governor (Economic), Reserve Bank of Australia.
I think claims of over allocation are nonsensical! What do you think? Am I missing something?
Our Unbalanced ABC
On 6th November the ABC Radio National programme"Background Briefing" featured the Qantas dispute.The
programme concentrated on the Coalition's IR policy, or lack of it. I sent in the following comment:-
programme concentrated on the Coalition's IR policy, or lack of it. I sent in the following comment:-
David Boyd :
14 Nov 2011 9:30:34am
12 November, 2011
Uncertainty
A quote worth remembering-
"Perhaps more than any other parts of the Australian economy, farmers understand uncertainty. They live with uncertainty about rainfall and growing conditions. They live with uncertainty about the costs of their key inputs. And, of course, they live with uncertainty about the world prices for their outputs. It is this ability to deal with uncertainty that is one of the strong and enduring characteristics of the Australian farming sector."
Philip Lowe, Assistant Governor (Economic), Reserve Bank of Australia.
"Perhaps more than any other parts of the Australian economy, farmers understand uncertainty. They live with uncertainty about rainfall and growing conditions. They live with uncertainty about the costs of their key inputs. And, of course, they live with uncertainty about the world prices for their outputs. It is this ability to deal with uncertainty that is one of the strong and enduring characteristics of the Australian farming sector."
Philip Lowe, Assistant Governor (Economic), Reserve Bank of Australia.
Latest Murray Darling Basin Plan-Apprehension
Those interested in maintaining Australia's long term agricultural productive capacity are awaiting the release of the latest iteration of the Murray Darling Basin Plan at the end of this month, with great interest and some apprehension. The attached video, particularly Louise Burge's comments, is spot on.
The Murray Darling Basin rivers are not, in general, unhealthy. In fact, following the recent wetter years the Basin has arguably never been in better shape. Yet the likes of the ACF continue to talk about "on the brink of eco-collapse".
The fear is that the Report will proceed from the false premise that the rivers are unhealthy and that this is due to excessive extractions. Leaks suggest that it will again focus on aggregate entitlements and ignore the success of the Water Sharing Plans and their limit on allocations when water is in short supply.
It will fail to recognise the great achievement, as a consequence of storages, diversions (Snowy) and extraction limitations of keeping the Murray River flowing throughout the lowest run-off period in Australia's recorded history. We should be celebrating not lamenting!
The Murray Darling Basin rivers are not, in general, unhealthy. In fact, following the recent wetter years the Basin has arguably never been in better shape. Yet the likes of the ACF continue to talk about "on the brink of eco-collapse".
The fear is that the Report will proceed from the false premise that the rivers are unhealthy and that this is due to excessive extractions. Leaks suggest that it will again focus on aggregate entitlements and ignore the success of the Water Sharing Plans and their limit on allocations when water is in short supply.
It will fail to recognise the great achievement, as a consequence of storages, diversions (Snowy) and extraction limitations of keeping the Murray River flowing throughout the lowest run-off period in Australia's recorded history. We should be celebrating not lamenting!
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How about the lack of labour productivity improvements, Labor's winding back of the Hawke/Keating reforms, entrenched Qantas work practices being protected under the guise of job security,enhanced Union power and inflexibility and the flaws of the FWA arrangements?