The LNP doing what it does best - handing out tax payers money to its crooked mates. Very sick people these LNP :(

https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/cash-splash/11275810


Quote:

Cash Splash Taxpayer dollars, secretive deals and the lucrative business of water. "It's a national scandal." Water economist Two years on from the Four Corners investigation into water theft in the Murray-Darling Basin that sparked a royal commission, the program returns to the river system to investigate new concerns about how the plan to rescue it is being carried out. "How extravagant is this scheme?... I'd just call it a rort." Lawyer On Monday Four Corners investigates whether the contentious plan has become a colossal waste of taxpayers' money. "The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is a triple bottom line fail. It's a fail for communities, it's a fail for the economy and it's absolutely a fail for the environment." Business owner The river system is the lifeblood of Australian agriculture but right now it's in crisis. It's experiencing one of the worst droughts on record, and with mass fish deaths capturing the headlines and farmers struggling to survive, many are saying the scheme is failing to deliver. "I would characterise it as pink batts for farmers, or pink batts for earth movers. It all had to happen in a short space of time." Contractor Billions of taxpayers' dollars are being poured into grants handed to irrigators in an attempt to save more water. Four Corners investigates exactly how the money is being spent. "I'm a taxpayer. I don't agree with the scheme. I think it's actually too expensive." Farmer Some irrigators say this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform their businesses. "With a bold initiative, having the basin plan and the government investing in irrigated agriculture, you get an opportunity to basically reset... for the next 50 years." Irrigation CEO Others question who is actually gaining the most from the generous scheme. "We're degrading the rivers at the same time as we're handing out money to a few individuals to realise huge economic gains at public cost." Ecologist For those with access to water, there are lucrative sales to be made. Water prices have hit record highs turning it into liquid gold. "Anyone can come in and buy water. You don't even have to be a farmer...You're going to make money out of it, and that's what a lot of people are doing, unfortunately." Farmer Others worry that the scheme is encouraging the planting of crops even thirstier than cotton, creating a potential time bomb. "There's been an explosion in the production of nuts in the Murrumbidgee, and more broadly in the Murray-Darling Basin...This may well be a time bomb." Former water official Four Corners investigates how the scheme is being regulated and whether water users and the authorities responsible are being properly held to account. "We're talking about billions of dollars in taxpayers' money on a scheme that many, many capable and reliable scientists have said, this isn't going to work." Lawyer Cash Splash, reported by Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop, goes to air on Monday 8th July at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 9th July at 1.00pm and Wednesday 10th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.

Hmm ... the river system is drying up ... I know!!!

Let's build more dams!!!

What?  ::)

Here's a tip : Don't try to grow rice in an arid place.  ;)

You won't get any investigation by the current Federal Coalition government. They've got quite a few corrupt MPs who are rorting this.

No work done after Victorian Nationals' treasurer got $850k water-saving grant

Angus Taylor's Oxford rowing mate's company was a beneficiary of $80m water deal

Barnaby Joyce and Watergate: the water buybacks scandal explained

The water buyback that covers all future years? So x number of litres by x number of years.

You thought it was a once off buyback? ;D ;D ;D ;D

Scarce resources attract higher prices.

Bam wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 12:45pm:

You won't get any investigation by the current Federal Coalition government. They've got quite a few corrupt MPs who are rorting this. No work done after Victorian Nationals' treasurer got $850k water-saving grant Angus Taylor's Oxford rowing mate's company was a beneficiary of $80m water deal Barnaby Joyce and Watergate: the water buybacks scandal explained

who would be stupid enough to vote for this sh.t ?

You can always tell a liberal is running a business because they can't make a profit unless they are scamming someone :(

lee wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 3:23pm:

The water buyback that covers all future years? So x number of litres by x number of years. You thought it was a once off buyback? ;D ;D ;D ;D Scarce resources attract higher prices.

who made it a scarce resource to begin with ?

I think it is the same scam Nail....The ABC are just putting a bit of meat on the bones!!!

:) :) :)

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 3:26pm:

who made it a scarce resource to begin with ?

God? Australia has had water scarcity since inception. The Murray is simply a part of that.

"During most summers, the Darling River would typically dry back to a series of deep waterholes. Similarly, the lakes at Menindee and on the Great Darling Anabranch would dry up for many years between floods. From 1890 to 1961, water flowed the complete length of the Great Darling Anabranch to the Murray River only nine times.

The Darling River at Menindee ceased to flow 48 times between 1885 and 1960, and the river did not flow for 364 days in the 1902–3 drought.

https://discoveringthedarling.com.au/floods-droughts/

The problem is how the basin water is being managed mismanaged....This Government is responsible for billions of dollars going into this scheme so scrutiny is essential....Well done 4 Corners!!!

:) :) :)

Thanks Nail,
I won't miss tonight's 4 Corners.

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 5:39pm:

The problem is how the basin water is being managed mismanaged...

yes. Since its inception.

"This is not only a challenge for the current conservative federal government. The Labor side of politics needs to address its legacy in establishing the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Basin Plan, as well as the Victorian government’s role in frustrating the plan’s implementation by failing to remove constraints to environmental water flows."

https://theconversation.com/damning-royal-commission-report-leaves-no-doubt-that-we-all-lose-if-the-murray-darling-basin-plan-fails-110908

lee wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 5:50pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 5:39pm: The problem is how the basin water is being managed mismanaged... yes. Since its inception. "This is not only a challenge for the current conservative federal government. The Labor side of politics needs to address its legacy in establishing the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Basin Plan, as well as the Victorian government’s role in frustrating the plan’s implementation by failing to remove constraints to environmental water flows." https://theconversation.com/damning-royal-commission-report-leaves-no-doubt-that-we-all-lose-if-the-murray-darling-basin-plan-fails-110908

Making excuses and buck passing even before the program exposes these ass holes....How predictable!!!

::) ::) ::)

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 7:23pm:

Making excuses and buck passing even before the program exposes these ass holes....How predictable!!!

Are you really that much of a nong? Both parties are culpable. But you only want to focus on one. ::)

lee wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 7:48pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 7:23pm: Making excuses and buck passing even before the program exposes these ass holes....How predictable!!! Are you really that much of a nong? Both parties are culpable. But you only want to focus on one. ::)

Get your hand off it. All of the misconduct has occurred on the Coalition's watch and several Coalition MPs are involved.

If you disagree, please post a list of ALP MPs who are implicated.

The $80 million fraud by Angus Taylor and Barnaby Joyce that won’t go away. Watergate starts rising again.

lee wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 7:48pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 7:23pm: Making excuses and buck passing even before the program exposes these ass holes....How predictable!!! Are you really that much of a nong? Both parties are culpable. But you only want to focus on one. ::)

Haven't seen the show yet....How do you know what and whom it will expose....Making excuses and buck passing even before the program exposes these ass holes....How predictable!!!

::) ::) ::)

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 8:34pm:

Haven't seen the show yet....How do you know what and whom it will expose....Making excuses and buck passing even before the program exposes these ass holes....How predictable!!!

So you haven't seen the show and already apportioning blame. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Bam wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 8:04pm:

Get your hand off it. All of the misconduct has occurred on the Coalition's watch and several Coalition MPs are involved.

"Yet he said the authority consistently refused to acknowledge the failings of its hydrological modelling, which did not take account of climate change, natural losses in the system and was informed by limited data on what was really happening in the river.

The result, he said, was an outcome that would probably only be delivered on a desktop computer.

The commissioner, Bret Walker SC, is forensically examining the processes that led the government to set the 2,750GL environmental water recovery target for the Murray-Darling basin in 2012 and subsequent amendments that will further reduce environmental flows."

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/24/murray-darling-basin-authority-had-a-dishonest-culture-inquiry-told

From the garudian, so it must be true.

You do understand the reference to 2012; don't you?

$13 billion of our taxpayers money wasted.  :o

Bobby. wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 9:15pm:

$13 billion of our taxpayers money wasted.

If they have bought back water entitlements; is it wasted?

Which of course is much different to over committing on water entitlements. Something that should never have been done.

Bobby. wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 9:15pm:

$13 billion of our taxpayers money wasted.  :o

AT least 4 billion wasted on scammers. Isn't that the liberal way ! Can't run a profitable business unless they are ripping someone off :(

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 9:46pm:

AT least 4 billion wasted on scammers.

You mean people sold back water entitlements to which they were not entitled? Prosecute them to the full extent of the law.

lee wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 9:48pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 9:46pm: AT least 4 billion wasted on scammers. You mean people sold back water entitlements to which they were not entitled? Prosecute them to the full extent of the law.

In other words 4 billion and nothing to show for it. May as well flushed it down the toilet. Seems to be a regular occurrence with you lot. Just look at the NBN debacle :(

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 9:57pm:

lee wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 9:48pm: Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 9:46pm: AT least 4 billion wasted on scammers. You mean people sold back water entitlements to which they were not entitled? Prosecute them to the full extent of the law. In other words 4 billion and nothing to show for it. May as well flushed it down the toilet. Seems to be a regular occurrence with you lot. Just look at the NBN debacle :(

A simple solution: Robodebt the bastards.

Bam wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 10:46pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 9:57pm: lee wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 9:48pm: Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 9:46pm: AT least 4 billion wasted on scammers. You mean people sold back water entitlements to which they were not entitled? Prosecute them to the full extent of the law. In other words 4 billion and nothing to show for it. May as well flushed it down the toilet. Seems to be a regular occurrence with you lot. Just look at the NBN debacle :( A simple solution: Robodebt the bastards.

Hang those thieves.

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 9:57pm:

In other words 4 billion and nothing to show for it.

Isn't the Murray Darling Basin Authority an independent Statutory Agency?

lee wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 11:23pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 9:57pm: In other words 4 billion and nothing to show for it. Isn't the Murray Darling Basin Authority an independent Statutory Agency?

So what happened to the river in the end ? :(

Another 'business model' that has failed to produce the goods...

First the governments flogged the idea that public enterprise was inefficient, and that private enterprise was more efficient - and thus far the opposite has been the case, with massive cost rises, costs to the taxpayer, and escalating prices to the end user, as well as a rapidly rising opportunity for some to disappear income in tax breaks or to tax havens.

I want you to think about that last - when did a public enterprise ever offshore cash to a tax haven - before Howard and the Future Fund, of course...

So instead of a PUBLIC enterprise employing locals and paying taxes here - we have a plethora of private enterprises employing anyone they choose who may or may not end up paying tax here, and online management pays no tax here, and they buy nothing here except licences and a few meals  .... which would you prefer?

Then there is the calculated transfer of masses of public money - OUR money - into private hands - and mostly into the hands a a few 'big boys', with a few little fish copping a windfall during the boom (but not ever again after) generated by this massive flow of taxpayer cash.....

Clearly our 'government' remains intent on operating like some Third World Banana Republic dictatorship, in robbing the National Treasury to hand to its mates.... all we need is El Presidente and his brother as Treasurer, his nephew as Minister for Defence, his uncle as head of the security services, and so forth.... jeez, Howard/Costello even pulled an El Presidente type coup by creating the Future Fund that pays no tax, to fund their eternal retirement and upkeep... and none dare call it treason....

This has been going on now for decades under 'governments' of either 'side' of The Tag Team - the Government of Two Parties operating in an Orwellian nightmare for the powerless public.... and prospering mightily in many ways while they sink the ship of state.....

How did OUR water become a commodity in this way?  Simple - by the (ab)use of a 'business model' with zero business plan in reality and no checks and balances.... and totally beyond the control of and oversight by any responsible and independent government body..... and with only a few scientists and even insiders raising the alarm and destined for the gulag if they are not careful... watch this space for things to mysteriously happen to these people... one at a time so nobody will notice...

A little sexual harassment claim against the professor... a little 'oh, so sorry - calling in your bank loan' to the outspoken farmer.... a little insanity and dark hints of malfeasance and stolen documents undercurrent against the woman who worked for the water people and resigned...

And I kid you not.....

... and all of this denies the simple reality of rising salinity due to irrigation, and the absolute devastation of the lower Murray ....

BTW - if water is not permitted to 'run off' it will not return to the water courses..... so building mega dams might help the farmer - it will destroy the basis of his livelihood, the river system, and will lead to reliance on floods to fill the dams...meanwhile the water retained in the few short feet underground will rise and bring salinity with it... and will not wash down to the river(s) and then the ocean...... the mouth of the Murray will remain closed and the salinity desert will grow...

This was hinted at in two separate segments of that program -the part that dealt with 'big dams - no rain' and the later bit about 'let's all build big dams' .... no rain - no water... no dams .... just waste lots of ground...

Oh - and we have the pundits who deplore the idea of developing an Inland Sea - one reason for deploring the concept is that it is hot out there and a heap will evaporate (that's the point - evaporation causes rain, especially with an opening to the sea constantly filling it) .. so what about the 40 deg heat at Hay etc?

No evaporation of that stored water across a huge area in a mega-dam?  Same with south west Queenslund?  How much of that mega-stored water simply vanishes into thin air?


I love a sunburnt country,
A land of flowing streams,
Where water runs and children play,
If only in our dreams.....
There's no movement on the Murray,
Which the mega-dams have drowned,
And the c*nts who own the licences,
Have left an empty ground,
Where cattle roam the reaches,
Searching for a drink,
And fields are lying fallow,
And the water-holes all stink...

Oh, I love my ripped-off country,
A land of empty plains,
Where easy post tax billions,
Are running down the drains,
Of some who hold the licences,
And some who dig the soil,
But only for the mega-rich,
And not some farmer's toil.
Where eco-balance holds the day,
As long as it's one way,
And every time a new scam comes,
The taxman pays its way....
We all loved this sunburnt country,
With fertile, watered soil,
And now it's slowly disappeared,
In blood and sweat and toil......

lee wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 8:52pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 8:34pm: Haven't seen the show yet....How do you know what and whom it will expose....Making excuses and buck passing even before the program exposes these ass holes....How predictable!!! So you haven't seen the show and already apportioning blame. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Whom did I blame dickhead???

:-? :-? :-?

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/apr/17/questions-over-companies-chosen-for-200m-of-murray-darling-water-buybacks

Top work, Grappler

[smiley=tekst-toppie.gif]

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 7:17am:

Whom did I blame dickhead???

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 7:23pm:

Making excuses and buck passing even before the program exposes these ass holes....

You mean you were talking about Labor ass holes? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 11:42pm:

So what happened to the river in the end ?

Is it the end of the river? I haven't seen anything on that.

lee wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 2:23pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 11:42pm: So what happened to the river in the end ? Is it the end of the river? I haven't seen anything on that.

What happened to the river after you grubs stole all of the water out of it ?

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 2:54pm:

lee wrote on Jul 9th, 2019 at 2:23pm: Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 11:42pm: So what happened to the river in the end ? Is it the end of the river? I haven't seen anything on that. What happened to the river after you grubs stole all of the water out of it ?

The river has gone -
it dried up.

The Murray mouth's been closed, or in imminent danger of closing when it's open, now for ages... not enough flow to keep it open ....

https://www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/samurraydarlingbasin/projects/all-projects-map/keeping-the-murray-mouth-open

Gone are the days of the boats to Bourke... and Albury....

PETITION


To our Political Leaders



The systemic mismanagement and maladministration of the Murray Darling Basin Plan needs to stop. Australia’s water resources need to be managed in the public interest, not for the benefit of corporations and lobbyists.



We need a Royal Commission into the management of our greatest rivers.

https://nb.tai.org.au/mdbroyalcommission

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 2:54pm:

What happened to the river after you grubs stole all of the water out of it ?

You mean unlike previous drying up events? ::)


lee wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 5:08pm:

"During most summers, the Darling River would typically dry back to a series of deep waterholes. Similarly, the lakes at Menindee and on the Great Darling Anabranch would dry up for many years between floods. From 1890 to 1961, water flowed the complete length of the Great Darling Anabranch to the Murray River only nine times. The Darling River at Menindee ceased to flow 48 times between 1885 and 1960, and the river did not flow for 364 days in the 1902–3 drought.

lee wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 2:18pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 9th, 2019 at 7:17am: Whom did I blame dickhead??? philperth2010 wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 7:23pm: Making excuses and buck passing even before the program exposes these ass holes.... You mean you were talking about Labor ass holes?

So whom did I blame dickhead???

Did you watch the program....The Coalition are to blame!!!

::) ::) ::)

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 5:29pm:

Did you watch the program....

No petal.


philperth2010 wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 5:29pm:

The Coalition are to blame!!!

That was your prejudgement as well. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

And so according to your lights labor are totally blameless. Despite them having set up the MDBA. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

And the MDBA is an independent statutory organisation just like the FWC. You seem to like their independence until such time as you don't. ;D ;D ;D ;D

lee wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 6:11pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 9th, 2019 at 5:29pm: Did you watch the program.... No

Waste of time!!!

::) ::) ::)

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 6:39pm:

Waste of time!!!

Seeing as you say so it probably was. ;)

Redmond Neck wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 4:45pm:

PETITION To our Political Leaders The systemic mismanagement and maladministration of the Murray Darling Basin Plan needs to stop. Australia’s water resources need to be managed in the public interest, not for the benefit of corporations and lobbyists. We need a Royal Commission into the management of our greatest rivers. https://nb.tai.org.au/mdbroyalcommission

Yep!

lee wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 4:47pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 9th, 2019 at 2:54pm: What happened to the river after you grubs stole all of the water out of it ? You mean unlike previous drying up events? ::) lee wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 5:08pm: "During most summers, the Darling River would typically dry back to a series of deep waterholes. Similarly, the lakes at Menindee and on the Great Darling Anabranch would dry up for many years between floods. From 1890 to 1961, water flowed the complete length of the Great Darling Anabranch to the Murray River only nine times. The Darling River at Menindee ceased to flow 48 times between 1885 and 1960, and the river did not flow for 364 days in the 1902–3 drought.

Your mates were getting paid to dry up the river. That's what was drying up the river :(

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 9:46pm:

Your mates were getting paid to dry up the river. That's what was drying up the river

The river has dried many times. Even before irrigation was big. How do you explain that? You just like to make sch!t up.

I have no mates over the eastern states. You are just deluded and bitter.

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 11:58pm:

... and all of this denies the simple reality of rising salinity due to irrigation, and the absolute devastation of the lower Murray .... BTW - if water is not permitted to 'run off' it will not return to the water courses..... so building mega dams might help the farmer - it will destroy the basis of his livelihood, the river system, and will lead to reliance on floods to fill the dams...meanwhile the water retained in the few short feet underground will rise and bring salinity with it... and will not wash down to the river(s) and then the ocean...... the mouth of the Murray will remain closed and the salinity desert will grow... This was hinted at in two separate segments of that program -the part that dealt with 'big dams - no rain' and the later bit about 'let's all build big dams' .... no rain - no water... no dams .... just waste lots of ground...

This is why we shouldn't have river systems managed by dryland farmers with no understanding of hydrology.

Rainwater has salt in it. Not much, to be sure, but it's there. When the rain falls over the land, it drops that salt over the land. The salt needs to find its way to a river so it can return to the sea, or to an inland basin like Lake Eyre. A lot of salt doesn't due to evaporation. It accumulates in groundwater, which is why a lot of groundwater in Australia is saline. Floods can help to flush the salt out, but if the salt doesn't get flushed out it is going to accumulate.

Irrigation is also bad for salt in the soil. It brings the salt in the groundwater to the surface, or adds more salt because that irrigation water from the river is also saline. The degradation isn't quick but reversing the degradation also takes a long time.

This is why building dams to trap flood waters is a very bad idea. It is going to spread salt, and over time the degradation will make that farmland worthless. And the ones who have taken that water for short-term benefits will not be paying for the remediation. Privatise the profits, socialise the losses.

Bam wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 10:31pm:

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jul 8th, 2019 at 11:58pm: ... and all of this denies the simple reality of rising salinity due to irrigation, and the absolute devastation of the lower Murray .... BTW - if water is not permitted to 'run off' it will not return to the water courses..... so building mega dams might help the farmer - it will destroy the basis of his livelihood, the river system, and will lead to reliance on floods to fill the dams...meanwhile the water retained in the few short feet underground will rise and bring salinity with it... and will not wash down to the river(s) and then the ocean...... the mouth of the Murray will remain closed and the salinity desert will grow... This was hinted at in two separate segments of that program -the part that dealt with 'big dams - no rain' and the later bit about 'let's all build big dams' .... no rain - no water... no dams .... just waste lots of ground... This is why we shouldn't have river systems managed by dryland farmers with no understanding of hydrology. Rainwater has salt in it. Not much, to be sure, but it's there. When the rain falls over the land, it drops that salt over the land. The salt needs to find its way to a river so it can return to the sea, or to an inland basin like Lake Eyre. A lot of salt doesn't due to evaporation. It accumulates in groundwater, which is why a lot of groundwater in Australia is saline. Floods can help to flush the salt out, but if the salt doesn't get flushed out it is going to accumulate. Irrigation is also bad for salt in the soil. It brings the salt in the groundwater to the surface, or adds more salt because that irrigation water from the river is also saline. The degradation isn't quick but reversing the degradation also takes a long time. This is why building dams to trap flood waters is a very bad idea. It is going to spread salt, and over time the degradation will make that farmland worthless. And the ones who have taken that water for short-term benefits will not be paying for the remediation. Privatise the profits, socialise the losses.

Well put.

What concerns me most is the 'business model' that allows unchecked buying of water (at auction, so same as serial house hoarders v prospective home owners), and the making of profit from those licences bought.

Simple to fix - you buy - you use - no use - forfeit.

It was fascinating to see that a bloke on the Murrumbidgee bought water  rights from the cheaper Murray and then sold those on to make a profit...

WTF?  You buy to use - not to sell for profit... that's a pretty simple rule, and the fact that the government itself has allowed the growth of this kind of 'business' dealing shows that they have no conscience about throwing $13 Bn at water, to end up in the pockets of the cunning, the greedy, and the already rich.... ALL of whom will subvert most of it into non-tax paying areas of activity... including blatantly offshoring it.

How in god's name do you reduce water usage by simply encouraging the transfer of masses of taxpayer's money via buying and selling the 'right' to use water?  That's like Reg having the right to have babies, but not actually having babies, and the taxpayer paying for the babies Reg doesn't have.  Reduced to its bottom line with all engaged in this practice - zero change would occur = no 'water savings" at huge expense, and what that means is that those who buy water rights to actually use them are going to end up with nothing through being sucked dry competing with parasites.

A Third World Banana Republic couldn't do it better, and it has all the hallmarks of the same kind of 'business'!

Billions wasted by the Coalition with no positive outcomes for the environment....This will only get worse whilst this bible bashing clown infects Parliament with his jingoism!!!

::) ::) ::)

lee wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 9:51pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 9th, 2019 at 9:46pm: Your mates were getting paid to dry up the river. That's what was drying up the river The river has dried many times. Even before irrigation was big. How do you explain that? You just like to make sch!t up. I have no mates over the eastern states. You are just deluded and bitter.

It's permanently dry now thanks to your crooked mates and their hare brain water saving ideas :(

.. it is not beyond the realm of consideration that the ultimate aim is to drive the smaller farmer out and replace him/her with agribusiness - which we all know already will not benefit this nation and will hardly pay its way in any way ...

There must be plenty of brown paper bags doing the rounds.... future job offers on offer......donations galore....

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 10^th, 2019 at 11:01am:

It's permanently dry now thanks to your crooked mates and their hare brain water saving ideas

Really? it will not rain again? It will not run again? You have this on whose authority? God's?

I don't have any mates over east and I don't have any crooked mates. If you think you know some, name them. And if you think I have political mates you are really, really confused or worse.

Redmond Neck wrote on Jul 9^th, 2019 at 7:27pm:

Redmond Neck wrote on Jul 9th, 2019 at 4:45pm: PETITION To our Political Leaders The systemic mismanagement and maladministration of the Murray Darling Basin Plan needs to stop. Australia’s water resources need to be managed in the public interest, not for the benefit of corporations and lobbyists. We need a Royal Commission into the management of our greatest rivers. https://nb.tai.org.au/mdbroyalcommission Yep!

yep

I would also remind you that Labor, in the guise of St Penny of the Wong, bought into this scheme as well.....

They don't like to be reminded of that.

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jul 10^th, 2019 at 2:19pm:

I would also remind you that Labor, in the guise of St Penny of the Wong, bought into this scheme as well.....

Cool....Post a link....I would like to see what Wong has done???

:-? :-? :-?

"For the Kahlbetzer family there will only ever be one Penny Wong . When the federal Water Minister needed a big deal to trumpet the government’s commitment to the Murray-Darling Basin, the family’s Twynam Pastoral Company was a willing seller.

What followed was the largest ­water trade in Australian history, a $303 million deal that was supposedly a win for taxpayers and the ­environment."

https://www.afr.com/news/politics/penny-s-from-heaven-for-water-sellers-20100330-ivsbw

paywalled

"In 2009, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, then Minister for Climate Change and Water, made the Water Market Rules (WMR) and Water Charge (Termination Fees) Rules (WCTFR).1 In 2010, the Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, made the Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules (WCIR) and the Water Charge (Planning and Management Information) Rules (WCPMIR) (collectively, the Rules).2 Compliance with the rules is monitored and enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Minister Burke made minor amendments to the WCTFR in February 2011 and further amendments to the WCTFR and the WMR in October 2012."

https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/ACCC%20Article%20in%20the%20SA%20Law%20Society%20Journal%20on%20the%20Water%20Market%20Rules%20and%20Water%20Charge%20Rules_0.doc

"Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on behalf of the Labor Party on this disallowance motion and make clear that Labor will be voting to disallow this instrument. We do so because we support the plan; in fact, we're the party that delivered the plan. It was Labor that delivered the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in government and it is Labor that will fight today to save that plan—the whole plan, the entire plan—for all Australians."

"I would make this point, notwithstanding that very impassioned speech by Senator Hanson-Young: the one party that has not supported the plan, and did not support it when we implemented it in government, is the Greens. They didn't support the plan at the time and, I have to say on this, have been happy to grandstand but have never delivered a single drop to the River Murray. When Senator Hanson-Young goes out in the media and calls on me and other Labor Party senators to stand firm on the River Murray, I would remind people listening that the Greens didn't support the plan and they've never delivered a single drop of water. They continue to lecture me and others in this place about the need to enforce a plan they have never supported. I tell you who did deliver the water, and that is the Labor government. I am proud that as water minister in that government between 2007 and 2010 I secured almost a thousand gigalitres of water for the river, something for which I have been criticised, to this day, by the National Party and various irrigation communities, perhaps even by you, Mr Acting Deputy President Williams—as you're entitled to do, but I do make that point. It was something that was hard fought and remains hard fought."

https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2018-02-14.247.2

responding to SHY who said -

"Despite all of this, we have a regulation before us in this place that suggests the Murray-Darling Basin Plan should be amended to take more water out of the river, to take more water off the environment and to hand it to big corporate irrigators upstream."

So Penny Wong, on behalf of the Labor Party supported the move to take more water and was against the Green's motion.

So what did Penny Wong do that was so bad....Securing almost a thousand gigalitres of water for the river is a good outcome....4 Corners exposed the way the system has been corrupted by vested interests and poor management....The Coalition own this mess???

This from Cory Bernardi....


Quote:

I also happen to agree with Senator Wong about the problems with the Deputy Prime Minister being in charge of the water portfolio. I think there was enormous compromise there. I respect the fact that many people say the new minister is committed. I've had meetings with him, and he's been committed to this program. But my confidence in the new minister was undermined when, shamefully, he decided to put out a press release calling upon a party member of mine, who happens to be in Queensland, to 'stand up for Queensland'. A member of a political party has been told to stand up against this South Australian-centric politician who's here representing the interests of the state and trying to balance it across the whole thing. And the minister said, 'The people in Queensland would be worse off as a result of this disallowance today.' Where it falls on shamefully hollow ground is the fact that the minister himself is related to one of the people in Queensland who have been accused of rorting the water systems themselves. They've been raided. It doesn't matter whether Mr Norman is the brother-in-law, as reported, or the wife's second cousin. There is a direct link with someone who has been rorting the water system or is alleged to have been, whose farms have been raided by the Federal Police, who has been accused of building 'roads'—in those quotation marks again—that just happen to store piles of water from the flood plains and prevent it getting down the river. The fact that this wasn't disclosed, except by the ABC, and I had to start digging through it and find out about it in recent times is extraordinary.

::) ::) ::)

https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2018-02-14.247.2

I always had a good laugh every election when on day one Howard would open the Liberal election play book and look read out announcement number 1. We are going to fix the Murray river system.

apparently they fixed it 4 times. One of the times they spent money to fix it they even forgot to spend the money.

Point 2 in the play book was pretend to be good economic managers.

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10^th, 2019 at 5:59pm:

So what did Penny Wong do that was so bad....Securing almost a thousand gigalitres of water for the river is a good outcome....4 Corners exposed the way the system has been corrupted by vested interests and poor management....The Coalition own this mess??? This from Cory Bernardi.... Quote: I also happen to agree with Senator Wong about the problems with the Deputy Prime Minister being in charge of the water portfolio. I think there was enormous compromise there. I respect the fact that many people say the new minister is committed. I've had meetings with him, and he's been committed to this program. But my confidence in the new minister was undermined when, shamefully, he decided to put out a press release calling upon a party member of mine, who happens to be in Queensland, to 'stand up for Queensland'. A member of a political party has been told to stand up against this South Australian-centric politician who's here representing the interests of the state and trying to balance it across the whole thing. And the minister said, 'The people in Queensland would be worse off as a result of this disallowance today.' Where it falls on shamefully hollow ground is the fact that the minister himself is related to one of the people in Queensland who have been accused of rorting the water systems themselves. They've been raided. It doesn't matter whether Mr Norman is the brother-in-law, as reported, or the wife's second cousin. There is a direct link with someone who has been rorting the water system or is alleged to have been, whose farms have been raided by the Federal Police, who has been accused of building 'roads'—in those quotation marks again—that just happen to store piles of water from the flood plains and prevent it getting down the river. The fact that this wasn't disclosed, except by the ABC, and I had to start digging through it and find out about it in recent times is extraordinary. ::) ::) ::) https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2018-02-14.247.2

"Securing almost a thousand gigalitres of water"

... that then went into the open market via auction and then entered the same scenario that we are now seeing....

Hello - Western Australia with no idea...

You racist bastard ........ prick.. gullywhumper ... low life ... know-nothing dickhead in a council flat with a basement where you live under your mother's rent.....

How do YOU like it when people give it back to you, turkey?

Do you actually have a life?

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 12:23am:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10th, 2019 at 5:59pm: So what did Penny Wong do that was so bad....Securing almost a thousand gigalitres of water for the river is a good outcome....4 Corners exposed the way the system has been corrupted by vested interests and poor management....The Coalition own this mess??? This from Cory Bernardi.... Quote: I also happen to agree with Senator Wong about the problems with the Deputy Prime Minister being in charge of the water portfolio. I think there was enormous compromise there. I respect the fact that many people say the new minister is committed. I've had meetings with him, and he's been committed to this program. But my confidence in the new minister was undermined when, shamefully, he decided to put out a press release calling upon a party member of mine, who happens to be in Queensland, to 'stand up for Queensland'. A member of a political party has been told to stand up against this South Australian-centric politician who's here representing the interests of the state and trying to balance it across the whole thing. And the minister said, 'The people in Queensland would be worse off as a result of this disallowance today.' Where it falls on shamefully hollow ground is the fact that the minister himself is related to one of the people in Queensland who have been accused of rorting the water systems themselves. They've been raided. It doesn't matter whether Mr Norman is the brother-in-law, as reported, or the wife's second cousin. There is a direct link with someone who has been rorting the water system or is alleged to have been, whose farms have been raided by the Federal Police, who has been accused of building 'roads'—in those quotation marks again—that just happen to store piles of water from the flood plains and prevent it getting down the river. The fact that this wasn't disclosed, except by the ABC, and I had to start digging through it and find out about it in recent times is extraordinary. ::) ::) ::) https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2018-02-14.247.2 "Securing almost a thousand gigalitres of water" ... that then went into the open market via auction and then entered the same scenario that we are now seeing.... Hello - Western Australia with no idea... You racist bastard ........ prick.. gullywhumper ... low life ... know-nothing dickhead in a council flat with a basement where you live under your mother's rent..... How do YOU like it when people give it back to you, turkey? Do you actually have a life?

Don't like being exposed as a racist dickhead do you, you racist dickhead....I couldn't give a crap what you think mate....You are an ass hole of the lowest order and have nothing to be proud of....Bring it on you sook!!!

:'( :'( :'(

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10^th, 2019 at 5:59pm:

So what did Penny Wong do that was so bad.

Nothing petal. Just pointing out hat Labor were the authors, Labor set upthe scheme, Labor made payments that were held up to ridicule, Labor were in charge when the water was re-released into the system, Labor approved the amendment to increase the water allocation.


philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10^th, 2019 at 5:59pm:

4 Corners exposed the way the system has been corrupted by vested interests and poor management..

And that has been the case since its inception. Apportioning blame to one side only detracts from any credibility you pretend.


philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10^th, 2019 at 5:59pm:

.The Coalition own this mess???

They do now now because they are in Government. It would have been Labor owning this mess if Labor had won.

You do understand "owning" is not the same as "creating"? ;)

lee wrote on Jul 10^th, 2019 at 1:03pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 10th, 2019 at 11:01am: It's permanently dry now thanks to your crooked mates and their hare brain water saving ideas Really? it will not rain again? It will not run again? You have this on whose authority? God's? I don't have any mates over east and I don't have any crooked mates. If you think you know some, name them. And if you think I have political mates you are really, really confused or worse.

What's the point of the rain when your crooked mates will be siphoning it all off in their newly constructed tax payer funded dams :(

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:30am:

What's the point of the rain when your crooked mates will be siphoning it all off in their newly constructed tax payer funded dams

Poor petal. Trying so hard to be relevant; and failing.  You have failed markedly to supply any supporting information to back up your claims. In other words a complete tosser.

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:42am:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 11:30am: What's the point of the rain when your crooked mates will be siphoning it all off in their newly constructed tax payer funded dams Poor petal. Trying so hard to be relevant; and failing.  You have failed markedly to supply any supporting information to back up your claims. In other words a complete tosser.

Watch the last monday's 4Corners show about three times and it might sink in dopey!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Redmond Neck wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:49am:

Watch the last monday's 4Corners show about three times and it might sink in dopey!

Why? Did they provide proof that Labor never increased water allocations from MDBA?

https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4628.0.55.001Main%20Features60May%202012?opendocument

have a look at table 6.7 and see how water entitlements went up.

You do understand tables don't you?

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:29am:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10th, 2019 at 5:59pm: So what did Penny Wong do that was so bad. Nothing petal. Just pointing out hat Labor were the authors, Labor set upthe scheme, Labor made payments that were held up to ridicule, Labor were in charge when the water was re-released into the system, Labor approved the amendment to increase the water allocation. philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10th, 2019 at 5:59pm: 4 Corners exposed the way the system has been corrupted by vested interests and poor management.. And that has been the case since its inception. Apportioning blame to one side only detracts from any credibility you pretend. philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10th, 2019 at 5:59pm: .The Coalition own this mess??? They do now now because they are in Government. It would have been Labor owning this mess if Labor had won. You do understand "owning" is not the same as "creating"? ;)

Where is the accountability and openness of this Government....It was not Labor who have managed the system for the last 6 years....It is not Labor who refuse to release documents that show were the water has gone....It is not Labor who refused to cooperate with the South Australian Royal Commission....All the Coalition have to do is be upfront and fix this disater of their own making....The Coalition own this mess and are covering up corruption which has been posted many times....You do understand "creating" is not the same as "managing" is it dickhead???

::) ::) ::)

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:42am:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 11:30am: What's the point of the rain when your crooked mates will be siphoning it all off in their newly constructed tax payer funded dams Poor petal. Trying so hard to be relevant; and failing.  You have failed markedly to supply any supporting information to back up your claims. In other words a complete tosser.

That's funny the rivers are in a drought but the farmers have somehow miraculously avoided the drought and have plenty of water for their crops :D LOL

This is why nobody takes any of your comments seriously.

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 12:35pm:

That's funny the rivers are in a drought but the farmers have somehow miraculously avoided the drought and have plenty of water for their crops

That's the way it was designed by Labor and followed on by the libs. Now where are that study that said the river will never run again? That was your claim.


Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 12:35pm:

This is why nobody takes any of your comments seriously.

Far mote seriously than anything you offer. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 12:35pm:

Where is the accountability and openness of this Government..

Poor petal. Refusing to acknowledge Labor's hand in anything bad that happens. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 12:35pm:

lee wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 11:42am: Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 11:30am: What's the point of the rain when your crooked mates will be siphoning it all off in their newly constructed tax payer funded dams Poor petal. Trying so hard to be relevant; and failing.  You have failed markedly to supply any supporting information to back up your claims. In other words a complete tosser. That's funny the rivers are in a drought but the farmers have somehow miraculously avoided the drought and have plenty of water for their crops :D LOL This is why nobody takes any of your comments seriously.

Lee did not even watch the 4 Corners program yet he has already decided it's Labor's fault despite Labor not managing the system for almost 7 years....The complete lack of accountability, secret deals done without a tender and refusal to cooperate with the South Australian Royal Commission is all on the Coalition....Yet Lee keeps his head buried up his ass and rants about crap he has not even bothered to watch....What a dickhead!!!

::) ::) ::)

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 4:39pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 12:35pm: lee wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 11:42am: Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 11:30am: What's the point of the rain when your crooked mates will be siphoning it all off in their newly constructed tax payer funded dams Poor petal. Trying so hard to be relevant; and failing.  You have failed markedly to supply any supporting information to back up your claims. In other words a complete tosser. That's funny the rivers are in a drought but the farmers have somehow miraculously avoided the drought and have plenty of water for their crops :D LOL This is why nobody takes any of your comments seriously. Lee did not even watch the 4 Corners program yet he has already decided it's Labor's fault despite Labor not managing the system for almost 7 years....The complete lack of accountability, secret deals done without a tender and refusal to cooperate with the South Australian Royal Commission is all on the Coalition....Yet Lee keeps his head buried up his ass and rants about crap he has not even bothered to watch....What a dickhead!!! ::) ::) ::)

Yep!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 4:29pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 12:35pm: Where is the accountability and openness of this Government.. Poor petal. Refusing to acknowledge Labor's hand in anything bad that happens. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

I am not refusing to admit anything....First you must provide some evidence that Labor have done something wrong apart from negotiating with the States to try and gain bipartisanship and coordinate a National plan....What did Labor do dickhead....Put up or shut up....We know the Coalition refuses to be accountable....Refuses to cooperate with the States and done deals with their mate under secret tender....The Coalition will not even reveal how much water has been returned to the river....Why???

:-? :-? :-?

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 4:44pm:

.First you must provide some evidence that Labor have done something wrong apart from negotiating with the States to try and gain bipartisanship and coordinate a National plan..

Do I? I never said Labor did anything wrong. I merely said the Libs followed the Labor pact. Labor increased water allocations, but you only want to pillory one side for doing the same. And that with Labor's blessing.


philperth2010 wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 4:44pm:

.Refuses to cooperate with the States and done deals with their mate under secret tender....The Coalition will not even reveal how much water has been returned to the river....Why???

Why don't you ask the MDBA petal. They are an independent statutory body. ;)

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 4:39pm:

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 12:35pm: lee wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 11:42am: Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11th, 2019 at 11:30am: What's the point of the rain when your crooked mates will be siphoning it all off in their newly constructed tax payer funded dams Poor petal. Trying so hard to be relevant; and failing.  You have failed markedly to supply any supporting information to back up your claims. In other words a complete tosser. That's funny the rivers are in a drought but the farmers have somehow miraculously avoided the drought and have plenty of water for their crops :D LOL This is why nobody takes any of your comments seriously. Lee did not even watch the 4 Corners program yet he has already decided it's Labor's fault despite Labor not managing the system for almost 7 years....The complete lack of accountability, secret deals done without a tender and refusal to cooperate with the South Australian Royal Commission is all on the Coalition....Yet Lee keeps his head buried up his ass and rants about crap he has not even bothered to watch....What a dickhead!!! ::) ::) ::)

the libbos always have a get out of jail free card for any problem of their own making. Just blame labor for it :(

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 5:55pm:

the libbos always have a get out of jail free card for any problem of their own making. Just blame labor for it

Poor petal. Can you show where Labor were blamed? ;)

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 6:06pm:

Poor petal. Can you show where Labor were blamed?

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:29am:

Labor were the authors,

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:29am:

Labor set upthe scheme,

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:29am:

Labor made payments that were held up to ridicule,

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:29am:

Labor were in charge when the water was re-released into the system,

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:29am:

abor approved the amendment to increase the water allocation.

:D :D :D

Poor petal. And no blame attached. Merely pointing our what Labor did.

You do how blame works. "They did this; This went wrong, Therefore they are to blame".

You do have issues; don't you.

So show me where Labor were blamed. Not the mere fact they did something.

I support the water buyback. The MDBA is an independent statutory authority. If they over allocated water it is on their collective heads.

You are another one of those people who likes independent authorities, like the FWC, until something goes awry. Then suddenly it is the Government's fault. Unless of course that government is one in which you believe. ;)

::)

---

Poor petal. Reduced to pretty pictures again. No argument at all. Such a silly duffer. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

.

---

Arguing with an LNP supporter :(

https://pics.me.me/sometimes-want-to-hit-my-head-against-awall-but-thenmlike-50500426.png

Poor petal. I think it was done to you as a child and you never recovered.

JS. poor petal. Reduced to iterating pretty pictures because he can't think of a cogent argument. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Ordah!!  ORDAH!!

I merely said that Labor had some responsibility in this, too - not that the fault was entirely theirs....

ALL of the bastards are up to their necks in it.... as shareholders and probably future employees paid for sitting around scratching their balls* and holding up the weight of a hefty title for their job...

* and that's just St Penny Aquaductus .......

WTF???


Quote:

Water Minister David Littleproud’s family linked to $20 million Murray-Darling Basin fraud yet he is still Water Minister The current federal Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud has direct family links to the $20 million Murray-Darling Basin fraud which has resulted in police charges in Queensland. David Littleproud’s wife’s cousin, John Norman, is the kingpin of the alleged $20 million fraud and was charged in August 2018 after the police raided his farm in October 2017.

::) ::) ::)

https://kangaroocourtofaustralia.com/2019/04/28/water-minister-david-littleprouds-family-linked-to-20-million-murray-darling-basin-fraud-yet-he-is-still-water-minister/

How far is six degrees of separation?

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 9:04pm:

JS. poor petal. Reduced to iterating pretty pictures because he can't think of a cogent argument. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

---

Still no cogent argument. Why am I not surprised? Typical Lightweight. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

.

---

lee wrote on Jul 11^th, 2019 at 11:29am:

philperth2010 wrote on Jul 10th, 2019 at 5:59pm: The Coalition own this mess??? They do now now because they are in Government.

Of course they do. It wasn't Labor that moved responsibility for water out of the Environment portfolio and into Agriculture.  :P

lee wrote on Jul 12^th, 2019 at 4:44pm:

Still no cogent argument. Why am I not surprised? Typical Lightweight. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Ooo, look. eelboy's learnt a new word.  ;D

Bam wrote on Jul 12^th, 2019 at 7:27pm:

Ooo, look. eelboy's learnt a new word.

You are really slow on the uptake aren't you? I suggest you go back a few years and check. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

How come that water became a commodity with a price tag attached to it, without OUR permission?

Sir lastnail wrote on Jul 8^th, 2019 at 12:03pm:

The LNP doing what it does best - handing out tax payers money to its crooked mates. Very sick people these LNP :( https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/cash-splash/11275810 Quote: Cash Splash Taxpayer dollars, secretive deals and the lucrative business of water. "It's a national scandal." Water economist Two years on from the Four Corners investigation into water theft in the Murray-Darling Basin that sparked a royal commission, the program returns to the river system to investigate new concerns about how the plan to rescue it is being carried out. "How extravagant is this scheme?... I'd just call it a rort." Lawyer On Monday Four Corners investigates whether the contentious plan has become a colossal waste of taxpayers' money. "The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is a triple bottom line fail. It's a fail for communities, it's a fail for the economy and it's absolutely a fail for the environment." Business owner The river system is the lifeblood of Australian agriculture but right now it's in crisis. It's experiencing one of the worst droughts on record, and with mass fish deaths capturing the headlines and farmers struggling to survive, many are saying the scheme is failing to deliver. "I would characterise it as pink batts for farmers, or pink batts for earth movers. It all had to happen in a short space of time." Contractor Billions of taxpayers' dollars are being poured into grants handed to irrigators in an attempt to save more water. Four Corners investigates exactly how the money is being spent. "I'm a taxpayer. I don't agree with the scheme. I think it's actually too expensive." Farmer Some irrigators say this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform their businesses. "With a bold initiative, having the basin plan and the government investing in irrigated agriculture, you get an opportunity to basically reset... for the next 50 years." Irrigation CEO Others question who is actually gaining the most from the generous scheme. "We're degrading the rivers at the same time as we're handing out money to a few individuals to realise huge economic gains at public cost." Ecologist For those with access to water, there are lucrative sales to be made. Water prices have hit record highs turning it into liquid gold. "Anyone can come in and buy water. You don't even have to be a farmer...You're going to make money out of it, and that's what a lot of people are doing, unfortunately." Farmer Others worry that the scheme is encouraging the planting of crops even thirstier than cotton, creating a potential time bomb. "There's been an explosion in the production of nuts in the Murrumbidgee, and more broadly in the Murray-Darling Basin...This may well be a time bomb." Former water official Four Corners investigates how the scheme is being regulated and whether water users and the authorities responsible are being properly held to account. "We're talking about billions of dollars in taxpayers' money on a scheme that many, many capable and reliable scientists have said, this isn't going to work." Lawyer Cash Splash, reported by Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop, goes to air on Monday 8th July at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 9th July at 1.00pm and Wednesday 10th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.

Bit short on detail. Growing nuts instead of cotton is probably a good idea.

freediver wrote on Jul 15^th, 2019 at 8:23am:

Growing nuts instead of cotton is probably a good idea.

It isn't. Walnuts and cotton have similar yearly rainfall requirements (walnuts 800mm, cotton 600mm-1200mm) so both are thirsty crops.

Walnuts are a poor choice because they do not handle drought or hot weather well. Walnuts are a worse choice than cotton in drought-prone areas because cotton is grown as an annual and walnuts are not. In drought, an annual cotton crop can be sacrificed but a walnut tree would require several years to be replaced.