https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-13/water-trade-in-murray-darling-basin-has-unintended-consequences/11291450

There's a sense something is not right among the farmers of the southern Murray-Darling Basin.

Key points:

    Anyone can buy and trade water in Australia, and 14 per cent of trades each year are by individuals or corporates that don't own land.

    The Federal Government has promised a competition study of Australia's $2-billion water trade
    Irrigators in the southern basin say the water market is having unintended consequences on their local economies and the river.

It is not just drought, they say, that is testing livelihoods. It is the system.

The Murray-Darling Basin's $2 billion water trade — introduced to recognise the value of the resource and provide farmers with greater flexibility — is shifting economies and changing the landscape.

At the request of the Federal Government, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is about to study the trade.

Some say what is happening across the southern basin is simply the result of free trade and the commodification of water.

Others describe it as a failed experiment.

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan makes it clear that the river is a national asset to be managed in the national interest.

But on a recent trip up the river, the ABC found a growing number who believe the unintended consequences of water trading are challenging that promise.

Read the rest.

Watched Q & A tonight (partly) and was totally in agreement with the two Kooris who came on and put their case... why is water being sold as a commodity while this process is destroying towns and farms and killing people and environments....

One of these blokes is from an area where the average male lifespan among Kooris is 37 ... 37 ... 37 .... and they can't catch fish or yabbies any more... no water...

The other bloke was adamant about the impact of greed and the flawed idea that water can be sold etc... he speaks my language ....

"The New South Wales, Queensland, South Australian and Victorian governments are primarily responsible for managing water markets, and each state has its own process and rules for allocating water."

https://www.mdba.gov.au/managing-water/water-markets-and-trade

lee wrote on Oct 29^th, 2019 at 11:18am:

"The New South Wales, Queensland, South Australian and Victorian governments are primarily responsible for managing water markets, and each state has its own process and rules for allocating water." https://www.mdba.gov.au/managing-water/water-markets-and-trade

Which is a very good argument for water becoming a Federal responsibility.
In fact it is another reason why States should be abolished and we should have only 2 tiers of government.
In the 21st Century there is no reason why we should need the current system of 3 tiers of government

Oh Look everyone!!!
The Aust Government is looking to put a Fence, a Ban around Water purchases as if 'non-farmers' they were being walked on by people.
How Ironic! Eh....  ::)

The irony is that the North of Australia
is in the tropics so trillions of litres of
tropical rainfall just gets washed out to sea
and wasted.
I have been to Darwin once during
December and the roads turn into
rivers every time it rains -
which is about 5 times a day -
what a waste of water.

We need a North to South pipeline.

And who's the one Member on this Forum who initiated the 'Canals (of Mars) System' of transferring the gigalitres of Flooded areas to Drought stricken areas?

Been watching how the British did their Canals and that was way back then.

Surely something has got to give?

We have no choice! >:(

Jasin wrote on Oct 30^th, 2019 at 6:13pm:

And who's the one Member on this Forum who initiated the 'Canals (of Mars) System' of transferring the gigalitres of Flooded areas to Drought stricken areas? Been watching how the British did their Canals and that was way back then. Surely something has got to give? We have no choice! >:(

A North to South pipeline -

it should have been done 50 years ago.

Bobby. wrote on Oct 30^th, 2019 at 6:31pm:

Jasin wrote on Oct 30th, 2019 at 6:13pm: And who's the one Member on this Forum who initiated the 'Canals (of Mars) System' of transferring the gigalitres of Flooded areas to Drought stricken areas? Been watching how the British did their Canals and that was way back then. Surely something has got to give? We have no choice! >:( A North to South pipeline - it should have been done 50 years ago.

And should be done right now!

Jasin wrote on Oct 30^th, 2019 at 7:18pm:

Bobby. wrote on Oct 30th, 2019 at 6:31pm: Jasin wrote on Oct 30th, 2019 at 6:13pm: And who's the one Member on this Forum who initiated the 'Canals (of Mars) System' of transferring the gigalitres of Flooded areas to Drought stricken areas? Been watching how the British did their Canals and that was way back then. Surely something has got to give? We have no choice! >:( A North to South pipeline - it should have been done 50 years ago. And should be done right now!

How many Sydney harbors full of fresh water get
flushed out to sea every year from the North of Australia?
Would it be 2 or 10 or 50?
Could it be 100?

First you have to build a DAM. And a bloody big one at that.

Sydney loses 20m worth out to sea after a good rain.