The Greens will pressure the next federal government to increase the average Murray River flow by 3,000 gigalitres, or 25% of its natural flow, Greens Senator Bob Brown said in Adelaide today.

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Willis, Katrina (Sen B. Brown)
Katr...@aph.gov.au
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GREENS-MEDIA
http://www.altnews.com.au/greens/
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Tuesday, 27 July 2004

"We want 1,500 gigalitres returned within five years, beginning immediately and the remainder through long-term flow increments as irrigation practices are revolutionised and town water use made much cleverer, backed by national action," Senator Brown said.

"As it is, the Howard government is offering a miserable maximum 500 gigalitres return, aimed at six sites with no guarantee of environmental restoration (for example, of the redgum forests) and no environmental improvement for the Murray-Darling system as a whole.

"The Greens support public control of the rivers' water - God's rain should not be privatised," Senator Brown said.

The Greens will also work for: * a stronger Indigenous voice in Murray-Darling management * greater assistance to family farms in converting to best-practice water use * much better research funding, including for endangered species.

The failure of Canberra is evident in the fact that Parliament House, up near the headwaters, has no dual-flush cisterns and no water-wise shower heads, and sprinkler-doused lawns where natural bush was planned to grow.

More information: Katrina Willis 02 6277 3170 or 0419 704 095

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