Job loss claims from big-irrigation lack credibility

Media Release
The Wilderness Society (SA) Inc.
18 November 2011

Environment groups have called on big-irrigation to drop the rhetoric about job losses given the environmental, social and economic impacts of failing to return enough water to restore the river to health.

The Wilderness Society's Peter Owen said during the drought, jobs, industries and the environment were destroyed by the over-allocation of water upstream.

"Claims that there will be massive job losses as a result of a weak draft plan are misleading. For South Australian’s, it is the sound of greed.

"There will be massive economic, social and environmental impacts in South Australia from failing to restore at least 4,000GL to the river.

"However, these impacts appear completely ignored by the irrigation lobby, largely representing multi-national companies, some of which profit essentially from the export of water from the driest continent on earth.

"The anger we see from these people is completely over blown, ignoring the impact of their actions on others and the environment – which is what sustains their existence.

"It's incredibly frustrating that a weak plan is still incurring the ire of those who are damaging the river system through unsustainable levels of water extraction.

"The national process must treat all stakeholders fairly, however the current plan appears to treat big-irrigation as though they have some enshrined right to continue on their current path.

"Let's be very clear, unless we return between 4,000 and 7,600GL to the environment, there will be tremendous human and environmental costs.

"Without a river that flows to the sea, there will be major salinity problems, ultimately undermining the viability of large areas of Australia’s food bowl.

"We call on big-irrigation to end their unsubstantiated claims of job losses, because they're just one more kick in the guts to South Australians and basin communities who suffer from over-allocation," said Peter Owen from The Wilderness Society.

For further information contact:
Peter Owen: 0423 550 018