MEDIA RELEASE

5 October 2011

The Greens NSW spokesperson on the Murray Darling Basin, Jeremy Buckingham MLC, today backed calls from environmental groups to base environmental flows on science, not pressure from lobby groups.

“The environmental groups have sounded the alarm at the direction of the Murray Darling Basin Authority on environmental flows and this alarm must be heeded by governments.

“Anything less than 4,000 gigalitres would mean a continued decline in the health of the Murray Darling River system in NSW.  2,800 gigalitres would represent failure for our rivers.

“This continent’s greatest river system should not be left to wither and die just because the Authority’s initial public relations strategy attracted controversy.

“Water allocations must be based on sound science, not on the demands of well-connected lobby groups.

“The NSW Government should have a long-term outlook for the health of our state’s great river systems, not short-term political advantage,” he said.

Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202  or  0419 444 916