The matter of the River Murray was on the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) agenda and the local community was active in drawing attention to the need to get answers and action [COAG meeting in Perth Thursday 2nd October]
But the deepening financial crisis on Wall Street took precedence. With respect to tackling the problems in the Murray-Darling Basin, the COAG meetings had none of the urgency that had characterised the political pronouncements of the rallies (see the October 2 Communiqué). The next COAG meeting scheduled for December has been brought forward to November 17 and it will be important to keep pressure on elected politicians regarding their responsibilities for the River Murray, Lakes and Coorong.
The Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport was due to report on its “Inquiry into water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes” on October 3, but instead it issued an Interim Report saying it would report on October 10.
Submissions to the Inquiry, including one from Di Bell, are available here.
