With things heating up in the Murray-Darling Basin regarding the Basin Plan, we’re continuing to cover Basin politics with a fascinating interview with Richard Beasley who was Senior Counsel assisting to the South Australian Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Back in 2018.

In a thorough investigation in 2018, the Royal Commission found that the Basin Plan was illegal, not just on the basis of a misreading of the Water Act but also that Murray-Darling Basin Authority had engaged in maladministration, acted with negligence, fostered scientific censorship and engaged in decision making that was incomprehensible and indefensible.

In 2021, Richard Beasley published a book, Dead in the Water, which presented the findings of the Royal Commission in a way that everyone can understand. This week we jump right into the deep end with Richard to remind us about the extraordinarily convoluted and flawed process that has been the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

With things heating up in the Murray-Darling Basin regarding the Basin Plan, we’re continuing to cover Basin politics with a fascinating interview with Richard Beasley who was Senior Counsel assisting to the South Australian Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Back in 2018.
In a thorough investigation in 2018, the Royal Commission found that the Basin Plan was illegal, not just on the basis of a misreading of the Water Act but also that Murray-Darling Basin Authority had engaged in maladministration, acted with negligence, fostered scientific censorship and engaged in decision making that was incomprehensible and indefensible.
In 2021, Richard Beasley published a book, Dead in the Water, which presented the findings of the Royal Commission in a way that everyone can understand. This week we jump right into the deep end with Richard to remind us about the extraordinarily convoluted and flawed process that has been the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Water Watch is a weekly deep dive into news and current events from policy, ecology, art and climate. With a diversity of voices from our river communities as well as experts in the field, Water Watch celebrates the life and culture of Australia’s waterways, investigates the big issues facing the future of our rivers, and tells important stories about the human connection to land and water. Water Watch is brought to you by Broken Hill based community radio 107.7 2DRYFM.

Water Watch Radio

ENCORE: "A Total Fraud on the Environment" with Richard Beasley SC 

This week, we're taking you back to the Northern Territory with an interview with one of the Traditional Owners who made the 4,000 KM trek from Darwin to Canberra in September. The delegation of Traditional Owners and environmentalists went to the capital to call on the Federal government to step in and halt the agricultural projects that threaten water-dependent ecosystems. 

In this episode we speak to Cecilia Lake, a Mangarrayi Traditional Owner from Jilkminggan, a community of 300 people on the Roper River, east of Mataranka, where her Country is well renowned for its pristine waterholes and palm forests.

Cecilia attended the delegation in Canberra and is fighting to have her voice heard on the water issues facing her country, particularly the groundwater springs that feed the Roper River during the dry season. According to Cecilia, changes in local agricultural activity that extract groundwater for irrigation are already impacting her sacred springs, threatening the future of her Country and her community.

This week, we're taking you back to the Northern Territory with an interview with one of the Traditional Owners who made the 4,000 KM trek from Darwin to Canberra in September. The delegation of Traditional Owners and environmentalists went to the capital to call on the Federal government to step in and halt the agricultural projects that threaten water-dependent ecosystems. 
In this episode we speak to Cecilia Lake, a Mangarrayi Traditional Owner from Jilkminggan, a community of 300 people on the Roper River, east of Mataranka, where her Country is well renowned for its pristine waterholes and palm forests.
Cecilia attended the delegation in Canberra and is fighting to have her voice heard on the water issues facing her country, particularly the groundwater springs that feed the Roper River during the dry season. According to Cecilia, changes in local agricultural activity that extract groundwater for irrigation are already impacting her sacred springs, threatening the future of her Country and her community.

Episode 83: Fighting for a voice in the NT

Today you’re going to hear from a well read, and well written academic on water issues. Professor Quentin Grafton recently published a book, and the launch of the book was accompanied with an address to the National Press Club and an article in the Conversation. The description of the book proclaims:   

It’s high time to call out the mistruths and post truths and retell Australia’s Water story, In this book Quentin Grafton explains how, from 1788 onwards, those in power have treated fresh water as a resource to be exploited, rather than cared for. 

And to quote the book, 

“Retelling Australia’s Water Story is more than a history lesson, or a list of what has gone wrong. Its a wake up call to fix what is broken, to listen to the voices seldom heard, and to begin a journey towards a just and sustainable water future for all.”    

Author Professor Quentin Grafton has many accolades to his name including chair of the UNSECO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance, An Australian Laureate fellow at the Australian National University, a Distinguished Fellow at the Australasian Agricultural and Resource economics Society, a recipient of many awards, and he established the Water Justice Hub.

Today you’re going to hear from a well read, and well written academic on water issues. Professor Quentin Grafton recently published a book, and the launch of the book was accompanied with an address to the National Press Club and an article in the Conversation. The description of the book proclaims:   
It’s high time to call out the mistruths and post truths and retell Australia’s Water story, In this book Quentin Grafton explains how, from 1788 onwards, those in power have treated fresh water as a resource to be exploited, rather than cared for. 
And to quote the book, 
“Retelling Australia’s Water Story is more than a history lesson, or a list of what has gone wrong. Its a wake up call to fix what is broken, to listen to the voices seldom heard, and to begin a journey towards a just and sustainable water future for all.”    
Author Professor Quentin Grafton has many accolades to his name including chair of the UNSECO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance, An Australian Laureate fellow at the Australian National University, a Distinguished Fellow at the Australasian Agricultural and Resource economics Society, a recipient of many awards, and he established the Water Justice Hub.

Episode 82: Retelling Australia's Water Story w/ Professor Quentin Grafton

This week Water Watch looks back to a presentation by Dr Josie Douglas, the General Manager of the Central Land Council speaking at the Fresh Water Futures Panel at the Environment Centre NT State of Environment Conference in September 2023. 

With thanks to the PEW Charitable Trust for accessing conference audio and organising the Fresh Water Futures Panel.

Watch Watch is produced by Broken Hill Community radio 2DRY. 

Watch Watch is produced by Broken Hill Community radio 2DRY. 

This week Water Watch looks back to a presentation by Dr Josie Douglas, the General Manager of the Central Land Council speaking at the Fresh Water Futures Panel at the Environment Centre NT State of Environment Conference in September 2023. 
With thanks to the PEW Charitable Trust for accessing conference audio and organising the Fresh Water Futures Panel.
Watch Watch is produced by Broken Hill Community radio 2DRY. 
Watch Watch is produced by Broken Hill Community radio 2DRY.

ENCORE: "A Total Fraud on the Environment" with Richard Beasley SC

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