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Media Release:

Issued: 29 November 2004.

Water inquiry should go ahead

The Office of Justice, Ecology & Peace in Broome has given its qualified support to a proposal to investigate the potential of using water from the Kimberley in other parts of the State.

The coordinator of the Office, Br Shane Wood, has said that this should bring about a better informed public and therefore the opportunity for a better informed decision by Government when it come to what to do to solve the shortage of water across the State of Western Australia.

"We hope that this proposed enquiry will be part of the Federal Government's investigations into the usage of water in the North of Australia. This needs to be done, there is no doubt about that. However, the process needs to incorporate the very best scientific, economic, environmental and social/cultural brains in the nation and beyond if necessary to ensure that the very best results are achieved. Moreover, the process needs to be not only independent of both Government and commercial interests, but to be transparently so. Federal and State funds need to be committed to this crucial investigation, and commercial interests ought be kept out of it.

"The scope of the investigation needs to include not only ways to better utilize the rainfall and subsequent catchment and river flows, but it also needs to incorporate a realistic study of the ways in which the largest users of this precious resource - industry and agriculture - can be made to be more efficient and accountable in their consumption. Households and individuals can do their bit, but their total consumption is a small percentage of the total water consumption in this State.

"There needs to be a commitment from all sides of politics to a full and fair investigation into not only the supply side of this problem, but also into the demand side with a view to assessing the effects on the quadruple bottom line - scientific, economic, environmental and social/cultural. It seems that this is the best time to do this once and for all, while there is political will and funding available. If we leave it much longer, our future generations will pay a heavy price," Br Wood concluded.

CONTACT: Br Shane Wood Ph 08 9192 1060 Fx 08 9192 2136

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