28 November, 2011

Matt Ridley on Climate Change

My favourite author of the moment ("The Rational Optimist") Matt Ridley has given a highly acclaimed speech on Climate Change. I commend it to you_
http://wattsupwiththat.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/ridley_rsa.pdf

Murray Darling Basin Authority Draft Plan-November,2011

After a quick "skim" of the new Report I have prepared the following Questions for the Authority-


Guidelines For Questioners At MDBA Plan Meetings –November, 2011

·         What is the specific evidence on which you state the Basin is “unhealthy”, particularly after the recent wet years?
(The MDBA website states -“Our use of the water in the Basin has changed how the rivers flow.  These changes in volume and timing have led to increases in salinity, blue-green algal blooms and water quality degradation, while wetlands, red gum forests, native fish and water bird populations are decreasing (my emphasis).  All of these features are symptoms of overuse and they are what have led to the latest impetus for water reform.
What is the scientific basis for these claimed symptoms? They are inconsistent with the practical observations of many on-the-ground, knowledgeable, riparian dwellers.

·         Are you sure that you are not confusing the natural results of a typical (but extreme) Australian dry period with chronic “ill-health”?

·         Does the Authority accept that the ACF claim that the Murray Darling Basin is on the point of “eco-collapse” is nonsense?

·         Given that the Water Sharing Plan guided allocations saw a cut of over 4,000 GL  in extractions during the recent drought and given that critical human needs and assessed environmental needs have first priority; what is the point of the Government buying entitlements? Won’t this only prevent production when water is plentiful?

·         Does the Authority acknowledge the point made by Harvard Professor John Briscoe that Australia achieved a rare accomplishment in keeping the Murray River flowing when run-off was at all time (since European settlement) record lows? Does the Authority acknowledge that this was achieved by the existence of upstream storages, the Snowy River diversions and strict limits on irrigation extractions? Does this not call for additional storages to better spread the extreme variability of our river flows?

·         When, during the Millennium Drought, there was no water available for irrigation extractions or to maintain the Lower Lakes in there unnatural fresh water state, what was the logic for not allowing sea water to enter the Lower Lakes as it always did under such dry conditions before the Barrages were built?

·         Why does the report not examine the management of Snowy Scheme diversions, particularly the use of Eucumbene Dam, the largest storage feeding the Basin? Evidence suggests that Snowy Hydro are not required to give sufficient weight to water conservation and supply considerations, consistent with their hydro electricity generation objectives.

17 November, 2011

MDB Water-Two Contradictory Quotes


Quote - 
"A very uneven distribution of water resources across Australia and high year-to-year variability  means that water resources in some regions are fully or over allocated, while others remain largely undeveloped" 
CSIRO Water -Science and Solutions for Australia, 2011 

Given allocations are not fixed but made subject to availability, how can anyone argue that water resources are over allocated?? Sure, irrigators face great uncertainty because of Australia's variable rainfall. It is the system of allocations that we use to deal with the variability'

A great quote-
"Perhaps more than any other parts of the Australian economy, farmers understand uncertainty. They live with uncertainty about rainfall and growing conditions. They live with uncertainty about the costs of their key inputs. And, of course, they live with uncertainty about the world prices for their outputs. It is this ability to deal with uncertainty that is one of the strong and enduring characteristics of the Australian farming sector. 

Philip Lowe, Assistant Governor (Economic), Reserve Bank of Australia

 I think claims of over allocation are nonsensical! What do you think? Am I missing something? 

Our Unbalanced ABC

On 6th November the ABC Radio National programme"Background Briefing" featured the Qantas dispute.The
 programme concentrated on the Coalition's IR policy, or lack of it. I sent in the following comment:-

David Boyd :

14 Nov 2011 9:30:34am
It could only be the ABC "Lefties" who could focus a programme about the Qantas dispute on the Coalition's IR policy!
How about the lack of labour productivity improvements, Labor's winding back of the Hawke/Keating reforms, entrenched Qantas work practices being protected under the guise of job security,enhanced Union power and inflexibility and the flaws of the FWA arrangements?

12 November, 2011

Uncertainty

A quote worth remembering-
"Perhaps more than any other parts of the Australian economy, farmers understand uncertainty. They live with uncertainty about rainfall and growing conditions. They live with uncertainty about the costs of their key inputs. And, of course, they live with uncertainty about the world prices for their outputs. It is this ability to deal with uncertainty that is one of the strong and enduring characteristics of the Australian farming sector."
Philip Lowe, Assistant Governor (Economic), Reserve Bank of Australia.

Latest Murray Darling Basin Plan-Apprehension

Those interested in maintaining Australia's long term agricultural productive capacity are awaiting the release of the latest iteration of the Murray Darling Basin Plan at the end of this month, with great interest and some apprehension. The attached video, particularly Louise Burge's comments, is spot on.

The Murray Darling Basin rivers are not, in general, unhealthy. In fact, following the recent wetter years the Basin has arguably never been in better shape. Yet the likes of the ACF continue to talk about "on the brink of eco-collapse".

The fear is that the Report will proceed from the false premise that the rivers are unhealthy and that this is due to excessive extractions. Leaks suggest that it will again focus on aggregate entitlements and ignore the success of the Water Sharing Plans and their limit on allocations when water is in short supply.

It will fail to recognise the great achievement, as a consequence of storages, diversions (Snowy) and extraction limitations of keeping the Murray River flowing throughout the lowest run-off period in Australia's recorded history. We should be celebrating not lamenting!