Author: David Boyd

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 … Continue reading Murray Darling Basin Authority Draft Plan-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 … Continue reading MDB Water-Two Contradictory Quotes →

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 9:30:34amIt could only be the ABC "Lefties" who could focus a programme about the Qantas dispute on the Coalition's IR policy!How about … Continue reading Our Unbalanced ABC →

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 … Continue reading Uncertainty →

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. … Continue reading Latest Murray Darling Basin Plan-Apprehension →

Irrigation Extractions in the MDB

This is worth listening to, especially when Tony Windsor (belatedly) expounds on the allocation process and the compere has a BGO (Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious) and immediately asks "well what's the problem". Good question! But, our ACF representative sticks with his programmed dogma and ignores the obvious.

Europe

I have been much interested in the sovereign debt problems of the poor countries of Europe and how the creation of the Eurozone and the single currency, has removed the former main method of dealing with individual economic problems, namely currency devaluation, from the unfortunate members. How fortunate are the U.K. and the Czech Republic  under my … Continue reading Europe →

The Riverina

I wonder if the Riverina got its name from all the water which flows thru' it? Gail and I have just had a great trip out to Condobolin, down the Lachlan River to Hillston, across to the Murrumbidgee River at Hay and then across those various watercourses  (the Billabong and Yanko Creeks and the Edwards … Continue reading The Riverina →

Murray Mouth

I today sent the following letter to The Australian. Probably too long for publication-but I felt better!The article by Jennifer Marohasy (The Weekend Australian- Sea Will Save the Murray-27th August) is a very accurate, well balanced review of the Lower Lakes issue in the context of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. The key characteristic of … Continue reading Murray Mouth →