Northern Territory water plan condemned as ‘blatant and shameless’ attack on nature
Summary
The Northern Territory government has proposed changes to water laws that would remove requirements to reserve water for the environment and weaken other limits on water use. Environmental and Indigenous organizations say the changes could reduce protections and challenge rights, while Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne says the bill does not dismantle environmental safeguards.Key Facts
- The proposed bill would remove the requirement for water allocation plans to reserve water for rivers, springs, wetlands and other water-dependent ecosystems.
- The bill would also remove a rule limiting industry water use to the amount set in each allocation plan.
- The changes would alter the definition of estimated sustainable yield, which sets how much water can be taken from a resource.
- The Wilderness Society urged federal Environment Minister Murray Watt to withhold Commonwealth water funding if the bill passes.
- The Central Land Council said the proposal could make it harder for native title holders to challenge water licences.
- The High Court quashed the Northern Territory's Singleton Station groundwater licence decision in August, finding it was unlawfully granted.
- The bill includes changes to marine pollution, heritage and mining laws.
- Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne said the territory's core environmental laws would remain in place.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
