03-09-2008 New Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young writes:

As you may have heard, last week I successfully moved a motion to establish a Senate Inquiry into water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes.

The Murray-Darling river system is in crisis. Southern and eastern Australia are running out of water. Inflows to the Murray Darling are at their lowest in 116 years. Water storages and irrigation allocations are hitting their lowest ever levels. Cities and towns dependent on the system are experiencing a water security crisis, instituting severe restrictions and yet are still unable to guarantee ongoing supplies.

With this Inquiry, we move from talk to action to save a national icon and help Australians in need.

Due to the urgent nature of the issue the Inquiry has a very tight deadline.

The closing date for receipt of submissions for water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes is Thursday 11th September 2008.

I urge you to submit to this important Inquiry. A submission may be as short or as long as you like. It may contain facts, opinions, arguments or recommendations. It may cover all the points in the terms of reference or only some of them, depending on what interests you. Supporting documents may be attached (for example, photographs, research and your first-hand accounts).

Please send your submissions to:

Committee Secretary
Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee
Department of the Senate
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Ph: +61 2 6277 3511

Fx: +61 2 6277 5811

Email: rrat.sen@aph.gov.au

The closing date for written submissions is Thursday 11th September 2008, with hearings held on 10th September (Adelaide), 18th & 19th September (Canberra), and 26th September (Melbourne).

You can find further information including the Inquiry’s terms of reference and an explanation on how to make a submission at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/rrat_ctte/lowerlakes_coorong/tor.htm

Alternatively, hard copies of this information are available from my office.

If you wish to discuss terms of the inquiry or have any queries or questions please feel welcome to contact my electoral office on 08 8231 9911 or email Senator.Hanson-Young@aph.gov.au

I look forward to reading your submissions.

Kind regards

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young