Howard is failing the nation on water policy

Spinning has politicised the issue of water. Turnbull is silly to run with poorly researched and ill thought through proposals. Such an approach to policy formation demonstrates a lack of judgment and contempt for the electorate.

If Howard doesn’t start to handle this issue openly, honestly, and with commonsense he will cop it from electors and historians alike; but if he does it will be the equivalent of Saul converting to Paul.

Given the pressing need to address the distribution, allocation and conservation of water it is imperative that Howard establish an independent national authority to do the research and science and advise on sustainable best practice. Howard has been an acquirer of power and influence but with the issue of water there are no political points in owning it. As hard as it may be Howard must let go. Water is an issue which cannot be spun or solved politically; to do so is to drink from a poison chalice.

Howard should be under no illusion as to the importance of water to Australians; it surpasses concern of terrorism. A Newspoll in early November found 86 per cent of Australians believed the government should be doing more to address climate change and a poll commissioned by the Lowy Institute in October had similar findings.

I stood as an Independent against John Anderson in the elections of 2001 and 2004. In both campaigns I raised the urgency of addressing the issue of water. In October 2001 I said:

Government policies in relation to water are ad hoc and bogged down in the duck shoving between state and federal governments … Water and water usage is a national issue and should be addressed as such. There is a need for a National Water Authority … The issue of water has the potential to become the single biggest domestic issue over the next 50 years unless it is seriously and comprehensively addressed on a national basis.

John Anderson scoffed and refused to acknowledge the sustainable use of water as an urgent national issue and referred to the proposal to establish a National Water Authority as a socialist idea. No one in the government or opposition picked up on the issue during either election campaign.

Maintaining spin as the core of problem solving will likely see Howard spin himself out of office; spin lacks integrity, it amounts to lying.