Sydney Theatre Company Presents Free Event: THE WENTWORTH TALKS: Beyond 4000

The Wentworth Talks: Beyond 4000
IS AUSTRALIA TOUGH ENOUGH?
Monday 7 February at 6.30pm
Wharf 1

Tim Stubbs, Quentin Grafton and Chris Miller discuss water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin is about much more than water for the environment. Done well this reform could mean a rejuvenated irrigation industry with the best irrigators making the most of the water available, it could mean regional communities taking the lead in planning for a future where we are not at the mercy of the boom and bust cycle of drought and flood. Critically it could also mean water to ensure a healthy Murray-Darling Basin without which there will be no industries and no communities.

The key question though is, as Australians, are we up to it? Will we duck, weave and make excuses as we watch the river, industry and communities seep slowly down the drain? Or will we and our government have the courage to stand up and see this reform through?

About the panel
Tim Stubbs is an engineer with The Wentworth Group, who recently published Sustainable Diversions in the Murray-Darling Basin. Tim has also been a Program Manager at the Natural Resources Commission and before that was an engineer in the construction industry.

Quentin Grafton is Professor of Economics and Director of the Centre for Water Economics, Environment and Policy at the Australian National University. He is also Chairholder, the ANU-UNESCO Chair in Water Economics and Transboundary Water Governance and Chief Editor of the blog, Global Water Forum. He has previously served as Chair of the Social and Economics Reference Panel of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (2008-2009) and a member of the National Council on Education for Sustainability (2008-2010).

Chris Miller is Professor of Social Work and Social Planning, School of Social and Policy Studies, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Flinders University.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.