News: Law and Economics
Murray-Darling Basin water theft laws suck more than river irrigation pumps
Water is one of Australia’s most valuable commodities. Rights to take water from our nation’s largest river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, are worth almost A$100 billion. These rights can be bought and sold or leased, with trade exceeding . But water is also being stolen (no-one knows how much) and the thieves usually get away with it.
[Read more about Murray-Darling Basin water theft laws suck more than river irrigation pumps]
TheÌýMurray-DarlingÌýBasin shows why the ‘social cost of water’ concept won’tÌýwork
Access to safe, clean water is a basicÌý. But water scarcity or barriers to access can cause conflict within and between countries.
Soil erosion is filling vital inland river waterholes, putting the squeeze on fish, turtles andÌýcrayfish
During droughts, Australia’s inland rivers dry up, leaving waterholes as the only wet places in a parched landscape. Fish, turtles, crayfish and other aquatic animals retreat to these vital refuges.
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