I have been following attempts by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and others to ban ‘wake-enhancing activities’ and there are so many similarities with food production it is scary. 

Based on my experiences, here is some advice:

(a) Draft plan – MDBA speak for ‘this is what we are going to do’.

(b) Consultation – MDBA speak for ‘say what you like, but we have no intention of taking any notice or changing our draft plan’.

(c) Socio-economic impacts – not something the MDBA cares about.

(d) Facts – see socio-economic impacts.

(e)  Scientific evidence – if it suits MDBA agenda it’s indisputable. If it doesn’t suit the agenda, it doesn’t exist.

It was especially interesting to read comments from Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy, highlighting his concerns that only 5 to 7 per cent of river erosion seems to be contributed by boat users, with the rest attributed to the rise and fall of the river.

This rise and fall has been exacerbated by the MDBA’s philosophy of pouring water down the river, despite mounting scientific evidence of the damage being caused (refer to e, above). It also ignores all evidence that tells us this ‘just add water’ approach is causing a carp breeding explosion, leading to further environmental damage.

Likewise, evidence of socio-economic damage is either ignored or consistently downplayed.

I note a comment from the recent public meeting at Bundalong where authorities said they thought the socio-economic impact of their proposed bans “would be minimal”. In reality, they don’t know.

Food and fibre producers have been fighting for years to get some fairness into the complex issue of appropriately sharing water resources, but getting the MDBA to acknowledge its own shortcomings, or flaws in the Basin Plan which it implements, appears an impossible dream, despite the fact this is supposed to be an independent body.

I wish boating enthusiasts all the best in your endeavours, but suspect you will probably keep running into brick walls from a government-run body with a political agenda. Minority groups that are collateral damage do not come into calculations.

I support changing the date for Australia Day.

As reported in The Border Mail, January 26 is not a day when all Australians can celebrate, as it is a day for mourning by some. 

There are a number of days that could be chosen.

September 1, Wattle day, as suggested by Nancy Rooke, or the date of the 1967 referendum, either the date of the poll or date when declared, as this was the date when finally all Australians could vote in Australia's electoral system or the date when Australia severed its ties from Great Britain, which I think was around March in the 1980s, becoming a truly independent nation?

I won't be attending any Australia day celebrations and Albury Council should do the same like other councils have done.

So let’s change the date when all Australians can celebrate being Australians together.