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Submission to GREEN PAPER ON DEVELOPING NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
by Grusha Leeman, Darwin
August 2014
It’s great that there is some planning taking place and I welcome the chance to participate.
However, it appears little effort has been made to learn from past mistakes and anticipate the
realities of the future - things like altered climate, rising sea levels, and increased costs of fuels
as oil stocks dwindle. I hope that advice that prevents repeat of past mistakes and builds climate
change and peak oil as integral components of the mix is taken seriously.
Climate Change is happening so it is now time for concerted action!
It’s great that you concede “Projections indicate a continued warming trend in the tropics,
consistent with that expected globally.” (page 5) but disappointing that it is given little attention.
You state: “northern Australia is likely to experience an increase in the number of extreme hot
days (over 35 degrees Celsius), increased coastal inundation risk due to rising sea levels and
storm surge, and potentially an increase in the number of intense cyclones but a decrease in the
number of cyclones overall.” But you don’t go into the tragic details and make every effort to
exacerbate the situation.
Very hot weather Take my home town of Darwin as an example - we currently have an
average of about 11 days a year with a maximum temperature of 35 degrees or over. In just
over 50 years, (by 2070), that number is expected to be as much as 308 days a year with very
hot weather, ie quite intolerable. There is unlikely to be the Dry season that tourists flock to. I
know your plan is too short sighted to anticipate 50 years, but even in 16 years, the number of
very hot days (over 35 degrees) could rise to over 2 months, or 69 days a year, without
concerted action to reduce emissions. And it’s not just in Darwin, in Alice Springs, the number of
hot days over 35 degrees Celsius is expected to increase from 90 per year currently
experienced to up to 182 by 2070 without effective action to reduce emissions. These stats are
found on the Department of Environment website.
More intense cyclones It is expected that there will be fewer cyclones in the future in the north
of Australia, but those we have are likely to be more intense as the sea temperature rises. Why
do you not plan for this?
There needs to be stronger and more cyclone shelters and building codes, and an awareness
that insurance will be expensive. Other mitigating activities we can do to reduce the impact of
cyclones is to protect the protective coastal fringing of mangroves and coastal forests and
reduce the development of the coast. This has not been seen in current developments and
there are still plans to bulldoze even more mangroves and rainforest for more suburbia and
industry.
High seas The beaches of Darwin are clearly exhibiting the impact from being in a zone fast
sea-level rise.
Current projections are that sea level around Kakadu will rise by up to 30 centimetres by 2030,
which will see the lowland parts of Kakadu altered from freshwater to saline environments with
detrimental impacts of the conservation of the species that live there.
The risks from sea level rise scenarios are particularly expensive for buildings and transport
infrastructure in WA and Qld, according to an Australian Government report, but this is
distressingly omitted from your green paper. Such expensive impacts should not be ignored.
Culture of deception I must say the following piece of writing is astounding: page 6: “In
accepting the science of climate change and the potential impacts, including on northern
Australia, the Government is implementing its Direct Action Plan to reduce emissions. This
includes the Emissions Reduction Fund to provide incentives for cleaning up our environment
through activities such as revegetation, investing in soil carbon, cleaning up power stations,
capturing gas from landfill and increasing energy efficiency.
Northern Australia holds world class deposits of iron ore, uranium, base metals, bauxite
and oil and gas (see Box A1). Australia has the world’s largest economic demonstrated
resource of recoverable coal, with 35 per cent of reserves in northern Australia. The Bowen
Basin in Queensland holds one of the world’s largest deposits of bituminous coal. All of
Australia’s known manganese ore and diamonds are in the north, along with almost all of
Australia’s phosphate rock. Over 70 per cent of Australia’s well as significant deposits of silver,
bauxite, tungsten and molybdenum are found in northern Australia. There are also substantial
gas reserves across the region.”
Firstly, there is plenty of evidence: 1,2,3,4 that the Direct Action Plan will not be effective in
reducing our pollution: “We’re very concerned that this policy just simply doesn’t have the teeth
required, is going to cost a lot of taxpayer dollars to deliver and isn’t up to the task of meeting
the much higher targets for our pollution cuts that we simply must take,” said the climate
campaign manager for the ACF, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg.
Secondly, to go from “accepting” climate change and its impacts to the next paragraph of
applauding the export of even more extremely GHG polluting fossil fuels and minerals suggests
the first statement is a lie. The alternative can only be a lack of understanding.
Reducing climate change: As Australia produces some of the highest levels of greenhouse
gases in the world, and the NT is the worst polluting jurisdiction in Australia, it is vital that
stringent efforts be made to reduce our contribution to the devastating climate change that is
progressing.
Electricity production contributes over a third of Australia’s climate pollution and clearly a swift
and concerted switching from fossil fuel to renewable energy sourced power is necessary.
Buildings need to be constructed to cope with climate and do not require air conditioning and
not be built by developers from down South just big enough for the sun to make them ovens so
the residents feel they must need air conditioning and so burden the power supplies
unnecessarily. There’s plenty of knowledge, what we need is direction via building codes and
government directives to facilitate livable and low-energy buildings.
Because transport is 14% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and most of that is from
road transport and cars, it makes sense to increase the railway lines and public transport
facilities. These should remain in public hands where possible or else the experience is the
private operators make it uneconomic, and lackadaisical regarding connectivity for most
travellers to utilise their services.
“Methane emissions from Australian cattle account for approximately 10% of the country’s total
GHG emissions. The northern beef herd is responsible for more than half of the methane
emissions from Australian cattle.” says CSIRO. Clearly facilitating the expansion of this cruel
industry as is asserted on page 25 isn’t clever.
On page 31 you say “climate is a commonly cited barrier to population growth”. Well not
reducing the causes of climate change will only exacerbate that issue.
Clean water is vital Yes there is plenty of rain in the north for a few months each year, but no it
is not as easy to utilize as that elsewhere. “High evaporation rates are a feature of the north —
Lake Argyle in Western Australia loses a quarter of its volume through evaporation every year.
This presents unique challenges for the development of water resources, with traditional
methods of storing water less effective in the north than in the south.” page 6. Dams are not
popular as they ruin the rivers, there tends to be inadequate topography or geology, and
transpiration is often higher than the precipitation. Thus no more dams.
Practically everyone in the NT and probably much of northern WA and Qld depend on
groundwater to drink etc, even Darwin’s water depends on borefields. Thus protection of our
precious groundwater resources is vital. That means stringent mining controls, an outright ban
on fracking and a very measured approach to agricultural uses.
Sewerage is very watery and there are two intelligent approaches. If we continue to flush
drinking water down the loo we should either reprocess the waste water or use it to irrigate
crops. Alternatively waterless composting loos are very efficient and pleasant these days. It’s
time we stopped polluting our coasts with our feces, and conserved our water.
Rainwater tanks, (with mosquito nets) can become a mandatory aspect of every building,
limiting the water demand. Water efficient methods should become the norm, such a pool
blankets and better water restrictions. Also green lawns should be rarities: this is not England
folks!
Industries need to be aware that water is finite and expensive and governments need to ensure
they pay their way.
The mythical food bowl If there is anyone who believes the tripe regarding the north becoming
the next food bowl should read this article. Yes we need food security, but such plans are not
going to feed anyone. Before we imagine we can feed Asia, let’s attempt to feed ourselves.
Besides the reality that climate change will reduce our food bowls down South, the transport is
expensive and unreliable and may only get more so. It has been proven that northern Australia
is just not like Europe at all and monoculture is spectacularly and repetitively calamitous. Not to
fear, people can grow food, whether in Alice Springs or Darwin and there’s plenty of know-how:
1, 2,3, but I suggest that reviving the old trusty market gardens as well as expanding the
number of community gardens and requiring more house blocks to have space for at least some
home-grown produce as the answers. Every suburb, every town and community needs its
market and community gardens.
Workforce? It’s past time to free the refugees and allow them to work and train for jobs and
terminate “the Government’s commitment to halt illegal maritime arrivals to Australia”
page 21. It is not illegal to seek asylum and repeating the lie does not make it true.
Education Where the First Nations people wish it, I request bilingual schooling be
reimplemented, I understand it is best for people to learn in their mother-tongue and ours as the
foreign language can come second. Secondary schooling needs to be provided as well as many
vocational training facilities in the communities.
Supportive of defence? I would dispute that: “Communities across northern Australia are
supportive of Defence engagement in regional areas” page 22 as “exercises” like Pitch Black
see residents of Darwin and Katherine brace against the deafening noise of up to 110
aircraft getting airborne at the same time. There are also groups like Basewatch helping to
protect us from the risks associated with hosting the American marines.
Strong environmental protections are worthy of time and money A lack of understanding
for the reasons we have environmental assessments is seen too often with this government. On
page 39 you say: “...environmental assessment processes can cause delays and involve a
range of costs, including those relating to administration and compliance... the average costs of
environmental assessments involve around $50,000 in regulator expenses. The Government’s
one-stop-shop for environmental approvals will simplify the approvals process for businesses,
lead to swifter decisions and improve Australia’s investment climate, while maintaining high
environmental standards.” Some things take time, and thorough assessment is one of them.
Harmonious jurisdictions On page 47 you state “ there may be opportunities for more
consistency across state and territory boundaries, should all jurisdictions support such
arrangements. It will be important to understand the potential benefits of any harmonisation —
for example, less complexity and costs for business, local and overseas investors.”
I see the point of altering the triple governance pattern we have in Australia, to perhaps a
double level one where there is a federal and then regional governments, but am wary of
pressure for the current jurisdictions to conform, perhaps against the wishes of the local people.
Democracy is diversity, and investors can manage.
Cultural Integrity It is great to see you day on page 48 that: “The focus should be on improving
the prospects for Indigenous Australians to influence and benefit from their interests in land,
without compromising their cultural integrity.” Yet I am wary when you state: “Indigenous
landowners should be able to use their land to create economic opportunities and jobs. This
could include new ways to convert land holdings to unrestricted freehold if desired.” (page 49),
as too often greedy investors could alienate their motherland against their best interests. It is a
complex issue and I implore you to proceed with caution and much listening. Also, the
government contributes to the length and cost of native title determinations and the watering
down of land rights act.
Fairtrade not so called Free-trade It is disappointing to hear that: “The Government is
prioritising a Free Trade Agreement with China and negotiating with India and Indonesia — all
vital markets for the north. The Government is also negotiating plurilateral free trade
agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership.” page 59.
I request that any trade agreements Australia enters into do not undermine our public health
systems, intellectual property or cultural expression, or increase the rights and market
domination of corporations at the expense of our civil society and environment. I would like
instead to see a dominance of actual free trade and “ trade rules and government and company
practices that enable people, including poor people in developing countries, to reach their full
potential, while respecting their basic rights,” as oxfam teaches. There are many who point out
the vast issues with these trade agreements:1,2,3,4,5,6.
Weeds and fire prevalence It is disappointing not to see you address some of the issues that
are a real presence for us in the north - can’t you smell the smoke? Escaped pastoral weeds, a
cost of the beef industry barely accounted for is intensifying and its only a matter of time before
someone , possibly a volunteer fire-fighter is burned to death by the raging gamba grass fires
we are experiencing. The potential distribution is frankly shocking and I implore you to fund its
eradication and ban it, ie making it Class A everywhere.
Endangered species and degraded landscapes The level of small mammal decline in
northern Australia and the vast degraded landscapes from over-stocking and too frequent
burning mean that there are serious environmental issues that need addressing. What we need
is ecologically sustainable development.