Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

For decades, statutory authorities, government organisations and independent researchers have all debunked the scheme on scientific, engineering and financial grounds. Yet, despite this overwhelming rejection, the Bradfield scheme is revived every few years, only to be rejected once more. This grandiose pipedream to turn the rivers inland and cure the drought gets trotted out so often that the ABC has a standing Fact Check page debunking it. After examining the scheme and consulting with a range of experts, they rate the proposal as 'pie in the sky'. Drought conditions in my home state of Queensland are absolutely heartbreaking, with 66 per cent of the state drought declared. Much of the state is on fire, and lack of water is hampering firefighting efforts. But the answer is not a fanciful, massively-subsidised engineering project that won't work. We need to listen to the science. We need to stop mining companies monopolising water resources. And we need to get serious about addressing the climate crisis that is intensifying the drought and the fires.