Mr DANBY (12:35 PM) —Melbourne Ports does not contain many dams or reservoirs or catchment areas, but it does contain 100,000 people who consume water and many manufacturing industries which likewise consume water. Like all Australians, we are concerned about the future of our unique way of life and the future we face with an increasing shortage of water.

On this side of the House we have been aware of Australia's looming water crisis for more than a decade. In 1994 the Keating Labor government set up a water reform process which, had it been followed through, would have restored environmental flows to our rivers. Instead, the Howard government has pursued a policy of drift and inaction and the 1994 initiative has been lost. This government is laying the grounds for a water crisis which the next generation of Australians will have to grapple with.

The CSIRO predicts that greenhouse gas induced climate change will cause more frequent and more severe droughts in the years ahead. This will have a major impact on the way of life of urban Australians as well as farmers and others who live in regional areas. Australia should be doing everything it can to strengthen, rather than undermine, international collective efforts to tackle climate change. My view and the opposition's view is that the Howard government is afraid to ratify Kyoto because it fears some short-term economic and political cost. But what will be the long-term costs for Australia if our cities and our countryside continue to face crippling and permanent water shortages and our vital export industries are ruined by semi-permanent drought?

Mr DANBY —Australia currently wastes over 90 per cent of urban city run-off water and nearly 90 per cent of effluent water. Instead of urban waste water being seen as a problem to be treated, often at great expense, or dumped into the ocean, it should be seen as a resource to be used. The largest component of sewage effluent, for instance, is fresh water—and its disposal into oceans is wasteful. Other countries are years ahead of us in this respect. In the city of Tel Aviv, 100 per cent of its effluent water is recycled. Melbourne recycles less than 10 per cent. I am pleased to see that the Victorian environment minister and my local member of parliament, John Thwaites, is tackling this issue with his usual enthusiasm.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon. I.R. Causley)—The member for Flinders will be removed if he does not remain silent.

Mr DANBY —He is obviously very agitated about this, Mr Deputy Speaker, as the environment is a great sore point for the current government and Australian voters. Perhaps they will have a chance at the next election to reflect on the current government with respect to this issue.

Our greatest water crisis area, the Murray-Darling Basin, covers four states. With four Labor governments in those states a great deal of cooperation is possible, but I believe it requires more of a national lead from this government. The environment ministry in coalition governments has, in my view, always been seen as a punishment post—a place for ministers the Prime Minister thinks are duds or ministers he wants to keep out of important portfolios. By contrast, Labor regards environment as one of the key portfolios—as the member for Maribyrnong would know—and has as shadow minister the honourable member for Wills, who is bursting with new ideas. The honourable member for Wills actually asked for the environmental portfolio, as the member for Maribyrnong, I am sure, will confirm. The member for Wills already has a comprehensive plan for saving the Murray-Darling river system which, if implemented, will go a long way towards safeguarding our future water supplies.

The neglect of urban water issues by this government is less noticed than its refusal to ratify Kyoto, but its long-term consequences will be just as serious. The urban water research program of 1993-96 recommended three priority areas for research: urban development, environment and water resources, and the performance of water authorities. This recommendation was taken up by the Keating government but, under the Howard government, research in this area has largely dried up, like the rest of Australia. Labor will re-establish a national program of research into water reuse.

As a city member representing urban water consumers, I want to stress that water conservation is an issue for all Australians, not just farmers. State and local governments, as well as household and corporate water users, all have a role to play in improving Australia's water situation. I am very pleased with the initiative of some of my locals. The Port Melbourne Bowling Club, in installing Tift Dwarf river grass in its bowling green, has set a precedent for all bowling clubs throughout Melbourne and has been able to cut its water consumption bill from $2,000 to $900 a year. The importance of the bowling club using Tift Dwarf Murray River grass is that the experts said it could never be done, and now it can be installed on greens all over Melbourne. The cut in water usage would have a small but important effect.

This is a national issue which requires vigorous national leadership. Instead, we have a government which is a prisoner of the energy, forestry and irrigation lobbies. It is time Australia had a government willing to show leadership. (Time expired)