How a Fight for Water is Reshaping Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, the traditional owners of the land, have been closely intertwined with nature for tens of thousands of years. But Australia's Indigenous Peoples hold little to no water entitlements in the Murray-Darling Basin. Although they make up 9.3% of the population in the New South Wales portion of the Murray-Darling Basin, their water holdings have decreased 20% since 2009, according to a Bloomberg Green analysis in collaboration with researcher Lana Hartwig, leaving them with just 0.2% of the total. Now, the attention is on the government to take action. Bloomberg’s Kurumi Mori reports.
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[@bluedragontoybash2463]

1. Aboriginal people observe nature's signs to predict events like floods and droughts. 2. Indigenous peoples in Australia have been closely connected to nature for thousands of years. 3. Bruce Shillingsworth, a self-proclaimed water warrior, emphasizes the importance of water in ceremonies. 4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia face water rights challenges. 5. Indigenous communities believe they can better manage rivers and address climate change impacts. 6. Australia lacks treaties or formal agreements recognizing Indigenous water rights. 7. The Murray-Darling Basin is crucial to Australia's agriculture, producing 40% of the country's food. 8. Indigenous communities hold only 0.2% of the water rights in New South Wales. 9. Water entitlements grant access to water based on factors like rainfall, but Indigenous voices are often excluded. 10. Indigenous communities contend with historical injustices, dispossession, and lack of water entitlements. 11. The Murray-Darling Basin Plan aims to balance water needs but neglects Indigenous water rights. 12. Indigenous water entitlements programs have been promised funding, but little progress is reported. 13. Indigenous people emphasize the need to return water to rivers for environmental sustainability. 14. Water use decisions impact economics, with a focus on crops like cotton and almonds. 15. Indigenous communities face challenges in obtaining water rights despite government pledges. 16. Indigenous water committees aim to restore lost information in water management. 17. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority declined interview requests, but the government plans to deliver the entitlements program. 18. Outcomes for Aboriginal communities in New South Wales are acknowledged as insufficient. 19. Some progress is seen in Victoria, where the government has issued a policy on Aboriginal water rights. 20. Bruce Shillingsworth emphasizes the importance of preserving culture and addressing the water problem as a form of genocide.

[@Crabman_87]

Would like to see Bloomberg do a similar investigative piece regarding the Barossa LNG fiasco in northern Australia.

[@चाैतारीटिभी]

why aboriginals people have to fight when other group can have abundant supply is beyond my understanding .and why do they 'worry' about minorities in other countries ?

[@EmmaDaisy]

They don’t have to fight. They get the same rights as everyone else. The aboriginal people think they are entitled to more rights than everyone else because they were here first.

[@mickking5913]

Shouldn't be wasting water on cotton.

[@hamishbracey5411]

I think you have a very bad understanding of cotton. It’s far from a waist of water

[@somerandomfella]

It's Aboriginial land end of story.. The land thieves here in Australia will never accept this.

[@JohnPaul-yu9dy]

No, we Britishers have right over Australia .

[@liquidbrickle]

@@JohnPaul-yu9dy lol no

[@EmmaDaisy]

@@liquidbrickleyes. They conquered and colonised Australia.

[@Lacteagalaxia]

Poor Aborigins 🙏

[@KPZivot]

Hope britishers will help them

[@olorin4317]

I bet the river has a beautiful aboriginal name or two too.

[@icantcook9998]

I wouldn't go as far as saying it is genocide to the Aboriginal people but it is definitely genocide to the river

[@choopa1670]

The Australian government think it’s their water to sell. They do not consider anyone Caucasian or aboriginal. The government is the problem in this scenario. As usual.

[@raystephens9550]

The return of the Bogong Moth depends upon changes in human behaviour, and every species dependent upon the migration of this moth from Queensland lowland to Great Dividing Range, likewise. The Monarch butterfly is not the only wonder we're killing off to extinction degree.

[@SashaCoCo]

The hearts of global citizens across the earth hear you! We do not agree with the injustices and prejudice against Indigenous Peoples. We do not understand why Australians disrespect other human beings, namely the Aboriginal communities. Hey Australia, join the 21st century! Release the hate and prejudices of yourselves and your ancestors. Please evolve into a more compassionate and understanding society to create a better world for all.

[@buryitdeep]

Maybe get your own house in order first.

[@EmmaDaisy]

There is no prejudice. The aboriginal people have as much right to water as everyone else. The government controls it. The aboriginal people think they are entitled to more rights than everyone else because they were here first.

[@alystero8838]

@@EmmaDaisy they are entitled to more rights because brits stole their land and resources and only utilized to prosper their kind while the aboriginals were kept at poverty.

[@larrylinenschmidt9155]

If they were there first, and they were, then perhaps they should have first consideration on water. Seems reasonable, doesn't it? Same with indigenous people around the world. In the US, we have done as bad or worse, so not casting stones as an innocent, but noting the issue needs to be addressed. Also need to address the full impact of climate change on indigenous people worldwide. So glad Australis is welcoming the people of Tuvalu when sea-level rise takes their land and homes.@@EmmaDaisy

[@EmmaDaisy]

@@larrylinenschmidt9155 How is that reasonable? No one group should receive more than the rest of the population. Everyone should be treated equally, and they are in this regard. Why do you think this needs to be addressed?

[@Lukejb2Butterworth]

maybe we should all get warnings about dead relations appearing on film . But it seems u need to be an aboriginal or a Torres straight islander to get that consideration .

[@stephenpercy4643]

There are NOT one million aboriginal people living in Australia -- of the 800.000 who claim to be -- a jump of 25% in the past five years due to generous concessions handouts and advantages and double the amount spent on Aborigines compared to all other citizens! There might be a half million tops! Most of whom are largely European - but hey! Get your facts straight!

[@TempleGuitars]

Citation needed.

[@stephenpercy4643]

@@TempleGuitars It's not a thesis -- but based on knowledge from the Australian Consensus Aug 2021 - released 2022 -- and as compared with consensus 2016

[@TempleGuitars]

*census @@stephenpercy4643

[@VarunKGR]

They live happily forever there and then came the White man...

[@blueglassog3600]

It's not a problem of race but greed

[@blueglassog3600]

It's not a problem of race but greed

[@sixvee5147]

The Anthropocene is coming to an end; All hail the Pyrocene! May the sixth mass extinction include the species that caused it. Enjoy what you can, while you still can; pity the generations to come.

[@takibigames]

This is beautifully shot and very well reported. Keep the govt accountable to their promises!

[@chadparsons50]

I know how Bloomberg wanted to feel after watching this, but I don't feel I got the whole story. Giving rights to a "group" based on race = racism imo.

[@ltw6888]

Beavers

[@dann5480]

😂😂😂😂💀💀💀💀💀

[@UserMum7512]

Is that jack sparrow?

[@dumdumbrown4225]

…nope, it was his daddy

[@petrobeets8678]

lol maybe small group but all very greedy money grabbers land grabbers only getting werse

[@DG-bo2tx]

Lol