I don't doubt for one moment that both the Liberal and Labor Governments are keen to make water a tradable commodity on an ever increasing scale. Already the Howard led Government is working out the final details of how to tax people for storing water in rain water tanks. A Federal take-over of water rights is the springboard for this insidious tax on people such as farmers and others who reside well away from water infrastructure and considered very unfair since those affected have often spent many thousands of dollars installing tanks and pumps and are also required to maintain their lifesaving supply, creating an ongoing financial commitment for the life of their stay on these properties. GST is also paid on all tanks, pumps, parts and equipment, so in effect, the Government will be double dipping yet again, but of course, that wouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Make no mistake, the privitisation of Australia's water will be a severe blow to all those who live away from a reticulated water supply and an added increasing cost burden to those who do not. How Governments can be so bloody minded in their willingness to pander to big business is beyond comprehension, especially when such a vital necessity for life is in question. This is truly unbelievable and reprehensible. If the Labor Government doesn't attempt to do something about this disgraceful situation, it should hang it's head in shame.

Things are looking up. I think it is the first time that an article from Arena has been published on this forum

Susan, thanks for the alert ;please keep us informed.
As a Nth Victoria irrigation cattle farmer I was very surprised to get the news in the mail today that the once sacred "Stock and Domestic" allocation would now be tradeable .This has never happened to my knowledge in the past .It is no doubt due to the severity of the drought.
The S&D allocation has always been tied to the property even when the property is sold.
We have about 7 megalitres - probably just enough to get us through the year without our, now down to 23% Irrigation Water Allocation.
I would hate to think what would happen to our small communities if the Multinationals and other big Companies get hold of the water in much of the bush. As the old bush saying goes if the country is not producing "we may as well give it back to the blacks".
I remember seeing a report on TV where a Palestinian farmer was shot at by the Israelis while trying to open a vital well on his land .
If you control the water , you control the population .
No doubt it won't worry too many of Howard's National Party weak-kneed but well heeled Colleagues-although Barnaby Joyce may make it uncomfortable for them as they and the Liberals probably send us ,pardon the pun-"down the drain" ! cheers, kartiya.

I am wondering if withdrawing water allocation from US owned Cotton growing enterprises will open the door for legal action under the terms of the US/Australia Free Trade Agreement for compensation....

What paranoid drivel this article is. The wicked US/Multinational/free trade/profit-mongerers are conspiring to take our water, and “without water none of us can survive more than a few days.” And we’re too stupid to notice because horrible Howard is“confusing citizens by claiming one thing while doing another.”

As if anyone seriously thinks that depriving us of drinking water is the effect, still less the intent, of water market reforms.

Export water to the USA? In a sense, we do this already (our biggest water users are in agriculture, and most of our agricultural product is exported, some of it to the Evil Empire). But if anyone expects to see water tankers filling up in the Murray-Darling and chugging off across the Pacific, they’ve got the same grasp of economics as Susan.

Water trading is an important step in managing the resource, directing it to where it’s most productive and providing less efficient users with the incentive to move on to other things. The mess we’re in now, with users believing their land tenancy gives them unlimited rights to tap a shared resource, and no fair and efficient system of allocating water between competing demands, is a product of exactly the approach Susan advocates.

If Australian's allow politician's to privatise water, then Australian's will need to be shot, along with the politician's who sell it off.

Nations that have sold of water face nothing but problems. In one European nation where water has been privatised, the company owns all water including rainfall in your backyard. This had made catching rain water a criminal charge of theft.