As Australia’s drought deepens, ruining farms, leaving towns without water and causing thousands of city homes to crack as the soil dries out, John Howard, the Prime Minister, announced a radical A$10.5 billion (£4 billion) programme to restore the nation’s dwindling rivers.

Mr Howard declared the viability of the vast Murray-Darling Basin at risk and announced that the Government would take over management of the entire river system from the states.

The basin, an area the size of France and Spain, makes up more than 70 per cent of the country’s irrigated croplands and pastures. It extends from Queensland to South Australia and is home to almost two million people. It has been ravaged by a drought that has lasted for more than six years.

Mr Howard, who has long been sceptical about the effects of global warming, acknowledged that Australia’s climate was getting hotter and that the southerly weather systems which brought rains to Australia were failing. About A$6 billion will be spent replacing aged pipes and irrigation channels to reduce leaks and evaporation. Farmers will be given another A$1.5 billion to reduce water wastage by replacing leaky pipes and tanks on farms systems and A$500 million will be spent on an review of the nation’s water resources.

The Government will also fund a study to examine the potential to shift agricultural activity to far northern Australia, where rainfall has increased.

Mr Howard, declaring himself a “a climate change realist” who acted on evidence as it emerged, officiated this week at the Australian of the Year Award, bestowed for 2007 on the country’s most influential advocate of the global warming theory, the scientist and author Tim Flannery.

Professor Flannery said: “We are, on a per capita basis, the worst greenhouse polluters in the world and I don’t think any of us want our children asking in future why we didn’t give our utmost when it was still possible to influence the course of events.”

Successive polls have shown that fears about global climate change have eclipsed economic concerns for many Australians, most of whom now live with severe water usage restrictions.

Mr Howard’s plan to force states to relinquish control of rivers flowing within their borders is likely to meet strong opposition. and may have to settled in the courts.

Dry humour

“But where,” said I, “is the blooming stream?”

And he replied, “We’re at it!”

I stood awhile, as in a dream,

“Great Scott!” I cried, “is that it? Why, that is some old bridle-track!”

He chuckled, “Well, I never!

It’s plain you’ve never been Out Back —

This is the Paroo River!”

From Paroo River, by Henry Lawson

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