Murray-Darling boss resigns - understandably

Many would be celebrating this week’s resignation of Murray-Darling Basin Authority boss, Mike Taylor (right).

His resignation ambushed many, including the Federal Government whose Water Act he and his authority had attempted to interpret with the intent of salvaging the integrity of the Murray-Darling Basin.
A guide to plan for the basin released earlier this year was greeted with hostility and argument that Mr Taylor and his authority had ignored social and financial implications for all those who lived in and depended upon the basin’s water.
Mr Taylor and others from the authority canvassed many basin communities over recent months to explain the intricacies of the guide, but instead of thoughtful deliberation those many meetings were received with mostly unreasoned, emotional anger.
Mr Taylor repeatedly told the thousands at the public meetings that he and the authority had done nothing more, or less, than interpret, and apply the Federal Government inspired Water Act.
In launching the guide, Mr Taylor stepped into the cauldron that was ablaze with raw nerves set alight by a ten-year drought and here was he, simply the messenger, telling the communities that they would be living and working in a future with even tighter water supplies.
Like the scientists trying to help the world understand the difficulties we face because of human induced climate change, Mr Taylor found himself in what had become a political struggle about something that was clearly understood in terms of facts, figures and undeniable realities.
Being a fellow grounded in latter, Mr Taylor was uncomfortable with the former and although I suspect he understood the plan to the guide to be correct, he was not prepared to sacrifice himself for the greater good, which he could sense was slipping away.
I’m saddened by this week’s development and do not stand with those who rejoice as I feel emotion insulated from reality has stolen the initiative and the long-term sustainability of the basin has been sacrificed on the altar of populism and a sense of what feels right today with little regard for tomorrow.
I fear his resignation will delay proceedings, allowing doubters to call for further reviews and consultations that will again delay of process that is already cumbersome and wordy and needed, beyond anything else, a speedy conclusion.