COM 4001 Assignment 3: Major Research AssignmentSulistyanto

Salinity Control Management in Victoria: Could We Do It Much Better? 1. Introduction Dryland salinity has become a major problem throughout the world. The International Food Policy Research Institute states that about four million acres of farmland are lost to excessive salt each year. Australia also has major a problem with salinity which is caused by poor land management practices and especially the wholesale clearing of native vegetation for agriculture.1 A lot of effort and resources have been devoted to overcome the problems. Farmers, scientists, research institutions such as CSIRO and universities, and the government have worked hard to find out the causes of salinity and applied measures they believed would work best, yet salinity is still spreading and threatening this country. Why do those efforts and resources seem useless and do not contribute significantly to overcome salinity? What could be the reasons behind these? This essay will argue that the effort and resources devoted to overcoming salinity problems have been less successful due to less seriousness handling by the Australian public and government. Lack of media coverage of the issues causes the public not to perceive the problems thoroughly. In addition, the government does not act appropriately because of economic reasons. 2. Causes of salinity What causes salinity? Dr. Quentin Beresford, a specialist in public policy, with his colleagues including Dr. Hugo Bekle, a specialist in environmental geography states that: Primary salinity develops naturally, mainly in areas where rainfall is insufficient to leach salts from the soil profile and evaporation is high. Over thousands of years, salt slowly accumulated beneath causing changes in biological systems and landscape form and function. Secondary salinity is the result of clearing native vegetation and replacing it with shallow-rooted crops and pasture that use less water, causing changes
1

Beresford et al., The Salinity Crisis: Landscape, Communities and Politics, University of Western Australia Press, 2004, 4.

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to the hydrology of the landscape. The indigenous vegetation of Australia is perennial and deep-rooted, well-adapted to surviving both floods and drought and effective in its use of water. Annual crops and pastures do not use as much of the incoming rainfall and this unused water either runs off or infiltrates beyond the root zone and accumulates as ground water recharge. As saline groundwater comes close to the soil surface, when the water table is less than 2 meters, salt enters the plant root zone leading to the death of native plants and crops and pastures that are not salt tolerant.2 Thus, secondary salinity, which has become major concern, is the result of clearing native vegetation related to human activities for agricultural purposes commenced during European settlements. 3. A brief history of salinity and the main issues The first record of salinity was in 1853, in a letter to Governor Latrobe written by J.G. Robertson. It stated that saline springs were appearing in the streams, and that salt was killing the native grasses in the Dunda area. This was only nineteen years after settlement.3 Meanwhile, W.E. Wood, Inspecting Engineer with the Railways Department, in his paper presented to the Royal Society explains that he observed salinity in the agricultural district of York Peninsula (South Australia) in the early 1890s. He heard that destruction of native vegetation turned the water in the creeks salty and a number of railway water supplies had become too salty for commercial use in boiler.4 The facts suggest that salinity had been revealed more than a hundred years ago. However, the Government of Victoria did not commence systematic monitoring until the 1960s and by the time it was found that more than half the irrigated area had water tables within 2 m of the surface.5 These problems were given little concern by most Australian until the late 1980s and even until mid-1990s public awareness was still low. However, media interest in salinity changed dramatically during 2000 in which some print

2 3

Beresford et al., The Salinity Crisis, 7. Jenkin J J, Dryland Salting in Victoria, Soil Conservation Authority, Victoria, 1981, 3. 4 Beresford et al., The Salinity Crisis, 45 46. 5 Salinity Committee of the Victorian Parliament, Causes, Extent and Effects of Salinity in Victoria, ACIL Australia Pty Ltd, 1983, xxii.

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media such as The West Australian, Bulletin magazine and The Australian highlighted salinity issues.6 Low level of public awareness and concerns upon the issues might closely relate to the lack of media coverage. They consider salinity is not interesting issue thus it is not worthy to cover. For the media, especially the commercial ones, there is no point to cover unattractive issues because they would not attract people to read or watch which would generate the number of audience leading to the increase of profit. In short, salinity issues are not attractive as stated by Beresford, a specialist in public policy from Western Australia, that salinity is a complex issue to explain to the public and not an especially attractive topic for commercial television news which clamours for issues with emotive appeal and very powerful images.7 However, he suggests that as at present media have more attention to salinity problems hence they have become apparent as the nations worst environmental problems. They have also become political issues with increasing pressures upon government for action.8 It implies that the government had been quite well informed with the issues, as the government had been informed as early as 1853, yet Victorian Government had taken no action until salinity problems were spread out. 4. Perceptions of salinity Even though, issues about salinity have been quite a long time and especially at recent years have become public concerns yet not all people have the same perceptions about the nature of salinity and its impacts. There are different perceptions among the Australian communities such as farmers in rural areas, the urban people, scientists, and the government. The first are the farmers. In 1988, School of Agriculture and Forestry of the Melbourne University conducted a research in the Northern Victoria to measure farmers knowledge and awareness of Dryland salinity.9 There were three areas to be studied i.e.
6 7

Beresford et al., The Salinity Crisis, 4 5. Beresford et al., The Salinity Crisis, 33. 8 Beresford et al., The Salinity Crisis, 5

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knowledge of the cause of soil salinity, knowledge of the solutions to soil salinity, and knowledge of the signs of salinity. It reveals that 79% of the farmers realized that salinity was due to either tree clearing or water table rise. However, it was not possible to determine whether they understood the process of how tree clearing and water table rise could affect land salinity. Meanwhile, subject to the issue of the solutions to soil salinity, 85% farmers gave correct responses by mentioning various combinations of solutions to soil salinity such as tree replanting and growing salt tolerant species. However, 15% of them failed to give correct solutions or said that they had no idea about it. Furthermore, there were only 59% of the farmers who had knowledge about the early signs of salinity while the other 41% did not. In addition, salinity was viewed as a regional and local problem rather than a personal problem. They appreciated the problem would get worse in the future but they did not see that their own farm would likely be affected. These facts suggest that even though farming areas are parts of the country most affected by salinity yet the farmers are not well informed about the issues and they perceive that the issues are not really serious problems. It might be due to the lack of media coverage as stated by Beresford et al. Secondly are the urban people. Since soil salinity has been affecting more the farming areas, which are far from the cities, and has not affected the urban areas much therefore, it is likely that most of urban people are not really aware of the issues or even if they were aware of the issues they might probably would not care much as they have not been affected yet. It is not surprising, as the fact shows that even the farmers without salinity problems living next to the one with salinity problems appreciate the problem will be worse in the future; however they are much less likely to see their own farm being affected.10 There is no research so far about perceptions of the urban about land salinity. However, as stated in the beginning of the essay that media interest in salinity has changed dramatically during 2000 in which some print media highlighted salinity issues hence it is assumed that with the changes the urban would be quite well informed about the issues
9

Vanclay F M., & Cary J W., Farmers Perceptions of Dryland Soil Salinity, School of Agriculture and Forestry of the Melbourne University, 1989, 9 -15. 10 Vanclay & Cary, Farmers Perceptions of Dryland, 15.

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because there is much more coverage on them. It is considering that most of them have access to the media such as television, newspapers or the internet. However, even though they are better informed yet they would likely perceive that salinity is not serious problem as they have not been greatly affected yet. The third are the scientists. They are unquestionably very well informed about the issues as a matter of fact they are the ones who have been very devoted to find out the nature of the problems and how to overcome them. They are really aware that salinity is a serious problem and it must be handled immediately otherwise the whole nation would be in danger in the future. With regard to these perceptions, many researches and discussions have been conducted in different areas for different purposes such as to find out its causes and the best methods to overcome them, to measure its impacts upon the communities, and to find the new species tolerant to saline land. There is no exact data about the number of the researches and discussions but observing from several journals such as Environmental Australia, The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Journal of Soil Research, Australasian Science, Environment, Journal of Hydrology and Habitat Australia, hundreds of researches and essays related to salinity have been published. In short, scientists might be the ones who really understand the issues and have responded significantly through their researches and publications of their findings. The forth is the government. In the beginning of the essay it is stated that as soon as salinity problems appeared in Victoria in 1853, which was in Dunda area, the Governor was informed. However, no real action was taken by the government for quite along time considering that the first real action took place in 1914 in which the government commenced construction of infrastructures to control salinity such as surface drains in the Kerang Region to control salt discharges, the Lake Hawthorn ground water interception scheme and evaporation basin in the Sunraysia area, and the Barr Creek-Lake Tutchewop drainage interception. They came into operation in 1968.11 This situations show that the government perceived salinity was not a problem until it had proliferated as the actions began 115 years after the first encounter of the problems
11

Salt Force, Victorias strategy for managing the salinity of land and water resources, Government of Victoria, February 1987, 11.

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which is too late to save extensive areas being saltaffected. In addition, it seems that the government perceives and takes actions to deal with salinity more for economic rather than environmental reasons. It is due to the fact that it did not take action until it perceived that salinity would decrease significant agricultural production. It is much better rather than doing nothing yet if economic interests win upon environmental consequences then economic approaches would take place. This will lead to ignorant of the most effective measures if they are not economically profitable. It has already happened with global warming issues where Australian Government refused to ratify Kyoto Protocol.12 The Kyoto Protocol is the first international treaty with binding country targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Under the Kyoto Protocol, 38 developed countries and economies in transition agreed to an aggregate five per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2008-2012.13 Despite the urgency and importance of the actions, Australian Government claims that signing up to the Kyoto protocol would damage Australia's economy.14 The government could have done a lot to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing the use of fossil fuels and replacing with renewable energy sources. It can be done by supporting researches in the fields to obtain cheap and reliable renewable energy sources. It is viable since Australia has world well-known energy researchers and institutions. However, government has not seriously supported their researches therefore Australian renewable energy industry will struggle to compete in domestic and international energy markets.15 What could be reasons behind these issues? Australia is the world's largest coal exporter, exporting nearly 200 million tonnes of steaming and coking coal in 2001. In
12

Dodson L & Wendy, Australia looks beyond Kyoto with new pact, http://www.smh.com.au/news/ environment/australia-looks-beyond-kyoto-with-new-pact/2005/07/27/1122143910438.html (Accessed 22 October 2005). 13 Papadakis E, Global environmental diplomacy: Australia's stances on global warming, Australian Journal of International Affairs, 1 July 2002, vol. 56, no. 2, 265-277. 14 Sydney Morning Herald Website, Scientist to convince Australia on Kyoto, October 14, 2005. http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Scientist-to-convince-Australia-on-Kyoto/2005/10/14/112879667326 2.html?oneclick=true 15 Greenpeace Australia Pacific Website, Clean Energy, http://www.greenpeace.org.au/climate/solutions/ renewables/index.html#technology (Accessed 24 October 2005).

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addition, coal was Australia's most important export commodity in 2002 which valued over $13 billion. Therefore, coal is an important contributor to present Australian economy and it will remain a vital export earner for many decades to come.16 Thus, it is obvious that Australian Government is not interested in reducing greenhouse emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy because it does not want to lose huge economic values of its coal minings. Regarding salinity, the government has proven to be ignorant considering that the problems had occurred nineteen years after European settlements yet it had not taken serious actions until a hundred years later. It is also related to economic considerations. From the beginning, it is clear that salinity is caused by clearing of native vegetation to create new farms. If the opening of new farms had been stopped, the problems would not have been getting worse. However, the government did not stop them because of economic reasons as stated by Beresford et al that In the early 1900s, Western Australia was at an economic crossroads: steadily declining returns from gold mining induced a feeling of gloom about the future; not only were jobs scarce, but also the State could not produce sufficient wheat for its own needs. It was threatened with a serious loss of population with all its calamitous effects.17 In short, the government has perceived and dealt salinity issues with economic approaches. Without external pressures such as from environmentalists, scientists and public in general it will keep putting aside better measures which are economically less profitable. Unfortunately, with low awareness of Australian public there will be no pressure upon government to tackle the issues appropriately. 5. Public perceptions of salinity compared to global warming and the depletion of the ozone level issues

16

Cook B, Coal in a Sustainable Future, ITAM Coal, Lane Print Group, September 2003, 16 17 http://www.australiancoal.com.au/Pubs/ITAM_Coal-2003_72dpi.pdf (Accessed 22 October 2005). 17 Beresford et al., The Salinity Crisis, 41.

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Salinity is an environmental issue which also occurs in many parts of the world like other issues such as global warming and the depletion of the ozone level. There are some other cases of salinity in the other parts of the world such as stated by Professor Williams, one of the world's foremost authorities on saline lakes from University of Adelaide, that secondary salinisation is now a significant process impacting upon water resources in almost one-third of the world's land area.18 However, it has to be admitted that its occurrence is not global in the sense that not every country has such problem. It is not like issue on global warming and the depletion of the ozone level which will give global impacts in the sense that no regions or country in the world could avoid the impacts because they bring about global consequences. To what extent do Australian communities perceive salinity issues compared to global warming and the depletion of the ozone level issues? It is worth to consider knowing if they are better informed with the issues than salinity. The first are the farmers. The Conservation Agriculture Alliance of Australia and New Zealand (CAAANZ) which consists of Farmers Associations in Australia in its home page state that CAAANZ will provide a united voice for conservation farmers on issues ranging from research investment to carbon sequestration. the role of no-till farming and other conservation farming measures in carbon-sequestration to help counter greenhouse gas emissions and global warming is set to become a major issue for Australian farmers.19 It suggests that Australian farmers, represented by this organization, have just realized that greenhouse emissions and global warming would likely give adverse impacts to them so they would set the issue to become a major one. This implies that even on more global environmental issues Australian farmers are not well informed either. It is surprising considering that Australian, including the rural people, are media minded. A research conducted by Roy Morgan Research, a commercial research institution in Australia, finds that for accessing Australian news and current affairs they rely on TV (56%), Newspaper
18

Williams W D., Salinisation: A major threat to water resources in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world Australia, Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management, 1999 4, 90. 19 CAAANZ Website, What is CAAANZ?, http://www.santfa.com.au/index_files/Page1126.htm (Accessed 12 October 2005).

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(22%), Radio (18%), magazine (1%) and internet (3%).20 Thus, if the issues had been covered a lot by the media then they would have had better understanding about the issues. The second are the urban people. There has been no research dedicated to find out about the urban people perceptions upon global warming and the depletion of the ozone level however the Australian Greenhouse Office commissioned a survey in January 2002 to measure public awareness of greenhouse gas issues. It does not represent the urban peoples perceptions. However, considering that majority of Australian live in urban areas as stated by Australian Bureau of Statistics that at June 2004 urban residents accounted for 15.1 million people, three quarters (75.0%) of the Australian population21 therefore the findings are quite representative to describe the urban awareness in general. The followings are some of the findings: The greenhouse effect is not top-of-mind or first-mentioned as far as environmental issues are concerned. This was supported by both the survey and focus groups. Only a small minority will mention the greenhouse issue, unless prompted. The survey indicated one-third regard it as a major problem. There is a low level of understanding and high level of confusion in the community regarding the greenhouse effect, its implications or causes. The national survey suggested 41% believed they knew a 'fair amount' or 'quite a lot' but the focus groups suggested only about 15% had any real understanding of the greenhouse effect. The majority regard the greenhouse issue as something that will not significantly affect their generation or community but as having an impact on their children or grandchildren. Though there is some understanding of what actions create greenhouse gases, it is incomplete. For example, the vast majority, 98% of people surveyed understand that driving a car contributes to greenhouse gases but only about half, 55%, knew using electricity contributes to greenhouse gases. Almost no one had knowledge of how much households contribute to the greenhouse effect, a result revealed by both the survey and focus groups. The majority has some knowledge of how they could reduce greenhouse gases but generally they lack knowledge of what types of abatement actions will have the most impact.22

20

Roy Morgan Research, Only 18% of Australians Believe the Media is Doing a Good Job Covering Elections and Controversial Topics Without Bias-TV is Main Source of News, http://www.roymorgan.com /news/polls/2004/3789/ (Accessed 12 October 2005). 21 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Population by Age and Sex, Australia, June 2005, http://www.abs.gov.au/ Ausstats/ abs@.nsf/Lookup/B2840477F3518AA9CA256EC700821E55 (Accessed 25 October 2005).

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Thus, the urban are not well informed about the issues which are more global. The urban have more access to the media yet they are not well informed. It suggests that there has not much media coverage about them because they would have understood better about the issues if there had been a lot of media coverage as they have and do access the media such as newspaper, magazine, radio and television. The third are the scientists. Like the salinity issues in Australia, global warming and the depletion of the ozone level also become major issues among scientists. Without taking less concern about salinity, they consider that global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer are very serious environment problems which could jeopardize the whole inhabitants of the earth. A lot of researches and discussions have been conducted and published in many journals to reveal the nature of the problems and find the best methods to overcome them. They urge governments and public to work hand in hand to overcome the problems through seminars, publications, and champaigns. Scientific journals have published a lot of discussions on the issues. However, the fact suggests that the Australian public still have lack awareness of the issues. It might be due to the nature of scientific journals which are used mostly for academic purposes therefore they do not reach public in general. It would probably have given better result if the discussions had been published in general media such as newspaper, magazine, radio and televison. In short, scientists are very well informed about global warming and the depletion of the ozone lavel as well as salinity; however their efforts to raise awareness of the public via discussions on scientific journals have not generated satisfying outcome considering that public in general do not have good understanding about the issues, not better than their understanding about salinity. The forth is the government. It is aware that humans activities contribute to climate change as stated by John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister that The worlds climate scientists have provided a clear message - that humans are having a discernible

22

Australian Greenhouse Office, Cool Communities: Household Research 2002, January 2002. http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/local/publications/research.html (Accessed 12 October 2005).

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influence on global climate.23 Moreover, the establishment of institution related to that matter like Australian Greenhouse Office is another evidence of the awareness. However, the issue is often put aside if economic interests are endangered. For example, recently in a court case in Queensland, the Federal Environment Minister claimed that climate change did not exist and it was not caused by human activities. His statement was to counter Wildlife Whitsunday argument that the federal environment department should have considered climate change when assessing the environmental effects of two new coal mines in Queensland because of the emissions from the coal mined there. 24 Another example is that the government is more interested in supporting research for sequestration technology rather than renewable energy sources. It is indicated by governments commitment to establish the $500 million Low-Emission Technology Development Fund to support industry-led projects to demonstrate low-emission technologies, which is sequestration technology. Meanwhile, for renewable energy technology development projects, the Australian Government will provide $100 million over seven years25 Sequestration technology aims to reduce CO2 emissions from coal burning. Compared to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar powers, this technology is less viable technically and economically. As stated in REGA, The electronic newsletter of the Renewable Energy Generators of Australia Limited that US studies indicate that if capture is used to minimise CO2 emissions from a power plant, 1.5 c (US) per kWh would be added to the cost of electricity generation. Further, it has been calculated that generating efficiency would be reduced by 10 to 15 %, assuming current technology. The estimated cost of avoiding CO2 emissions has been calculated to be in the order of 40 to 60 US $ per tonne of CO2 . This calculation depends on the type of plant, where storage takes place and the cost of transport.26
23

Howard J., Statement by the Prime Minister of Australia The Hon John Howard MP Safeguarding the Future: Australias Response to Climate Change, http://www.pm.gov.au/news/media_releases/1997 /GREEN.html (Accessed 24 October 2005). 24 Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Cross-examining the Government on climate change, http://www.greenpeace.org.au/features/features_details.html?site_id=31&news_id=1826 25 Australian Government, Securing Australias Energy Future. http://www.dpmc.gov.au/publications /energy_future/chapter8/7_technologies.htm (Accessed 24 October 2005). 26 REGA, CO2 Geo-sequestrationa future possibility?, The electronic newsletter of the Renewable Energy Generators of Australia Limited, May 2003, 4. http://www.rega.com.au/Documents/Newsletters/ REGA%20Newsletter%20Edition%208%20May%202003.pdf (Accessed 24 October 2005).

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Yet the government decides to put more funding for researches on the technology which is economically less-viable. It is because of its economic interests i.e. the existing coal mining industries which are vital export earners. Thus, the government perceives global warming and the depletion of the ozone level as serious problems. However, it will not take any measures which sacrifice economic interests. And it could be the same issue related to salinity. The government understands the consequences of the problems for Australia in the future but it will not take any measure which has to sacrifice its economic interests. 6. Public access to the media As the media seem to be responsible to the lack public awareness upon salinity issues so clarification need to be made to find if the assumption correct. There are two kinds of information have to be revealed in order to find out if such assumption is justified i.e. public access of the media and the number of media coverage upon the issues. The information is important with assumptions that: If Australian public had good access to the media and the media had put a lot of If Australian public had good access to the media but the media had not put a lot of If Australian public did not have good access to the media then they would not likely Since Roy Morgan Research finds that Australian public much relies on TV (56%), Newspaper (22%), and Radio (18%) for accessing Australian news and current affairs therefore an overview about these three media would be presented. Do Australian public have good access to the media? Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade state that most Australians benefit from extensive alternative of newspapers, magazines, radio, and television services. 27
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coverage upon the issues then the public would have been well informed. coverage upon the issues then the public would not have been well informed. be well informed though the media had put a lot of coverage upon the issues.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Website, The media in Australia, http://www.dfat.gov.au /facts/media.html (Accessed 13 October 2005).

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It is further explained that in electronic media, Australia has three national commercial television networks and two national public broadcasters which means that Australian public have good access to television broadcasting. Meanwhile, related to public access to radio broadcasting, the ABC predicted that by June 2003 its radio networks could be accessed by most of the population: Local Radio (99.34 per cent), Radio National (98.42 per cent), Classic FM (95.57 per cent), Triple J (95.10 per cent) and News Radio (77.05 per cent). Further more, Australian possess nearly 37 million radio receivers, for a national population of 20 million, it means that 76% of families owning on average five or more radios. These facts suggest that they have very good access to electronic media, radio and television. Australian public also have good access to newspaper as it is stated that by June 2003, the 12 national or state/territory daily newspapers had circulation of around 2.3 millions and Sunday newspapers was about 3.5 millions. Moreover, there are 35 regional dailies and some 470 other regional and suburban papers. From these figures, if it is assumed that newspaper circulation is 4 millions then approximately 20% of the population has access to newspaper. The readership could be even higher considering that one newspaper might be read by some people. Moreover, as Roy Morgans finding suggests that 22% of Australian rely on newspaper to access Australian news and current affairs, thus if salinity issued had been covered extensively then at least 20% of the population would have been well informed about them which could have lead them to put pressures upon the government to act more seriously.

7. Media coverage on salinity issues Is it true that the media have not covered the issues significantly? There is no data related to the question therefore to give rough description about the extent of media coverage about salinity a simple survey has been conducted upon some Australian newspapers. A survey upon the other two media i.e. television and radio is not conducted due to its complexity which is beyond the limit of the essay. The survey observed the number of news articles in the newspaper containing salinity issues. It would rely on their

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websites which usually hold their last ten years editions so that the number of news articles covering salinity issues would be accessible. Major Australian newspapers have been observed to find out the number of articles discussing the issues in the last ten years. The detail procedure of the observation is on the appendix 1. The results are as the following: a. The age There are 21 documents containing salinity in their titles. The most current was dated September 29, 2005 and the oldest was November 23, 1996. It suggests that the issues had not been sufficiently covered as within nine years there were only 21 articles which mean there was an article every 5.1 months. b. Sydney Morning Herald There are 9 documents containing salinity in their titles. The most current was dated January 19, 2002 and the oldest was December 29, 1998. It also suggests that the issues had not been sufficiently covered as within four years there were only 9 articles which mean there was an article every 5.3 months. Moreover, there has been no article covering the issues since 2002.

c.

Major Australian newspaper via Factiva

To get general description to what extent the issues have been covered by major Australian newspaper, similar survey was conducted upon major Australian newspaper via Factiva from Monash portal. It reveals that there are 140 articles containing salinity issues dated from 24 October 1996 (The Age) to 29 September 2005 (The Age). It also suggests that even the major newspapers only covered the issues 140 times within nine years which means there was an article every 0.8 months. The findings support Beresford et als statement that in general Australian newspapers have not given much coverage upon salinity issues because salinity is a complicated issue to explain to the public and not an especially appealing topic for media news which demands issues with emotive attraction and compelling images. It makes sense that

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commercial media would not likely put unappealing contents for marketing reason as commercial media are profit oriented. 8. Conclusion From the discussion above, it can be concluded that the farmers and urban perceive that salinity is not really serious problem. It might be due to the lack of media coverage on the issues considering that they have good access to media yet they have insufficient information about the issues. This has led to less serious actions to deal with salinity. They would have taken more serious actions if they had been well informed. Meanwhile, the scientists are really aware that salinity is a serious problem and it must be handled immediately otherwise the whole nation would be in jeopardy in the future. They have taken serious actions by putting a lot of efforts in researches and public awareness boosting. The government has been aware about the issues. However, it perceived salinity was not a problem until it had proliferated and brought about economic consequences like significant loss of agricultural production. The government has taken actions to overcome salinity. However, the measures have been less successful because they often disagree with economic interests which are always prioritized by government. It also happens to global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer issues. Salinity is serious problem which needs serious measures and a lot of resources. The farmers themselves, who suffer most, would not be able to overcome the problems. The government and the whole community have to work hand in hand to deal with the problems. It needs awareness of the entire community to conduct simultaneous, synergic, and continuous actions to achieve the best outcomes. As the government seems to be less serious upon the problems, pressures from public are badly needed to push the government to take serious actions. Yet any pressure will not take place without public high awareness about the issues. Unfortunately, the awareness is still low because they are not well informed which is caused by lack media coverage. Considering these matters, the media have important role in overcoming salinity issues. They can educate public by giving a lot of coverage on the issues to increase their

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awareness which will generate public pressures on the government to take serious actions. The issues might look complicated and unattractive but they need to be addressed otherwise the whole country will be at risk. In addition, the government has to take into account long term environmental impacts of natural resources exploitation for economic purposes. Ignorance of the environment will cause jeopardize the economy itself in the future because damaging environment can not sustain good economy. Bibliography Australian Bureau of Statistics. Population by Age and Sex. Australia. June 2005. http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/B2840477F3518AA9CA256EC700821E55 (Accessed 25 October 2005). Australian Government. Securing Australias Energy Future. http://www.dpmc.gov.au/ publications/energy_future/chapter8/7_technologies.htm (Accessed 24 October 2005). Australian Greenhouse Office. Cool Communities: Household Research 2002. January 2002. http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/local/publications/research.html (Accessed 12 October 2005). Bennett J. What Value the Rural Environment?. Policy vol. 17, no. 4. Summer 2001-2002. 44 48. Beresford et al. The Salinity Crisis: Landscape. Communities and Politics. University of Western Australia Press. 2004. CAAANZ Website. What is CAAANZ?. http://www.santfa.com.au/index_files/Page11 26.htm (Accessed 12 October 2005). Chaffey B et al. ed. Dryland salinity: early indicators and control measures. Agmedia. Melbourne. 1992. Cook B. Coal in a Sustainable Future. ITAM Coal. Lane Print Group. September 2003. 16 17. http://www.australiancoal.com.au/Pubs/ITAM_Coal-2003_72dpi.pdf (Accessed 22 October

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2005). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Website. The media in Australia. http://www.dfat. gov.au/facts/media.html (Accessed 13 October 2005). Dodson L & Wendy. Australia looks beyond Kyoto with new pact. http://www.smh.com.au/ news/environment/australia-looks-beyond-kyoto-with-new-pact/2005/07/27/1122143910438. html (Accessed 22 October 2005). Greenpeace Australia Pacific. Cross-examining the Government on climate change. http://www.greenpeace.org.au/features/features_details.html?site_id=31&news_id=1826

Howard J. Statement by the Prime Minister of Australia The Hon John Howard MP Safeguarding the Future: Australias Response to Climate Change. http://www.pm.gov.au/ news/media_releases/1997/GREEN.html (Accessed 24 October 2005). Jenkin J J. Dryland Salting in Victoria. Soil Conservation Authority. Victoria. Australia 1981. Lowe I. Living in the Hothouse: how global warming affects Australia. Scribe Publications Pty Ltd. Melbourne. 2005. Luntz S. Land clearing may outstrip salinity measures. Australasian Science. vol.21, no. 9. 10. Oliver M et al. Costs of salinity to government agencies and public utilities in the Murray Darling Basin. ABARE. 1996. Pannell D J. Dryland Salinity: economic, scientific, social and policy dimensions. The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economic. vol. 45. no. 4. 517 546. Papadakis E. Global environmental diplomacy: Australia's stances on global warming. Australian Journal of International Affairs. 1 July 2002. vol. 56. no. 2. 265-277. REGA. CO2 Geo-sequestrationa future possibility?. The electronic newsletter of the

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Renewable Energy Generators of Australia Limited. May 2003. 4. http://www.rega.com.au/ Documents/Newsletters/REGA%20Newsletter%20Edition%208%20May%202003.pdf (Accessed 24 October 2005). Roy Morgan Research. Only 18% of Australians Believe the Media is Doing a Good Job Covering Elections and Controversial Topics Without Bias - TV is Main Source of News. http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2004/3789/ (Accessed 12 October 2005). Salinity Committee of the Victorian Parliament. Causes. Extent and Effects of Salinity in Victoria. ACIL Australia Pty Ltd. 1983. Salt Force. Victorias strategy for managing the salinity of land and water resources. Government of Victoria. February 1987. Sydney Morning Herald Website. Australia 'missing out' over Kyoto Protocol. 2005/02/

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Australia-missing-out-over--Kyoto-Protocol/ 16/1108500110304.html (Accessed 13 October 2005).

Sydney Morning Herald Website. Scientist to convince Australia on Kyoto. October 14. 2005. http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Scientist-to-convince-Australia-on-Kyoto/2005/10/14/ 112879667326 2.html?oneclick=true (Accessed 24 October 2005).

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Website. Clean Energy. http://www.greenpeace.org.au/climate/ solutions/renewables/index.html#technology (Accessed 24 October 2005). Vanclay F M.. & Cary J W. Farmers Perceptions of Dryland Soil Salinity. School of Agriculture and Forestry of the Melbourne University. 1989. Williams W D. Australian Inland Waters: A Limited Resource. Australian Biologist. No. 6. 1993. 2 10. http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/salton/AustralianInlandWaters.html (Accessed 13 October 2005). Williams W D. Salinisation: A major threat to water resources in the arid and semi-arid regions

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of the world Australia. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management. 1999 no.4. 85 91.

Appendix 1 Observation of major Australian Newspapers Since there is no data about how far the media have covered salinity issues, therefore a survey upon some major Australian newspaper has been conducted. The survey observed the number of headlines in the newspapers containing the issues. It relied on their websites which usually hold the last ten years editions in the archives. The more news articles about salinity issues, the higher extent to which the newspaper covers the issues has been. The procedures and findings are as the following: d. The age By using quick search menu which was accessed via Archive menu from home page search term salinity was used. To limit the scope there were some conditions inputted i.e. time period: last 10 years, publication: the Age, and look in the: headline. The search for salinity matched 21 documents as the following:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. Salinity 'killing Murray River wetlands' The Age 29/09/2005 $1.4b salinity action plan misses a third of land affected The Age 12/12/2002 Corporate sector encouraged to join environmentalists in salinity battle The Age 06/05/2002 Farmers bemoan quibbling on salinity The Age 10/10/2001 Too late to halt salinity: expert The Age 06/10/2001 Battling against salinity The Age 16/05/2001 Salinity test to aid grape growers The Age 02/04/2001 Green levy urged to fight salinity The Age 27/02/2001 Salinity a rising national threat The Age 15/11/2000 Farmers to win compensation as salinity deal struck The Age 04/11/2000 Shrimps shrivel for science in salinity experiment The Age 28/10/2000 Fight looms over salinity plan cash The Age 23/10/2000 Native grasses conscripted in the battle against salinity The Age 16/10/2000 $1.4b to start salinity battle The Age 11/10/2000 Plea for action on salinity The Age 05/06/2000 $60b bid to stem salinity scourge The Age 16/05/2000 Salinity report warns of disaster The Age 23/10/1999 Salinity crisis worsens The Age 16/02/1999 Native plants push to tackle salinity The Age 17/12/1998 Farmers forced to diversify in war on salinity The Age 01/07/1998 Action urged on salinity The Age 23/10/1996

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e. The Sydney Morning Herald By using quick search menu which was accessed via Archive menu from home page search term salinity was used. To limit the scope there were some conditions inputted i.e. time period: last 10 years, publication: the Sydney Morning Herald, and look in the: headline. The search for salinity matched 9 documents as the following:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

State versus federal tug-of-war stalls salinity projects Sydney Morning Herald 19/01/2002 Business, greens urge tax incentives to encourage industry in salinity fight Sydney Morning Herald 10/08/2001 $1.5bn for salinity `not enough' Sydney Morning Herald 11/10/2000 Fighting salinity can by profitable, says Carr Sydney Morning Herald 15/08/2000 Salinity ... we must get to the root of it Sydney Morning Herald 23/06/2000 The politics of salinity Sydney Morning Herald 17/05/2000 Solution to salinity in the detail over decades Sydney Morning Herald 16/03/2000 Deadly salinity hits community lifeblood Sydney Morning Herald 23/10/1999 Salinity threat to western Sydney Sydney Morning Herald 29/12/1998

f. Factiva To get general description to what extent the issues have been covered by major Australian newspaper, similar survey was conducted upon major Australian newspaper via Factiva from Monash portal. By using quick search menu search term salinity was used. To limit the scope there were some conditions inputted i.e. Time period: 24 10 1995 to 24 10 2005 (last 10 years), Source: Group: Major Australian Newspaper, Search for freetext terms in: headline, Language: English, Exclude: Republished news, Recurring pricing and market data and Obituaries, sports, calendars..., and Sort results by: the most recent to the oldest. The search for salinity matched 140 documents as the following:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Salinity 'killing Murray River wetlands' The Age, 29 September 2005, 482 words, (English) BRINY SOLUTION FOR SALINITY - ENTREPRENEUR - FOR BUSINESS OWNERS The Australian, 24 June 2005, 660 words, (English) Murray lake hits record salinity levels The Australian, 3 January 2005, 573 words, (English) Clay map arms anti-salinity war The Australian, 26 July 2004, 339 words, (English) Clay map arms anti-salinity warriors The Australian, 26 July 2004, 461 words, (English) GM ban threatens salinity research The Australian, 24 March 2004, 439 words, (English) Salinity cash flows, but just a trickle The Australian, 6 October 2003, 487 words, (English) Murray salinity tipped to rise. The Australian, 16 July 2003, 290 words, (English) Call for arbiter in salinity funds feud. The Australian, 30 May 2003, 537 words, (English) Salinity cuts rub salt into wounds - BUDGET 2003 - THE DAY AFTER. The Australian, 15 May 2003, 348 words,

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11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64.

(English) Salinity threat to drinking water - SAVING THE MURRAY RIVER. The Australian , 22 January 2003, 428 words, (English) Farmers act on salinity. Herald-Sun , 18 December 2002, 219 words, (English) Salinity scourge revealed. Sunday Herald Sun , 15 December 2002, 213 words, (English) News - $1.4b salinity action plan misses a third of land affected. The Age, 12 December 2002, 447 words, (English) News - Funding boost for Murray River salinity programs. Australian Financial Review, 26 November 2002, 278 words, (English) Salinity Plan Stalls In WA Australian Financial Review , 7 October 2002, 248 words, (English) News - Salinity plan stalls in WA. Australian Financial Review, 7 October 2002, 249 words, (English) Graingrowers kick in to fight salinity. The Australian, 3 October 2002, 226 words, (English) Hybrid wheat a salinity solution. The Australian, 14 September 2002, 439 words, (English) Salinity problem must be `number one priority'. The Australian, 3 August 2002, 75 words, (English) Beattie cottons on to salinity crisis. The Australian, 3 August 2002, 249 words, (English) Beattie reveals salinity charts. The Australian, 29 July 2002, 309 words, (English) Salinity crisis blamed on water trading - SAVING THE MURRAY RIVER. The Australian, 13 July 2002, 413 words, (English) Curse of salinity spreads to farms in the east - SAVING THE MURRAY RIVER. The Australian, 11 July 2002, 334 words, (English) Perennial pastures fight salinity. The Australian, 15 June 2002, 612 words, (English) Salinity plan taken with grain of salt. The Australian, 6 June 2002, 400 words, (English) Price Of Support: `megabucks' For Salinity Australian Financial Review , 29 May 2002, 643 words, (English) News - Price of support - `megabucks' for salinity. Australian Financial Review, 29 May 2002, 683 words, (English) Corporate Sector Encouraged To Join Environmentalists In Salinity Battle The Age, 6 May 2002, 1135 words, (English) Water And Salinity Projects Given Higher Priority Australian Financial Review, 6 April 2002, 320 words, (English) States Move On Salinity Program Australian Financial Review , 22 March 2002, 367 words, (English) Salinity action plan gaining gound. The Australian, 9 March 2002, 266 words, (English) Salinity action strategy fails to take on clearing. The Australian, 7 March 2002, 396 words, (English) Attack on salinity expanded. The Australian, 23 February 2002, 261 words, (English) Sands mining `could fight salinity'. The Australian, 16 February 2002, 418 words, (English) Salinity now a serious danger in Queensland. The Australian, 2 February 2002, 626 words, (English) State Versus Federal Tug-of-war Stalls Salinity Projects Sydney Morning Herald , 19 January 2002, 564 words, (English) PM tackles salinity in marginal seats. Herald-Sun, 1 November 2001, 298 words, (English) ALP backs salinity plan with threat to end land-clearing. The Australian, 16 October 2001, 346 words, (English) Farmers Bemoan Quibbling On Salinity The Age , 10 October 2001, 273 words, (English) Too Late To Halt Salinity: Expert The Age , 6 October 2001, 556 words, (English) Call for action on salinity. The Australian, 22 September 2001, 309 words, (English) Rise in funds to help wash away salinity woes. The Australian, 12 September 2001, 345 words, (English) Salinity, water MPs main worries. The Australian, 20 August 2001, 305 words, (English) Business, Greens Urge Tax Incentives To Encourage Industry In Salinity Fight Sydney Morning Herald , 10 August 2001, 511 words, (English) Fix Water Costs, Then Fix Salinity Business Review Weekly , 3 August 2001, 889 words, (English) Murray's 15-year salinity plan. The Australian, 7 July 2001, 597 words, (English) Cold flushes rival deadly salinity - SAVING THE MURRAY RIVER. Australian, 19 June 2001, 384 words, (English) Staggered Start On Salinity Australian Financial Review , 15 June 2001, 409 words, (English) $60b shortfall in salinity funds. Herald-Sun, 14 June 2001, 161 words, (English) Gallop's plan to tackle salinity. Australian, 4 June 2001, 369 words, (English) Bracks splashes out on salinity and water - VICTORIAN BUDGET 2001. Australian, 16 May 2001, 273 words, (English) Battling Against Salinity The Age, 16 May 2001, 110 words, (English) Logging link to salinity woes - SAVING THE MURRAY RIVER. Australian, 15 May 2001, 378 words, (English) Logging link to salinity woes. Australian, 15 May 2001, 374 words, (English) Salinity Test To Aid Grape Growers The Age, 2 April 2001, 249 words, (English) Howard Sweetens Bush With $5m Salinity Project Australian Financial Review, 9 March 2001, 464 words, (English) Green Levy Urged To Fight Salinity The Age, 27 February 2001, 580 words, (English) Land Clearing And Salinity Greatest Threat To Country Sydney Morning Herald, 23 February 2001, 551 words, (English) Marine parks, salinity top list - STATE ELECTIONS. Australian, 5 February 2001, 341 words, (English) Scheme to give salinity the slip. The Australian, 18 November 2000, 611 words, (English) Salinity Issue Heads For Court Australian Financial Review , 17 November 2000, 331 words, (English) Salinity will cost $150m each year. Herald-Sun, 15 November 2000, 308 words, (English) Salinity crisis will treble in 50 years. The Australian, 15 November 2000, 468 words, (English)

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65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120.

Salinity A Rising National Threat The Age , 15 November 2000, 318 words, (English) $1.4b salinity pact. Herald-Sun, 4 November 2000, 317 words, (English) Deal struck to top up salinity fighting fund. The Australian, 4 November 2000, 381 words, (English) Deal struck to top up salinity fighting fund. The Australian, 4 November 2000, 381 words, (English) Farmers To Win Compensation As Salinity Deal Struck The Age , 4 November 2000, 374 words, (English) Howard to target gambling, salinity. The Australian, 2 November 2000, 329 words, (English) Shrimps Shrivel For Science In Salinity Experiment The Age , 28 October 2000, 394 words, (English Fight Looms Over Salinity Plan Cash The Age , 23 October 2000, 324 words, (English) Return to grasslands cuts salinity. The Australian, 21 October 2000, 632 words, (English) Beattie tips bucket on salinity package. The Australian, 19 October 2000, 268 words, (English) Native Grasses Conscripted In The Battle Against Salinity The Age , 16 October 2000, 347 words, (English) Trees to stop rot of salinity. Sunday Herald Sun, 15 October 2000, 1326 words, (English) Salinity plan on the vine. The Australian, 13 October 2000, 309 words, (English) The Catch In Cutting Salinity Australian Financial Review , 12 October 2000, 759 words, (English) Salinity plan risks creating welfare dependence. The Australian, 12 October 2000, 410 words, (English) $1.5bn Plan To Pitch Into Salinity Crisis Australian Financial Review , 11 October 2000, 520 words, (English) $1.5bn For Salinity `not Enough' Sydney Morning Herald , 11 October 2000, 588 words, (English) Plan to stop rising salinity. Herald-Sun, 11 October 2000, 372 words, (English) $1.5b to fight salinity. Herald-Sun, 11 October 2000, 340 words, (English) Science or lack of it a sticking point - THE FIGHT AGAINST SALINITY. The Australian, 11 October 2000, 437 words, (English) Premiers haggle over detail - THE FIGHT AGAINST SALINITY. The Australian, 11 October 2000, 494 words, (English) Farmers fear it's too little, too late - THE FIGHT AGAINST SALINITY. The Australian, 11 October 2000, 394 words, (English) Salt tide swamps Howard's memory - THE FIGHT AGAINST SALINITY. The Australian, 11 October 2000, 317 words, (English) $1.4b To Start Salinity Battle The Age , 11 October 2000, 459 words, (English) Salinity blamed on lack of perennials. The Australian, 30 September 2000, 550 words, (English) Salinity rise puts species on death row. The Australian, 22 September 2000, 421 words, (English) Fly ash seen as way to fight salinity. The Australian, 16 September 2000, 279 words, (English) Expert warns on Qld salinity. The Australian, 9 September 2000, 290 words, (English) Co-operation best answer to salinity. The Australian, 8 September 2000, 442 words, (English) Assault on salinity. Herald-Sun, 6 September 2000, 314 words, (English) $47m plan to set cap on salinity. The Australian, 6 September 2000, 510 words, (English) Salinity credits for trade. The Australian, 26 August 2000, 321 words, (English) Fighting Salinity Can By Profitable, Says Carr Sydney Morning Herald , 15 August 2000, 539 words, (English) Trees help root out salinity. The Australian, 5 August 2000, 627 words, (English) Funds Pour In For Salinity Programs Australian Financial Review , 28 July 2000, 338 words, (English) Levy proposed to stop salinity. Herald-Sun, 27 July 2000, 85 words, (English) Proposals To Combat Salinity Crisis Australian Financial Review , 26 July 2000, 334 words, (English) Winery fights salinity. Herald-Sun, 25 July 2000, 188 words, (English) Southcorp salinity deal worth its salt. The Australian, 25 July 2000, 355 words, (English) Beazley launches assault on salinity. The Australian, 21 July 2000, 393 words, (English) Plea For Action On Salinity The Age , 5 June 2000, 347 words, (English Ministers fail to meet deadline on salinity. The Australian, 1 June 2000, 449 words, (English) Sanity on salinity. Herald-Sun, 30 May 2000, 233 words, (English) The Politics Of Salinity Sydney Morning Herald , 17 May 2000, 620 words, (English) $60b Bid To Stem Salinity Scourge The Age , 16 May 2000, 566 words, (English) Pilot Scheme Zeroes In On Salinity Problems Australian Financial Review , 5 May 2000, 475 words, (English) Salinity pressures on Murray River worsen. The Australian, 29 April 2000, 475 words, (English) Salinity plan wins support. Herald-Sun, 14 April 2000, 346 words, (English) Bid to slow salinity. Herald-Sun, 4 April 2000, 271 words, (English) Banker calls for joint attack on salinity. The Australian, 31 March 2000, 652 words, (English) Deal to cut salinity in river basin. The Australian, 25 March 2000, 462 words, (English) Salinity a threat to nation's wealth - Carr. The Australian, 17 March 2000, 258 words, (English) Solution To Salinity In The Detail Over Decades Sydney Morning Herald , 16 March 2000, 838 words, (English) Mixed tree plantings can beat salinity. The Australian, 22 January 2000, 536 words, (English) Old foes to meet before salinity summit. The Australian, 10 January 2000, 279 words, (English) Farmers battle scourge of salinity. The Australian, 29 December 1999, 335 words, (English)

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121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140.

Salinity threat to sink houseboat industry. The Australian, 27 December 1999, 356 words, (English) New weapon in war on salinity. Herald-Sun, 8 December 1999, 305 words, (English) Plea on salinity. Herald-Sun, 18 November 1999, 91 words, (English) Sow long to salinity woes. The Australian, 3 November 1999, 533 words, (English) Salinity saps the economic life out of the lucky country. The Australian, 2 November 1999, 193 words, (English) Farmers share credit for assault on salinity. The Australian, 29 October 1999, 380 words, (English) Salinity crisis needs urgent national plan. The Australian, 25 October 1999, 589 words, (English) Deadly Salinity Hits Community Lifeblood Sydney Morning Herald , 23 October 1999, 328 words, (English) Salinity Report Warns Of Disaster The Age , 23 October 1999, 663 words, (English) Ministers join forces in salinity battle. The Australian, 16 October 1999, 485 words, (English) Salinity leaves multitude of costs. The Australian, 28 August 1999, 568 words, (English) Salinity threat strikes cities. The Australian, 10 July 1999, 455 words, (English) Salinity Crisis Worsens The Age , 16 February 1999, 441 words, (English) Salinity Threat To Western Sydney Sydney Morning Herald , 29 December 1998, 566 words, (English) Native Plants Push To Tackle Salinity The Age , 17 December 1998, 347 words, (English) Farmers Forced To Diversify In War On Salinity The Age , 1 July 1998, 405 words, (English) Court strikes $30m deal to tackle salinity. The Australian, 30 July 1997, 444 words, (English) Cloning Of Gum Trees To Battle Salinity Sunday Age , 6 July 1997, 437 words, (English) Satellites help fight salinity. The Australian, 7 June 1997, 283 words, (English) Action Urged On Salinity The Age , 24 October 1996, 238 words, (English)

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Appendix 2 Interview Plan With regard to the topic, there are two experts would be interviewed to get further information for further discussion i.e. communication and media expert and public policy expert. The first one, which is communication and media expert, would provide information that lead to an understanding why the media were not interested in salinity issues and what could be the trend in the future. The second expert would be beneficial to provide information about the process of government policy making related to the issues. It is important to know the reason behind government less concern upon salinity issues. 1.Communication and media expert Dr Brett Hutchins is a lecturer from Communications and Media Studies, Monash University. He is an expert in Media, Communications, Popular culture, Sport and Leisure, New media, National identity. List of questions: a. It is indicated that Australian public have low awareness of salinity problems and it is assumed that the media contributed significantly to this situation. Do you think it is true? b. Why arent the media interested in salinity issues, which their adverse impacts could jeopardize the whole community in the future? c. Do you think that the media are concerned more on their circulation rather than crucial issues in the community? d. Do you think that the media have put aside their traditional function which is to reveal the truth and put more focus on their present function which is to make profit? e. Is there any possibility that the media do not realize the extent of salinity impacts upon the community; therefore they do not take the issues seriously?

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f.

Since 2000, the media have been claimed to expose the issues more frequently. Do you think that it would bring about better impacts on the efforts to solve salinity problems?

g. If you worked for the media, what would you do to contribute to overcoming the issues?

2.Public policy expert Dr David Neil is a lecturer from the Centre for Public Philosophy, Monash University. He is an expert in Ethics, Bioethics, Ethics in science and research, Liberalism, and Public policy. List of questions: a. Salinity problems have been spreading more extensively, do you think that the government has done its best to deal with them? b. Some people believe that the government has been ignorant to the issues because they are not economically attractive. Do you think it is true? c. The Commonwealth Government will spend $100.7 million to tackle salinity and improve water quality next financial year.28 Meanwhile, at its current extent, salinity costs Australia about $3.5 billion a year.29 If the government had been serious with the issues, why it allocated such small amount of fund compared to the loss? d. Australias refusal to ratify Kyoto Protocol indicates that the government does not put real concern toward environmental issues. What could be the reasons? e. If there are more pressures from public, would the government put more concern about the issues?
28

Minister for the Environment and Heritage & Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Salinity and Water Quality Top Priority in Budget, Joint Media Release, 14 May 2002, http://www.deh.gov.au/ minister/env/2002/mr14may302.html . 29 Warnick M., Impacts and costs of dryland salinity, Natural Resource Sciences, March 2005, 1 2. http://www.nrm.qld.gov.au/factsheets/pdf/land/l59.pdf (Accessed 14 October 2005).

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f. You think that the government would only be serious upon any issue which is widely addressed by the public? g. With the increasing awareness of the public upon the issues which cause more pressures to the government to deal. Do you think that the government would take more serious actions because they would give political benefits?