Between 1949 and 1972, 16 major dams, 225 kilometres of tunnels, seven power stations and one pumping station were built as part of the snowy mountain scheme. The scheme's aim was to re-divert 2300GL from the Snowy River and many of its tributaries which flowed east (to Gippsland and the sea).

Following the Second World War, the government of the day proposed that the Snowy River be rediverted to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area for irrigation and agricultural purposes - with Victoria wanting a share for the Murray River.

By the 1990s the Snowy River rediversion added 2300GL of supplementary flows to the Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers for irrigation.

At the time the total water use of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area was approximately 2400GL and the Murray River water use was 3200GL. An amount which was sustainably extracted for decades with the use of dams.

Since the Millennium Drought, and the introduction of the MBDA, 1033GL have been reclaimed from the Southern Basin for the purpose of "environmental flows".

These simple facts have me question why there is a need for the Snowy River rediversion if 1033GL are being flushed out to sea in South Australia.

I believe the MDBA is misusing the infrastructure and water resources in the southern basin.

The MDBA should follow the Snowy Hydro plan established in the 1940s to support our irrigation communities.

But I want to know why the 1033GL of water which is being purchased for environmental flows in the Southern Basin is flowing to South Australia.

If so focused on 'environmental flows', shouldn't that water be put back down the Snowy River - where it came from? Not to the man-made lakes of the Coorong.

So Qantas wants us all to know how superior their elite posturing is prepared to stoop.

In The Daily Telegraph last week it was reported that Cardinal Pell, accused of falling from grace not only with a verdict in December 2018, but also now having been banned as one of Qantas' celebrities.

Why?

Because only the perfect (elite of the elite) are allowed the privileged use of the somebody's precious elite lounge set up.

Guess what they get?

This club lavishes titans of industry, loyal big spenders with massages, luxury bars and meals to order before they board their flight with priority.

There is also no joining fee at this chairman's lounge - so full of its own importance.

There was a time (and probably still is) why people fly Qantas because of its safety record rather than its elite fringe benefits for the elite the ones who consider themselves a cut above others.

The Cardinal is hardly in the position to be losing any sleep over his downgraded flight niceties, a man unconcerned with such trivial nonsense.

The money wasted on this luxurious lounge retreat for the privileged considered somebodies could have been better spent on the considered nobodies who sleep on our street, no luxuries for them.

Time the media gave ordinary people (just as worthy but not as pompous) a break from hearing about such self-indulgence of airs and graces.

Simplicity is the key to grandeur for it has a tendency to know its place and exercise it accordingly.

As Christ said "those who would be first will be last" and vice versa.

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