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Water Theft Maleficence in Australia

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journal contribution
posted on 2020-01-01, 00:00 authored by Alexander Baird, Reece WaltersReece Walters, Rob White
The United Nations has repeatedly identified that freshwater security is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, and that water theft is a global problem exacerbating human conflict, denying human rights and accelerating environmental despoliation (UN 2019; UN Water 2020). Australia is the world’s driest inhabited continent where water security is seriously threatened and constantly monitored by federal, state and local authorities. The devastating 2019-2020 bushfires across Australia serve as a stark reminder of the nation’s vulnerabilities to drought and the imperatives of water security and sustainability. Whilst some threats are undoubtedly climate induced, it is widely reported the ‘theft’ of water is playing an increasingly significant role in compromising Australia’s water security. This article provides a critical overview of the contemporary significance of water theft and its governance. It interrogates official documents of government inquiries, examines court proceedings, and provides a green criminological perspective on future policy, practice and prevention.

History

Journal

International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy

Volume

9

Issue

3

Pagination

1 - 15

Publisher

Queensland University of Technology

Location

Brisbane, QLD

ISSN

2202-7998

eISSN

2202-8005

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2020, The Authors