Back in 2019, Do Nothing on Dams Dan Andrews, in answer to a direct and simple question put to him by ABC Radio about why his government was committed to doing nothing on dams, provided one of his usual glib responses:

“Well dams don’t make it rain.”

No, that’s right Do Nothing on Dams Dan, dams don’t make rain, although you do seem to think that you can create water :

“I am not here to make any announcements about additional dams, our policy has been to make the best and most efficient use of the water that we have as well as to create a climate change resistant capacity to create water,” he said.

How is allowing megalitres of water to flow away which will be needed in the next inevitable drought “the best and most efficient use of water”?

How is failing to provide some mitigation of the devastating impacts of floods “the best and most efficient use of water”?

How is not utilising the power of water through hydro electricity “the best and most efficient use of water”?

In the midst of Victoria’s worst flooding event in decades, Do Nothing on Dams Dan made the extraordinary statement saying the flood was “not about storage” but “patterns of weather that are unique”.

Hold the receiver – haven’t Do Nothing on Dams Dan and his colleagues been telling us exactly the opposite – that we should expect these “unique” weather patterns on a regular basis?

If so, should we not take steps to adapt to and to mitigate against the impacts of these “unique” weather patterns?

Having evacuated from Rochester in northern Victoria as water was coming up the street and now based in Echuca awaiting the arrival of the next predicted flood event, Kookaburra cannot help but think that a bit of storage might have been a good idea!

It appears that Do Nothing on Dams Dan and his fellow travelers in the Greens are now using climate change, not as a call to action, but as a justification for inaction. A permanent excuse to avoid doing anything. A complete avoidance of responsibility card.

NO, Do Nothing on Dams Dan, that political device will not work – you must accept some responsibility for the devastation being wreaked upon your state. Your decisions have prevented any substantial mitigation of the impacts of this major flooding event. That is you. You!