143041-Water theft maleficence in Australia.pdf (360.5 kB)
Water theft maleficence in Australia
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 21:25 authored by Baird, A, Walters, R, Robert WhiteRobert WhiteThe 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
Publication title
International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social DemocracyVolume
9Pagination
1-15ISSN
2202-7998Department/School
School of Social SciencesPublisher
Queensland University of Technology * Crime and Justice Research CentrePlace of publication
AustraliaRights statement
Copyright 2020 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Repository Status
- Open