Rubicon’s Consultant of Special Projects, Tony Oakes, speaks at parliamentary hearings in the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
On June 17th, Industry leaders and government officials gathered to discuss the topic of “prospects for the development of the water industry of Kazakhstan,” Rubicon’s Consultant – Special Projects, Anthony Oakes, was invited to speak at the joint parliamentary hearing of both houses (Mazhilis) to address the topic of water scarcity.
Tony was introduced to the microphone at the 1:50:00 mark of the hearings to deliver compelling insight into Australia’s water history, shedding light on issues around land salinisation, environmental sustainability, and the Millennium drought, before touching on the water reform that led to one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the country’s history – the modernisation and automation of the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District (GMID).
Tony drew comparisons between the Australian and Kazakh landscapes, describing the water crisis that Australia was battling in the early 2000s and the strategies implemented which have contributed to Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin being arguably the most water-efficient food bowl in the world.
Tony finished on an optimistic note highlighting the significant water productivity gains that Australia and other regions have witnessed since modernisation and painted the picture that a very similar outcome is achievable for Kazakhstan’s agricultural industry.
See Tony’s address to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan published on the official parliamentary hearings YouTube Channel below.