Assessments
Under the amended National Water Commission Act, we have a specific function to perform triennial assessments of progress by all parties in achieving the objectives and outcomes in the National Water Initiative (NWI), the first of which is due in 2014.
Previously, these assessments were conducted biennially.
The first triennial assessment will consolidate audit, assessment and thought leadership activities to present a coordinated view of progress in the implementation of the NWI.
We will also make recommendations to COAG on actions that the NWI parties might take to better achieve NWI objectives and outcomes.
Under its current work program, the Commission has commenced its development of a triennial assessment framework. This will build on the lessons learned from previous assessments, in particular the need for specific, measurable and relevant performance indicators that are logically connected to water reform objectives and their intended outcomes.
The framework will establish a clear and comprehensive set of both quantitative and qualitative performance indicators and establish benchmarks for future comparison.