Distilled - 2011 Review of water reform
In this edition
Commission urges COAG to stay the distance on water reform
The Commission has released its comprehensive assessment of water reform progress in Australia, calling on governments to stay the distance on their reform commitments.
The National Water Initiative - an enduring national imperative
In her address to CEDA, Ms Chloe Munro said that the National Water Initiative remains robust and relevant. However, reform requires real and persistent political commitment, genuine community engagement, and sustained resourcing for the building blocks of responsible water management.
The Commission's report makes 12 recommendations to COAG to reinvigorate Australia's water reform agenda and ensure that wise stewardship of our water resources remains a national priority. Our recommendations call for renewed leadership, a maturing of the water management agenda and a focus on the national arrangements that will make it happen.
Stronger governance and accountability
The Commission found that the NWI has been a focal point for water reform nationally. There have been important statutory reforms and significant investments in achieving its objectives.
Productive and efficient use of water resources
Water markets are now an important mechanism enabling water in many rural areas to move to more productive and efficient uses. Pricing and institutional reforms have also been beneficial.
Outcomes for the environment from water reform are not as clearly demonstrated as the outcomes for the economy. The Commission is deeply disappointed that the stated commitment of NWI parties to make substantial progress by 2010 in adjusting all overallocated or overused water systems to sustainable levels of extraction has not been met.
Delays in delivering on NWI commitments, inconsistent implementation and poorly managed community engagement processes have weakened community confidence in water governance systems.
For this assessment, the Commission evaluated the impact of the NWI over the seven years since 2004. The assessment drew on public consultation processes, and a range of other data and information sources.
National Water Commission bookshop
Visit our bookshop to request your personal hardcopy of the 2011 assessment of water reform progress in Australia.
