Troubled waters: Australian water reform 2009

Australia’s water is still in trouble according to a new report by the National Water Commission. 'Australian water reform 2009' is the Commission’s two-yearly assessment of progress in implementing the National Water Initiative - the blueprint for water reform that was agreed to by the Australian government and state and territory governments in 2004.

Releasing the report, Commission Chair Ken Matthews said, "This independent report shows that despite some progress, the pace of water reform has slowed on almost every front. Today, 40% of the local water plans promised by state governments are still unfinished, and many existing water plans have been suspended due to deepening drought and low flows in southern Australia.

"In its most disturbing finding, the report concludes that governments will not meet the central commitment they made under the National Water Initiative to ‘fix’ overallocation by 2010. Government commitments to tackle overallocation date back to at least 1994.

"What makes these findings even more concerning is that we now know that climate change has raised the bar on water reform," observes Matthews.

"Reduced water availability makes improved water management more urgent than ever for our water-starved rivers and hard-hit irrigators."

The report notes that some important progress has been made under tough conditions, progress which wouldn’t have been made without the National Water Initiative. Water trading has been a success and has given irrigators much needed options under difficult conditions. Also on a positive note, the commission welcomes unprecedented national attention to water together with unprecedented budgets, and commends the Commonwealth’s actions in buying back water for the environment. In its recommendations to COAG, the commission has called on governments to reset their commitments under a renewed round of national water reform.

Matthews says, "We urge governments to get reform ‘back on track’ and finish the job they agreed to when they signed up to the National Water Initiative back in 2004. "This is the only way that we can achieve a water future that is more secure and sustainable - for our irrigators, our regional communities, our cities and our water-dependent ecosystems.

"By staying the course on water reform we can give hard-pressed irrigation communities the clarity and confidence they need for long-term planning in a climate-changing world. Further and faster reform is also essential if we are to give Australia’s rivers and wetlands their fair share."

'Australian water reform 2009: Second biennial assessment of progress in implementation of the National Water Initiative' is available from the National Water Commission website at www.nwc.gov.au.