water policy

Australia’s national water policy has reached its use-by date and will fail to overcome the looming challenges of increased population and community demands, and the effects of climate change.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and water minister Keith Pitt on Friday said an inquiry would look into whether governments have been successful in achieving the objectives, outcomes and timelines of reform ideas proposed under the National Water Initiative.

Thirty years since Australia’s water reform project began, it’s clear our efforts have largely failed. Drought-stricken rural towns have literally run out of water. We must find another way. So let’s start the conversation.

The Inspector-General of Murray-Darling Basin Water Resources, Mick Keelty, has delivered a withering assessment of the Department of Agriculture’s role in the water-sharing agreement, suggesting it worries too much about how taxpayer’s money is spent and gets in the way of projects.

The Department of Agriculture’s responsibilities for water policy and resources will be taken over by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development from December 1.