National Water Commission
Encyclopedia
The National Water Commission (NWC) is an independent statutory body within the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities that was established under the National Water Commission Act 2004 to implement the National Water Initiative and reform the broader national water agenda. The Commission also advises Council of Australian Governments
(COAG) and the Australian Government on national water issues and the progress of the National Water Initiative.
The National Water Commission was established as a result of the Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (NWI) signed in June 2004 by the Australian Government and the governments of all states and territories. The NWI reflects a whole-of-government commitment to share water between competing environmental, social and economic needs. The Commission was set up administratively in October 2004 and by June 2005 the new body was operational.
One key function that the Commission provided was to advise the Prime Minister on expenditure of the Australian Government Water Fund between 2004 and 2010. This included three programs: Water Smart Australia; Raising National Water Standards Program and Australian Water Fund Communities. The Commission managed more than 170 projects under the Raising National Water Standards Program. The Raising National Water Standards Program facilitated investment in Australia's ability to measure, monitor and manage its water resources.
The Commission also has an assessment role for National Partnership Payments. This task is undertaken under delegation from the COAG Reform Council. Under the Water Act 2007, the Commission has a new, ongoing function to audit the effectiveness of implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin
Plan and associated water resource plans.
The National Water Commission published a report on the future need for desalination technologies to play a role in securing Australia’s water supplies
. It also publishes a biennial assessment of progress in implementation of the National Water Initiative, the latest being in October 2009. The 2009 assessment nominates areas of slow or inadequate reform and makes 68 recommendations for action over the next two years.
The current acting CEO of the NWC is James Cameron who reports directly to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and is accountable to him for the effective and efficient operation of the Commission. The chair of the NWC is Chloe Munro, who is also a NWC Commissioner - These positions were formally occupied by Ken Matthews who retired in October 2010. Seven commissioners (one position is currently vacant due to retirement - Mr Rob Freeman will become commissioner of the National Water Commission on 1 June 2011) make up the National Water Commission, all of whom are appointed by the Australian Government for terms of up to three years. They are Professor Stuart Bunn, Ms Chloe Munro, Ms Elaine Gardiner, Ms Sally Farrier, Mr Chris Davis and Mr Lawrence Arthur.
Four commissioners are nominated by the Australian Government and three by the states and territories. Commissioners are not representatives of any jurisdiction or industry sector. The role of the commissioners is to provide advice on the strategic policy framework
for the Commission, to provide guidance on major reports or other advice to the minister or to COAG and to promote the role of the Commission and the NWI reforms.
Council of Australian Governments
The Council of Australian Governments is an organisation consisting of the federal government, the governments of the six states and two mainland territories and the Australian Local Government Association. It was established in May 1992 after agreement by the then Prime Minister, Premiers and...
(COAG) and the Australian Government on national water issues and the progress of the National Water Initiative.
The National Water Commission was established as a result of the Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (NWI) signed in June 2004 by the Australian Government and the governments of all states and territories. The NWI reflects a whole-of-government commitment to share water between competing environmental, social and economic needs. The Commission was set up administratively in October 2004 and by June 2005 the new body was operational.
One key function that the Commission provided was to advise the Prime Minister on expenditure of the Australian Government Water Fund between 2004 and 2010. This included three programs: Water Smart Australia; Raising National Water Standards Program and Australian Water Fund Communities. The Commission managed more than 170 projects under the Raising National Water Standards Program. The Raising National Water Standards Program facilitated investment in Australia's ability to measure, monitor and manage its water resources.
The Commission also has an assessment role for National Partnership Payments. This task is undertaken under delegation from the COAG Reform Council. Under the Water Act 2007, the Commission has a new, ongoing function to audit the effectiveness of implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin
Murray-Darling Basin
The Murray-Darling basin is a large geographical area in the interior of southeastern Australia, whose name is derived from its two major rivers, the Murray River and the Darling River. It drains one-seventh of the Australian land mass, and is currently by far the most significant agricultural...
Plan and associated water resource plans.
The National Water Commission published a report on the future need for desalination technologies to play a role in securing Australia’s water supplies
Water security in Australia
Water security in Australia has become a major concern over the course of the late 20th and early 21st century as a result of population growth, severe drought, fears of the effects of global warming on Australia, environmental degradation from reduced environmental flows, competition between...
. It also publishes a biennial assessment of progress in implementation of the National Water Initiative, the latest being in October 2009. The 2009 assessment nominates areas of slow or inadequate reform and makes 68 recommendations for action over the next two years.
The current acting CEO of the NWC is James Cameron who reports directly to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and is accountable to him for the effective and efficient operation of the Commission. The chair of the NWC is Chloe Munro, who is also a NWC Commissioner - These positions were formally occupied by Ken Matthews who retired in October 2010. Seven commissioners (one position is currently vacant due to retirement - Mr Rob Freeman will become commissioner of the National Water Commission on 1 June 2011) make up the National Water Commission, all of whom are appointed by the Australian Government for terms of up to three years. They are Professor Stuart Bunn, Ms Chloe Munro, Ms Elaine Gardiner, Ms Sally Farrier, Mr Chris Davis and Mr Lawrence Arthur.
Four commissioners are nominated by the Australian Government and three by the states and territories. Commissioners are not representatives of any jurisdiction or industry sector. The role of the commissioners is to provide advice on the strategic policy framework
Policy framework
A policy framework is a logical structure that is established to organize policy documentation into groupings and categories that make it easier for employees to find and understand the contents of various policy documents...
for the Commission, to provide guidance on major reports or other advice to the minister or to COAG and to promote the role of the Commission and the NWI reforms.
See also
- Climate change in Australia#Water
- Irrigation in AustraliaIrrigation in AustraliaIrrigation in Australia is a widespread practice to supplement low rainfall levels in Australia with water from other sources to assist in the production of crops or pasture. As the driest inhabited continent, irrigation is required in many areas for production of crops for domestic and export use...
- Murray-Darling Basin Authority
- Water data transfer formatWater data transfer formatWater Data Transfer Format is a data delivery standard implemented by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology that was jointly developed with the CSIRO. The standard, released in 2009, specifies both the format of and the techniques used to deliver Australian water data measurements to the BoM...
- Water supply and sanitation in AustraliaWater supply and sanitation in AustraliaWater supply and sanitation in Australia is universal and of good quality. As the country's supply of freshwater is increasingly vulnerable to droughts, possibly as a result of climate change, there is an emphasis on water conservation and various regions have imposed restrictions on the use of...