COAG Water Reform Work Program
MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT CHANGES
On 21 September 2015, responsibility for water policy and resources was transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources - Administrative Arrangement Order made on 21 September 2015.
This website will be updated to reflect these changes.
In March 2008, COAG agreed to develop a work program on water with actions under four main themes:
- addressing overallocation and achieving environmental outcomes
- enhancing water markets
- urban water reforms
- water information and capacity building
COAG considered the work program and agreed to specific actions designed to enhance and build on the National Water Initiative.
COAG discussed water reform at its December 2009 meeting and agreed to redouble its efforts to accelerate the pace of reform under the National Water Initiative.
As a consequence of the work program and subsequent COAG decisions, governments have agreed to the following:
- National Water Market System
- Service standards for Trade Approval Times
- National Water Initiative Pricing Principles
- National Urban Water Planning Principles
- Strategy on Water and Wastewater Services in Remote Communities (including Indigenous Communities)
- National Water Skills Strategy
- National Framework for Non-urban Water Metering
- National Framework for Compliance and Enforcement Systems for Water Resource Management
- NWI Policy Guidelines for Water Planning and Management
- National Water Planning Report Card 2011
- Completing National Water Initiative consistent water-sharing plans
- Environmental water reports
