National Water Commission

The National Water Commission is an independent statutory body in the Environment and Water Resources portfolio. Its role is to drive the national water reform agenda. Established under the National Water Commission Act 2004, the Commission provides advice to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the Australian Government on national wat... er issues. Seven Commissioners make up the National Water Commission. The Commissioners are appointed in recognition of their expertise in water resource policies and management, relevant scientific disciplines, public sector governance and administration of natural resource programmes. The Commission also has a small staff to enable it to undertake its role. The full responsibilities of the Commission are set out under the National Water Commission Act 2004. The three main functions are to: assess governments' progress in implementing the National Water Initiative (e.g. through biennial assessments of progress commencing in 2006,07) help governments to implement the National Water Initiative (e.g. by acting as lead facilitator on certain actions under the Initiative such as compatible registers of water entitlements and trades, and nationally consistent approaches to pricing), and administer two programmes under the $2 billion Australian Government Water Fund,the Water Smart Australia and Raising National Water Standards programmes, including recommending projects for decision by the Australian Government.Read More