<< Return to newsletter

COAG agrees to hasten NWI reform

The Council of Australian Governments meeting has agreed to redouble its efforts to accelerate the pace of reform under the National Water Initiative at its recent meeting in Queensland.

The meeting further agreed to a nationally consistent approach to tackling water theft with the adoption of a new National Framework on Water Compliance and Enforcement at its recent meeting in Queensland.

The National Framework for Water Compliance and Enforcement will respond to the real threat to the recovery of water and the integrity of water trading posed by water theft. The Framework will form the basis for implementation plans developed in each State guided by the principle of cost-effective regulation. The plans and the final Framework will be considered by COAG in mid-2010. The Commonwealth has committed $60 million to improve water compliance and enforcement activities nationally.

COAG has also tasked the Water Reform Committee to provide advice to it in 2010 on addressing the main findings of the National Water Commission’s Second Biennial Assessment of Progress in Implementation of the National Water Initiative report. As a priority the Committee will focus on measures to achieve:

• an end to all over-allocation and overuse;
• improved environmental conditions and management of water for the environment;
• the removal of barriers to water trade; and
• better engagement with communities and other key stakeholders on the implementation of water reforms.

COAG has also agreed to adopt a National Framework for Non-urban Water Metering to improve accuracy of metering of water extractions, and to complete water sharing plans for all significant water resources consistent with the National Water Initiative, as well as the adoption of a National Water Skills Strategy.

The meeting also endorsed a new Green Skills Agreement that will deliver skills for sustainability in the Australian training system. The Agreement is a high-level statement of principles and desired outcomes which will lead to:

• national standards of sustainability practice and teaching in vocational training;
• the revision of Training Packages to include sustainability principles and competencies;
• the up-skilling of VET instructors and teachers in delivering sustainability skills; and
• implementation of a transition strategy to re-skill vulnerable workers.

<< Return to newsletter