The National Water initiative (NWI)
The National Water initiative (NWI) is an intergovernmental agreement between
the Australian, state and territory governments to improve the management of
the nation's water resources and provide greater certainty for future investment.
The NWI was signed by the Australian government and all state and territory
governments in 2004 (with the exception of Tasmania, which signed the agreement
in 2005, and Western Australia, which signed the agreement in April 2006).
The NWI builds upon the previous Council of Australian Governments framework
for water reform that was signed by all governments in 1994.
The NWI signifies the Australian, state and territory governments' shared
commitment to water reform, placing an emphasis on greater national compatibility
in the way Australia measures, plans for, prices, and trades water, and a greater
level of cooperation between governments.
The Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council is the body primarily
responsible for overseeing implementation of the NWI.
The National Water Commission
Under the National Water Commission Act 2004, the Australian Government
established the Commission in December 2004 as an independent statutory body
to implement the NWI. The Commission is made up of seven Commissioners and
provides advice to the Council of Australian Governments and the Australian
Government on national water issues, in addition to reporting on the progress
of implementing the NWI.
Further information on the Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water
Initiative and on the Commission is available on the Commission's
website.
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