The National Water Commission has released their two-yearly assessment of the National Water Initiative in which they recommend giving overused river priority, removing water trade barriers in Victoria and New South Wales and speeding up the pace of water reform.
The National Water Initiative represents a shared commitment by governments to increase the efficiency of Australia's water use, thereby increasing investments and productivity for rural and urban communities and for the environment.
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) is supporting the National Water Commission and believes the recommendations should be adopted at the next Council of Australian Governments meeting.
Dr Arlene Buchan, ACF healthy rivers campaigner said: “This report sends a strong message to decision makers at state and federal levels that the pace of water reform must pick up if we are to return Australia’s rivers and wetlands to health.
”The National Water Commission has clearly and unambiguously shown that our rivers and wetlands are in trouble because the problem of over-allocated water licences has still not been dealt with, despite 15 years of promises to do so.
“Climate change makes the need for action even more pressing.”