Submission to the Productivity Commission National

In our view, water laws in the NT and WA are the weakest in the country.8 Not surprisingly, the Productivity Commission’s Assessment of National Water Initiative implementation progress report (2017–2020) (NWI Implementation Report)9 raised a number of concerns with the implementation of the NWI in WA and the NT including, for example, the failure to enact legislation required to create secure, NW. [...] Those objects begin:89 (a) to provide for the management of water resources, and in particular — (i) for their sustainable use and development90 to meet the needs of current and future users; and (ii) for the protection of their ecosystems and the environment in which water resources are situated, including by the regulation of activities detrimental to them. [...] The objects of Part 3 also include: (c) to foster consultation with members of local communities in the local administration of this Part, and to enable them to participate in that administration; and (d) to assist the integration of the management of water resources with the management of other natural resources. [...] This is despite one of the functions of the committees being described in the NT Water Act as to “advise the Controller on the effectiveness of the water allocation plan in maximising economic and social benefits within ecological constraints” – indicating that the role of WACs should include the assessment of WAPs after their implementation.139 It is therefore not surprising that in the NWI Imple. [...] The terms of reference and the terms and conditions applicable to a person appointed to a committee fall entirely within the discretion of the Minister.156 The Warren Donnelly Water Advisory Committee is established under the Powers Act to provide advice and input to DWER in regard to surface water management and allocation within the Warren and Donnelly river catchments.157 The Committee is an ad.