National Water Commission

{{Short description|Australian government agency}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox government agency |agency_name = National Water Commission |type = statutory authority |nativename = |nativename_a = |nativename_r = |logo = File:National Water Commission logo.png |logo_width = |logo_caption = |seal = |seal_width = |seal_caption = |picture = National Water Commission in Northbourne Avenue, Turner.jpg |picture_width = |picture_caption = National Water Commission building |formed =  |preceding1 = |preceding2 =  |dissolved = 25 November 2014 |superseding = |jurisdiction = Commonwealth of Australia |headquarters = Turner, Australian Capital Territory |coordinates =  |motto = Australia's independent voice on national water issues |employees = 48 |budget = |minister1_name = |minister1_pfo = |minister2_name = |minister2_pfo =  |deputyminister1_name = |deputyminister1_pfo = |deputyminister2_name = |deputyminister2_pfo =  |chief1_name = Chairperson |chief1_position = Karlene Maywald |chief2_name = CEO |chief2_position = James Cameron  |agency_type = |parent_department = Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities |parent_agency = |child1_agency = |child2_agency =  |keydocument1 = National Water Commission Act 2004  |website = {{URL|http://www.nwc.gov.au/home}} |footnotes = |map = |map_width = |map_caption = }} The '''National Water Commission''' (NWC) was an independent statutory authority in Australia established by the ''National Water Commission Act 2004''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/C2004A01391|title = Federal Register of Legislation - Australian Government| date=July 2014 }}</ref> to implement the '''National Water Initiative''' and reform the broader national water agenda.<ref>[http://www.nwc.gov.au/www/html/93-roles-and-functions.asp?intSiteID=1 Role and functions]. National Water Commission.</ref> The agency was abolished by the Abbott government in 2014.

The Commission reported to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities portfolio, and provided independent, evidence-based advice to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the Australian Government on national water issues.

The Act was amended in June 2012 following an independent COAG Review of the Commission. Under the amended Act, the Commission had three core ongoing functions: monitoring, audit, and assessment. It was also empowered to undertake broader activities that promoted national water reform objectives. The Commission had additional functions under other Commonwealth acts and regulations:

* The ''Water Act 2007'' assigned an ongoing function to audit the effectiveness of the implementation of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan and associated water resource plans. The Commission was required to conduct its first audit by March 2013 and subsequently no later than five years from the conduct of the first audit. * In 2011, the Commission was delegated additional functions under the ''[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2020C00281 Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Regulations 2011]''.

== History == The key function of the Commission was to advise the Prime Minister on expenditure of the Australian Government Water Fund between 2004 and 2010.<ref name="awr">{{cite book |title=Australia's Water Resources: From use to management |last=Pigram |first=John J. |year=2007 |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |location=Collingwood, Victoria |isbn=978-0-643-09442-0 |page=79 }}</ref> This included three programs: Water Smart Australia; Raising National Water Standards Program and Australian Water Fund Communities. The Commission managed more than 170 projects under the Raising National Water Standards Program.<ref>[http://www.nwc.gov.au/www/html/2870-introduction.asp?intSiteID=1 NWC Annual Report 2009-2010]. National Water Commission.</ref> The Raising National Water Standards Program facilitated investment in Australia's ability to measure, monitor and manage its water resources.<ref name="awr"/>

The Commission also had an assessment role for National Partnership Payments. This task was undertaken under a delegation from the COAG Reform Council. Under the ''Water Act 2007'', the Commission had a new, ongoing function to audit the effectiveness of implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and associated water resource plans.

The National Water Commission published a report on the future need for desalination technologies to play a role in securing Australia’s water supplies.<ref>[http://www.nwc.gov.au/resources/documents/Waterlines_-_Trends_in_Desalination_-_REPLACE_(2).pdf Emerging trends in desalination: A review]. Waterlines report No 9 - October 2008.</ref>

The Commission published biennial assessments of progress in implementation of the National Water Initiative. The 2011 assessment made 12 major recommendations to COAG to reinvigorate the water reform agenda and fully deliver its economic, environmental and social benefits.

== Commission abolished == The Commission was abolished by the ''National Water Commission (Abolition) Act 2015'' in October 2014. The reason for disbanding the Commission was: :the substantial progress already made in water reform and the current fiscal environment, there is no longer adequate justification for a stand-alone agency to monitor Australia's progress on water reform.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Fifield|first=Mitchell|date= 25 September 2014|title=Senator the Hon.|journal=Australian Senate Handard}}</ref>

The key functions of the Commission were transferred to other existing Commonwealth agencies, such as the Productivity Commission and the Department of Environment.

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *[http://www.environment.gov.au/ Department for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities] *[https://www.mdba.gov.au/ Murray-Darling Basin Authority]

Category:Defunct Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia Category:Water in Australia Category:2005 establishments in Australia Category:Government agencies established in 2005 Category:2014 disestablishments in Australia Category:Government agencies disestablished in 2014 Category:Water organizations Category:Water management authorities