National Water Reform (2018)

This inquiry is complete. The Commission was asked to undertake an inquiry into the reform of Australia's water resources sector.

The inquiry assessed progress in achieving the objectives and outcomes of the National Water Initiative (NWI) and the need for any future reform.

• Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative 2004 (PDF - 264 KB)
• Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative 2004 (Word - 203 KB)

The Commission was required to:

• assess the outcomes of the NWI and related water reform efforts
• consider the potential and realised benefits of NWI implementation
• consider the scope for improving the NWI
• make recommendations on future reform priorities.

This was the first of the Productivity Commission inquiries required by the Water Act 2007. The NWI-related inquiry will be undertaken every three years.

The Commission will also undertake inquiries into the effectiveness of the implementation of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan every five years, with the first to be completed by the end of 2018.