National Water Reform 2026
Interim update 2: Preliminary assessment
Released 06 / 07 / 2026
The PC has released two interim updates for National Water Reform 2026.
This interim update sets out the PC’s preliminary assessment of jurisdictions’ progress towards meeting the outcomes and objectives of the 2004 National Water Initiative.
The PC released another interim update, focused on reform directions for Australia’s water services industry, on 19 June 2026.
Download the update
Interim update 2: Preliminary assessment (PDF 754.0 KB)
Interim update 2: Preliminary assessment (DOCX 3.8 MB)Preliminaries: Cover, Copyright and publication detail, Contents and Opportunity for comment
- About the interim update
- Our approach to assessing progress under the NWI
- Water access entitlements and planning frameworks
- Water markets and trading
- Best practice pricing and institutional arrangements
- Integrated management of water for environmental and other public benefit outcomes
- Water resource accounting
- Urban water reform
- Knowledge and capacity building
- Community partnerships and adjustment
- Water interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Appendices
- A. Submissions received
- B. Stakeholder working group
- C. Perspectives on the National Water Agreement
- D. NWI element outcomes
- E. Terms of reference
References
