National Water Commission
NWC
December 2004 – 17 June 2015
Independent statutory commission that drove and assessed national water reform under the National Water Initiative, publishing biennial assessments of governments' progress and administering water reform funding.
How it came into existence
Established in December 2004 by the National Water Commission Act 2004, following the 2004 Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative. It had no predecessor body.
Legislation: National Water Commission Act 2004; National Water Commission (Abolition) Act 2015
Changes during its life
- 30 January 2007Moved from the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources.
How it ended
Abolished by the National Water Commission (Abolition) Act 2015, which commenced on 17 June 2015 after the commission had wound down from January 2015. Assessment of National Water Initiative progress passed to the Productivity Commission and water market reporting to ABARES in the Department of Agriculture.
- Water market monitoring and reporting (ABARES)
The commission was abolished by the National Water Commission (Abolition) Act 2015, in force 17 June 2015; ABARES took over its water market reporting.
- Remaining national water reform functions
The commission wound down from January 2015 and was abolished by the National Water Commission (Abolition) Act 2015, in force 17 June 2015.
- Assessment of progress under the National Water Initiative
Function conferred by the National Water Commission (Abolition) Act 2015.
Main functions
- Biennial assessments of National Water Initiative progress
- Advice to the Council of Australian Governments on water reform
- Raising National Water Standards program
- Water market and water planning reporting
- Audits of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of the Environment.
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to 18 May 2015)
- National Water Commission (Abolition) Act 2015 (as made)
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.