New Measures to deal with the Critical Situation in the Murray-Darling Basin  

The Australian Government has announced three sets of new water initiatives to help deal with the critical situation in the Murray-Darling Basin, including:

• The first comprehensive, detailed and externally reviewed audit of both public and private water storages in the Basin.
• Initiating a new basin-wide tender in 2008-09; and expanding the previously announced Queensland tender to include northern NSW and increasing funding for this program by $50 million to $400 million.
• A Commonwealth-State initiative to co-fund the purchase of properties holding large water entitlements, particularly in the northern Basin.
• Joint press conference, Prime Minister, South Australian Premier, Mike Rann and Minister for Climate Change and Water, Penny Wong  

Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin Program (water entitlement purchasing)

The Australian Government's initial $50 million water buy-back in the 2007-08 financial year, will secure entitlements to approximately 35 billion litres of water for the Murray-Darling Basin rivers. Purchases are currently being finalised across the Basin.

Water for the Future

Water for the Future is a long-term national plan to secure the water supply of all Australians.

• Water for the Future factsheet - an overview
• Water for the Future: Speech to the 4th Annual Australian Water Summit, 29 April 2008

The Government is investing $12.9 billion over ten years through Water for the Future to address four key priorities:

• Taking action on climate change
• Using water wisely
• Securing water supplies
• Supporting healthy rivers

Water for the Future programs

• Irrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance
• National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative

Murray-Darling Basin Authority - transition

On 3 July 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform. A key component of the new governance arrangements is to transfer the current powers and functions of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to the new Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

• Murray-Darling Basin Authority - transition

Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin reform signed at COAG

On the 3 July 2008 the Prime Minister, Premiers of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland and the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin reform.

COAG 2008 forward work program on water

The work program will develop concrete actions on high priority water management issues in both rural and urban Australia, including accelerating commitments previously made under the National Water Initiative.

National Leadership on Water

On 26 March 2008, the Council of Australian Government (COAG) agreed to a new forward work program on water to develop concrete actions on high priority water management issues in both rural and urban Australia. This priority work will build on and accelerate implementation of the National Water Initiative. COAG also agreed to a cooperative and accountable Memorandum of Understanding between all Murray-Darling Basin states.

On 29 April at the 4th Annual Australian Water Summit, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, outlined the Government's $12.9 billion plan on water - 'Water for the Future'.

• Water for the Future