Strategic Plan 2013-16
National Water Commission
Australia’s independent voice on national water issues
Foreword
This Strategic Plan outlines how the National Water Commission will meet our strategic priorities over
the next three years. It builds on the success achieved in 2012–13, which was our first year of
operation following an independent review and the Australian Government’s renewal of the
Commission’s national water reform role.
The Commission provides oversight of the COAG national water reform agenda and the objectives
agreed under the National Water Initiative.
The National Water Commission Act 2004 specifies our core functions—assessments, audit, and
monitoring—through which we provide strong, transparent and public reporting on reform progress.
The Commission’s legislated functions also include undertaking broader advocacy activities that
promote national reform objectives and inform water management decisions.
The Commission has additional functions delegated by other Commonwealth acts and regulations.
This Strategic Plan will guide the development of a work program that delivers outputs that are
relevant to improved water decisions and of value to our many stakeholders.
Our work demands strong engagement with COAG and jurisdictions, which have core stewardship
responsibility for water as a vital input to vibrant communities, a healthy economy, and a sustainable
environment.
The Commission works closely with industry, research partners and other stakeholders to broker
information, share expertise, promote investment and encourage innovation.
With its water reform mandate, the Commission will continue to act as Australia’s independent voice
on national water issues.
James Cameron
Chief Executive Officer
June 2013
National Water Commission
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Our purpose
We are the independent voice on national water issues and we work to promote improved
management of Australia’s water resources.
Our goal
As an independent statutory body, the National Water Commission’s aim is to provide:
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reliable, credible, transparent and trusted monitoring and assessment of progress toward
improved water management outcomes by all governments
high-quality, independent and influential advice to all governments and the community
leadership by raising the profile of water management and by communicating a clear position
and direction on reform issues
a national forum for brokering knowledge and facilitating leading practice water management
across governments and non-government stakeholders.
This goal is consistent with the outcome the Australian Government has identified for the National
Water Commission:
Informed decisions by governments on national water issues, and improved management of
Australia’s water resources, through advocacy, facilitation and independent advice.
Key strategies for achieving the Commission’s outcome are set out annually in the Commission’s
Portfolio Budget Statements.
This strategic plan is supported by annual operational plans detailing how we will achieve our
outcome within our designated resources and measure our performance. Supporting plans and
structures are in place to ensure we use the Commission’s resources efficiently and effectively and
appropriately manage our risks.
Our values
The Commission’s independence, expertise and advocacy primarily reside in its Commissioners. Our
values support their leadership:
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Integrity – we are objective, transparent, ethical and accountable in our decisions and advice
Decency – we are courteous and respectful and act on feedback
Outcomes – we are committed to delivering high quality results over the short and long term
Rigour – we are analytical and thorough, and we bring knowledge and expertise to our work
Leadership – we speak up, are courageous, and we identify and respond to emerging issues
Innovation – we look outside the given, apply leading practice and support constant improvement
Collaboration – we work together with each other and out stakeholders to achieve common
goals
We work to the Australian Public Service Values in the Public Service Act 1999 (section 10).
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Our priorities
The Commission’s priorities flow directly from our legislated and delegated functions and roles—to
audit, assess and monitor water reform activities; and undertake broader advocacy activities that
promote national reform objectives. These statutory functions and roles provide the basis for the
outcomes and supporting program objectives and deliverables set out in our Portfolio Budget
Statements.
Strategic priorities for 2013-16
Commissioners recognise that improved water management can no longer be viewed only from the
prism of the 2004 National Water Initiative (NWI). While the NWI established enduring principles to
guide water reform in Australia, those principles now need to be applied in the context of changing
drivers and emerging issues.
Whereas the NWI was conceived at a time when drought conditions prevailed across much of the
continent, the current environmental and economic outlook is very different. With governments
around Australia facing stringent fiscal imperatives, there is a now a focus on delivering more efficient
approaches to water management—approaches that will address community affordability concerns
and support economic aspirations. At the same time, there is a need to safeguard the economic,
social and environmental capital accumulated through previous reform efforts and to sustain options
for future generations.
In developing our work program and priorities, the Commission takes into account new issues and
opportunities. This includes the increasingly important interface between water and related sectors
and policy domains such as resources, energy, food security and urban planning.
The Commission will perform its core functions—assessment, audit and monitoring—and deliver its
work program within the context of Australia’s evolving economic, social and environmental drivers.
The objectives of the NWI will, however, remain the key guiding principles for our efforts.
Assessments
The Commission has a specific function to perform triennial assessments of progress by all
governments in achieving the objectives and outcomes in the NWI. In formulating our current work
program, a central objective is to examine all major aspects of the NWI over the three-year period, to
inform our first triennial assessment due in 2014.
Murray–Darling Basin audit
The Commission has an ongoing audit function to report on the performance of all relevant bodies in
implementing the Basin Plan and associated water resource plans. Our goal is to improve public
confidence, strengthen accountability and transparency, and promote more effective water resource
management across the basin. Following an initial report in March 2013, the Commission will provide
its first comprehensive audit report in 2015.
Monitoring progress
We also have a role to assist with the implementation of improved water management by providing
advice, information and guidance through our monitoring activities. Through our forward work
program, the Commission identifies activities that will continue our commitment to strong, transparent
and public reporting on water reform progress.
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Our stakeholders
The Commission engages across all levels of government, as well as with peak bodies, the water
industry, the wider water sector, the research community, relevant professional associations, nongovernment organisation (NGO) stakeholders and the media.
Effective engagement is essential to realise the National Water Commission’s purpose and strategic
priorities. Our relationships with governments, industry partners and stakeholders are pivotal to
influence outcomes and broker the capacity needed to support continued reform momentum.
Through its partnerships and collaborations, the Commission will:
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support others to take water management decisions that contribute to improved social, economic
and environmental outcomes
build a shared vision for sustainable water management
harness the best evidence and knowledge available to inform its work program and deliverables
broker information and build capacity by sharing findings and leading practice
advocate the economic and social benefits of water reform and generate a national conversation
around related issues
build our understanding of the interests and positions of industry and other non-government
stakeholders.
Our people
As an agency, managers, staff and individuals, we encourage and recognise the importance of the
following attributes to support our values:
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Professional – we are ethical, accountable and committed to the highest standards in all our work
Responsible – we take individual responsibility for delivering on our goals and objectives
Motivated – we are proactive, use initiative to achieve results and work to be a knowledge centre
for Australian water management
Team players – we share information and draw on diverse skills and experience
Equitable – we work to provide equitable access to support, development and opportunities
Inclusive – we encourage participation, are approachable and engaged, we listen and we value
input and ideas
Adaptable – we are flexible in our approach and responsive to changes in our operating
environment.
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Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water
Initiative, 2004
The Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (NWI) was signed at the 25 June
2004 Council of Australian Governments meeting. The Tasmanian Government joined the Agreement
in June 2005 and the Western Australian Government joined in April 2006.
The NWI set out to achieve a nationally compatible market, regulatory and planning based system—
one that manages surface and groundwater resources for rural and urban use, and optimises
economic, social and environmental outcomes.
The NWI represents a shared commitment by governments to increase the efficiency of Australia's
water use, leading to greater certainty for investment and productivity, for rural and urban
communities, and for the environment.
Governing legislation
The National Water Commission (NWC) is an independent statutory authority whose key
responsibilities are to provide independent assurance of governments’ progress on water reform and
to promote the objectives and outcomes of the Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water
Initiative (NWI). The NWC was created as a result of the NWI, and formally established by the
National Water Commission Act 2004.
The NWI identifies the Commission’s principal purpose: to ‘assist and pursue, through strategic
guidance and information, implementation of water reforms by all jurisdictions leading to the effective
and timely achievement of the NWI objectives’.
The National Water Commission Act 2004 sets out the roles and functions of the Commission.
The Commission has three core on-going functions: monitoring, audit, and assessment. The
Commission functions also include assisting with the implementation of the NWI by providing advice,
information and guidance on these three core functions, as well as performing activities to promote
the objectives and outcomes of the NWI.
In addition to meeting its functional requirements under the National Water Commission Act 2004 (as
amended) the Commission is required under other Commonwealth legislation or agreements to
independently undertake a number of activities and to provide advice and reports. The Commission
has an on-going function established under the Water Act 2007 to audit the effectiveness of the
implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and associated water resource plans. The
Commission also has been delegated functions under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative)
Regulations 2011 and the National Partnership Agreement on Implementing Water Reform in the
Murray-Darling Basin.
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