This publication provides an overview of the economic effects of water recovery on water prices and the irrigation sector in the southern Murray–Darling Basin. The analysis uses economic modelling to separate the effects of water recovery from seasonal variations in rainfall and water supply, along with structural changes, including shifts in water use to new...

This inquiry concerns the National Water Initiative (NWI) — a 2004 intergovernmental agreement between the Australian government and all State and Territory governments. It is the Productivity Commission’s second national water reform inquiry, with the first undertaken in 2017.

This report used publicly accessible information to examine the impact of coal mining and coal-fired power generation on water in New South Wales and Queensland.

Australia has spent more than $6 billion to reallocate water to environmental purposes. Most of this money has subsidised infrastructure, despite its lack of cost-effectiveness. This article highlights four key lessons on how to respond to these water governance challenges.

This report argues that water conservation is the best option to reduce rising water stress, but is not viable in many instances. Other options, such as desalination, managed aquifer recharge and water recycling could reduce pressure on water sources, but are unlikely to prevent an increase in global water insecurity.