Water reform began in Western Australia in 2005 with the creation of the Department of Water to manage the state's water resources.
A blueprint for water reform in Western Australia in 2006 provided key recommendations to the government on a water reform framework.
The government responded to this framework with support for key water reform recommendations, and showed further support by becoming a signatory to the National Water Initiative, and committing to a range of nationally recognised water reform measures including:
- Water markets and trading
- Water access entitlements and planning framework
- Best practice water pricing
- Integrated management of water for environmental and other public benefit outcomes
- Water resource accounting
- Urban water reform
- Community partnerships and adjustment
- Knowledge and capacity building
We have also made a significant contribution to the national frameworks for water reform through our involvement in the Council of Australian Governments' Working Group on Climate Change and Water and the Water Sub Group.
Western Australia's water reform success to date is shown in our advancements made in strategic water planning and environmental water management.
We have successfully managed water sustainably to avoid similar scarcity issues that have occurred in the Murray-Darling Basin.
The government is considering detailed policy development and legislation reform as further steps in water reform in Western Australia.