Productivity Commission releases preliminary assessment
Water reform is on the Australian Government’s agenda, and the Productivity Commission’s preliminary assessment as part of the reform process provides an important snapshot of jurisdictions’ progress towards achieving the objectives and outcomes of the 2004 National Water Initiative (NWI) and the broader reform agenda shaping Australia’s water future. Released on 6 July, it follows an earlier interim update focused on reform directions for Australia’s water services industry, on 19 June 2026.
WaterRA has made a submission into this process, and it is encouraging to see that several themes that we advocated for are reflected in the interim report, demonstrating the value of our members’ collective expertise in informing national policy discussions. The Commission cited WaterRA’s feedback on:
The need for stronger integration of scientific evidence into water management and environmental protection frameworks.
- Gaps in understanding groundwater systems, groundwater–surface water connectivity, and the impacts of climate change on these systems.
- The lack of national coordination and stewardship of water research.
- The need for improved investment in water research and better coordination of research efforts nationally.
- Limitations in current infrastructure assessment frameworks, which often struggle to adequately value scientific evidence relating to deferred investment, resilience, and future risk.
The report also highlights a growing policy focus on knowledge and capacity building. The Commission notes that progress remains limited in coordinating water research nationally and references WaterRA’s concerns about the absence of a clear stewardship model for water research. It also points to the findings of the recent 2025 O’Kane Review, which identified a lack of collective and collaborative national water research priorities.
While the Commission’s assessment focuses on implementation of the NWI, it sits alongside several major policy processes currently underway, including development of the new National Water Agreement and review of the Water Act 2007. Together, these reforms will help shape water governance, management and investment priorities for decades to come.
With a key focus area our Strategy2030 to lead work in the sector on demonstrating the critical value and impact of research, we will continue to actively engage with these processes on behalf of our members, and advocate for a more strategic and coordinated approach to investments in water research, helping to ensure they deliver maximum benefits and practical outcomes for utilities, regulators, governments and communities.
Members interested in understanding more about how these reforms could affect the sector are encouraged to join WaterRA’s upcoming Sector Insights event on Water Policy Transformation on 13 August.
Join WaterRA online for our Water Policy Transformation event on 13 August
This members’ session will explore the major water policy reviews currently underway, how WaterRA is contributing to these discussions and advocating for stronger links between research, policy and implementation. Add your voice by coming along.
As water reform continues to evolve, we are committed to ensuring the voice of research is heard where it matters most.