Skip to main content
Top

2018 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

A Governance Solution to Australian Freshwater Law and Policy

Author : Jennifer McKay

Published in: Reforming Water Law and Governance

Publisher: Springer Singapore

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

This chapter presents research outputs on three governance players: the law, the organisations and a collective look at civil society through epistemic communities and non-government organisations. All three players seem to be holding different shaped balls and rules and hence are poorly coordinated. The chapter points to ways to increase co-ordination and places that burden on the law. The conclusion reached is that the Water Act 2007 should be applied to the entire nation and water supply organisations need a harmonised corporate form. Civil society has played crucial roles in the past but their eye is off the ball at present. There is a need for stronger epistemic communities and NGOs. The chapter compares urban water supply laws and organisations in Australia and China. China was selected as it shows a change in governance process. Driven by acute need, China accepted foreign investment in the water sector and developed individual cities. Of late, China has changed this process and adopted a catchment approach to integrate urban water supply in the context and created an innovative position of Chief of the river.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Footnotes
1
La Nauze describes the water debates as ‘monstrously long and tangled’ and ‘the most exhausting’ of the entire Melbourne Convention (La Nauze 1972, pp. 153–210).
 
Literature
go back to reference Australian Network of Environment Defenders Offices, Submission to Senate. Australian Network of Environment Defenders Offices, Submission to Senate.
go back to reference Council of Australian Governments. (2004). Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (National Water Commission). Council of Australian Governments. (2004). Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (National Water Commission).
go back to reference Cuddy, S. M., Maheepala, S., Dandy, G., Thyer, M. A., MacDonald, D. H., McKay, J., Leonard, R., Bellette, K., Arbon, N. S., Marchi, A., Kandulu, J., Wu, Z., Keremane, G., Wu, Z., Mirza, F., Daly, R., Kotz, S., & Thomas, S. (2014). A study into the supply, demand, economic, social and institutional aspects of optimising water supply to metropolitan Adelaide—preliminary research findings: Summary report from Project U2.2. Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series No. 14/20, Adelaide, South Australia. ISSN:1839-2725. Cuddy, S. M., Maheepala, S., Dandy, G., Thyer, M. A., MacDonald, D. H., McKay, J., Leonard, R., Bellette, K., Arbon, N. S., Marchi, A., Kandulu, J., Wu, Z., Keremane, G., Wu, Z., Mirza, F., Daly, R., Kotz, S., & Thomas, S. (2014). A study into the supply, demand, economic, social and institutional aspects of optimising water supply to metropolitan Adelaide—preliminary research findings: Summary report from Project U2.2. Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series No. 14/20, Adelaide, South Australia. ISSN:1839-2725.
go back to reference Dolnicar, S., & Hurlimann, A. (2010). Australians’ water conservation behaviours and attitudes. Australian Journal of Water Resources, 14(1), 43–53.CrossRef Dolnicar, S., & Hurlimann, A. (2010). Australians’ water conservation behaviours and attitudes. Australian Journal of Water Resources, 14(1), 43–53.CrossRef
go back to reference Fisher, D. E. (2000). Water law. North Ryde: LBC Information Services. Fisher, D. E. (2000). Water law. North Ryde: LBC Information Services.
go back to reference Fisher, D. E. (2010). The High court and techniques of judicial reasoning. Environmental and Planning Law Journal, 27, 85–97. Fisher, D. E. (2010). The High court and techniques of judicial reasoning. Environmental and Planning Law Journal, 27, 85–97.
go back to reference Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540. Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan (2002) 211 CLR 540.
go back to reference Hamstead, M., Baldwin, C., & O’Keefe, V. (2008). Water allocation planning in Australia—Current practices and lessons learned. Canberra: National Water Commission. Hamstead, M., Baldwin, C., & O’Keefe, V. (2008). Water allocation planning in Australia—Current practices and lessons learned. Canberra: National Water Commission.
go back to reference Haas, P. M. (1992). Introduction: epistemic communities and international policy coordination international organization. International Organisation, 46(1), 1–35.CrossRef Haas, P. M. (1992). Introduction: epistemic communities and international policy coordination international organization. International Organisation, 46(1), 1–35.CrossRef
go back to reference Haque, M. S. (2001). The diminishing publicness of public service under the current mode of governance. Public Administration Review, 61(1), 65–82.CrossRef Haque, M. S. (2001). The diminishing publicness of public service under the current mode of governance. Public Administration Review, 61(1), 65–82.CrossRef
go back to reference Jacobs, M. (2006). Securing Australia’s urban water supply: Research notes for selected case studies prepared for research notes prepared for department of the prime minister and cabinet, unpublished. Jacobs, M. (2006). Securing Australia’s urban water supply: Research notes for selected case studies prepared for research notes prepared for department of the prime minister and cabinet, unpublished.
go back to reference Jackson, S., & Langton, M. (2012). Trends in the recognition of Indigenous water needs in Australian water reform: The limitations of ‘cultural’ entitlements in achieving water equality. Journal of Water Law, 22, 109–123. Jackson, S., & Langton, M. (2012). Trends in the recognition of Indigenous water needs in Australian water reform: The limitations of ‘cultural’ entitlements in achieving water equality. Journal of Water Law, 22, 109–123.
go back to reference Keremane, G., Wu, Z., & McKay, J. (2014). Institutional Arrangements for Implementing Diverse Water Supply Portfolio in metropolitan Adelaide—Scoping Study. Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series No. 14/14, Adelaide, South Australia. ISSN:1839-2725. Keremane, G., Wu, Z., & McKay, J. (2014). Institutional Arrangements for Implementing Diverse Water Supply Portfolio in metropolitan Adelaide—Scoping Study. Goyder Institute for Water Research Technical Report Series No. 14/14, Adelaide, South Australia. ISSN:1839-2725.
go back to reference Kooiman, J. (2003). Governing as governance. London: Sage. Kooiman, J. (2003). Governing as governance. London: Sage.
go back to reference La Nauze, J. A. (1972). The Making of the Australian Constitutio, pp. 153–210. Melbourne University Press. La Nauze, J. A. (1972). The Making of the Australian Constitutio, pp. 153–210. Melbourne University Press.
go back to reference Lafferty, W. M. (2004). Introduction: Form and function in governance for sustainable development W. In W. M. Lafferty (Ed.), Governance for sustainable development: The challenge of adopting form to function (pp. 1–3). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.CrossRef Lafferty, W. M. (2004). Introduction: Form and function in governance for sustainable development W. In W. M. Lafferty (Ed.), Governance for sustainable development: The challenge of adopting form to function (pp. 1–3). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.CrossRef
go back to reference Lange, P., Driessen, P. P. J., Sauer, A., Bornemann, B., & Burger, P. (2013). Governing towards sustainability: Conceptualizing modes of governance. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 15(3), 403–425.CrossRef Lange, P., Driessen, P. P. J., Sauer, A., Bornemann, B., & Burger, P. (2013). Governing towards sustainability: Conceptualizing modes of governance. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 15(3), 403–425.CrossRef
go back to reference Lee v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] FCA 432. Lee v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] FCA 432.
go back to reference Leroux, A. D., & Martin, V. L. (2016). Hedging water supply risks: An optimal water portfolio. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 98(1), 276–296.CrossRef Leroux, A. D., & Martin, V. L. (2016). Hedging water supply risks: An optimal water portfolio. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 98(1), 276–296.CrossRef
go back to reference McKay, J. M. (2005). Water institutional reforms in Australia. Water Policy, 7, 35–52.CrossRef McKay, J. M. (2005). Water institutional reforms in Australia. Water Policy, 7, 35–52.CrossRef
go back to reference McKay, J. M. (2011). Australian water allocation plans and the sustainability objective—conflicts and conflict resolution processes. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 56(4), 615–629.CrossRef McKay, J. M. (2011). Australian water allocation plans and the sustainability objective—conflicts and conflict resolution processes. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 56(4), 615–629.CrossRef
go back to reference McKay, J. M. (2017). Australian jurisprudence of justice in water management: Present limitations, future issues and law reform suggestions. In A. Lukasiewicz, S. Dovers, L. Robin, J. M (eds.) Natural resources and environmental justice: Australian perspectives. McKay, J. M. (2017). Australian jurisprudence of justice in water management: Present limitations, future issues and law reform suggestions. In A. Lukasiewicz, S. Dovers, L. Robin, J. M (eds.) Natural resources and environmental justice: Australian perspectives.
go back to reference McKay, J., Schilizzi, S., & Graham, S. Clayton: CSIRO Publishing, pp. 215–232. McKay, J., Schilizzi, S., & Graham, S. Clayton: CSIRO Publishing, pp. 215–232.
go back to reference Peel, J. (2005). The precautionary principle in practice: Environmental decision making and scientific uncertainty. Annandale: Federation Press. Peel, J. (2005). The precautionary principle in practice: Environmental decision making and scientific uncertainty. Annandale: Federation Press.
go back to reference Rothwell, D. (2012). International law and the murray-darling basin plan. Environmental Planning and Law Journal, 29, 268–280. Rothwell, D. (2012). International law and the murray-darling basin plan. Environmental Planning and Law Journal, 29, 268–280.
go back to reference Stubbs, M. (2003). Prosper the government, suffer the practitioner: the graham barclay oysters litgation. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 26(3), 727–740. Stubbs, M. (2003). Prosper the government, suffer the practitioner: the graham barclay oysters litgation. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 26(3), 727–740.
go back to reference Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Inquiry into Provisions of the Water Act 2007, March 2011. Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Inquiry into Provisions of the Water Act 2007, March 2011.
go back to reference Williams, G., & Kildea, P. (2011). The water act and the murray-darling basin plan. Public Law Review, 22, 9–14. Williams, G., & Kildea, P. (2011). The water act and the murray-darling basin plan. Public Law Review, 22, 9–14.
Metadata
Title
A Governance Solution to Australian Freshwater Law and Policy
Author
Jennifer McKay
Copyright Year
2018
Publisher
Springer Singapore
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8977-0_9