Water
Food & Environment / Water
Perceptions about the declining health of our major catchment areas and the severity of drought in Australia often inspire poorly informed public policy. Furthermore, the economic considerations about Australian water supply is often misunderstood. The Institute of Public Affairs applies an evidence-based framework and rigorous economic analysis to examining issues concerning water policy.
News
Mismanaging water policy can drain a budget
FOLLOWING the report into state finances by an independent committee, we are seeing the hollowness of the previous Victorian government's claim to...
Murray-Darling irrigation and agricultural production are critical
Under Labor, Victorian water policy had an urban-orientation. Its focus was on reducing city usage and providing more water to Melbourne without...
Bank on basin's resilience
John Quiggin argues that taxpayers should buy 34 per cent of the water now used by Murray-Darling basin irrigators and add this to the 50 per cent...
Damned decision
The decision last week by Kevin Rudd, delivered by his environment minister Peter Garrett, to veto the proposed Traveston dam near Gympie...
Ultimate civic nonsense
Kevin Rudd announced on Tuesday that he wanted the federal government to be involved in the urban planning for Australia's cities. Presumably, he...
Committee goes with wrong flow on water
A state parliamentary committee report this week said Melbourne needs no more dams and water storages. Instead, the committee proposes more costly...
Publications
Dams will facilitate Northern development
The Coalition's draft discussion paper on water management, reported in today's media, is a welcome recognition of the important role dams could play in revolutionising Northern Australia's economy, according to the Institute of Public Affairs....
Submission to Productivity Commission Inquiry into Australia's Urban Water Sector
Submission to Productivity Commission Inquiry into Australia's Urban Water Sector
What's happening to the Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river, and together with its tributary, the Darling River, drains an area known as the Murray Darling Basin. The region has historically received only 6 per cent of Australia's annual rainfall but produced...
