It is nearly 10 years since the World Commission on Environment and Development popularised the concept of ‘sustainable development’ and called for the integration of economic and ecological considerations in decision making. In June 1996, the report 'Australia: State of the Environment'...

On 10 January 2001, the “new” Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (WA), as substantially amended by the Rights in Water and Irrigation Amendment Act 2000 (WA), and the Rights in Water and Irrigation Regulations 2000 came into operation. This article reviews key elements of the new...

Australian policy and law on environmental water allocation have come a long way since the Council of Australian Governments agreed on a framework for water reform in 1994. The 2004 Council of Australian Governments' Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (NWI) has given...