NatStats ‘08 Conference “The importance of water data for National Water Reform”

1. NatStats ‘08 Conference“The importance of water data for National Water Reform” Ken Matthews Chairman and CEO National Water Commission Friday, 21 November 2008

2. Outline • The National Water Initiative and the data issue • Why is water data important? • The new role for the BoM. BoM / ABS collaboration. • Issues in water reform requiring better data.

3. Background: Some relevant NWI requirements All governments have agreed to: • adequate measuring, monitoring and reporting systems for our water • development of water accounting standards, standardised reporting formats, water resource accounts • benchmarking of water accounting systems • Improved and nationally consistent metering

4. Background: NWI Commitments on Data The States and Territories have agreed to: • Improve coordination of data collection and management systems to facilitate sharing of information • Develop partnerships in data collection and storage systems • Identify best practice in data management systems for broad adoption.

5. Water Data: why is it important? • 1. The NWI and the NWC • emphasise evidence and • data-based decision making. • Reform will only stick if the • case can be demonstrated.

6. Sustainable water resources management Infrastructure Environment Entitlements Good water information is the key Trading Planning Management

7. Problems with Australia’s Water Data • variable quality and reliability • lagged and dated! • fragmented and incomplete • lack standards for collection and analysis • lack standards for access, transfer and aggregation of data • lack a culture of data sharing • Insufficiently regionalised, geo-tagged

8. Inadequate for decision-making Insufficient for public confidence

9. Improved water data for … • understanding and identifying water issues • forecasting water availability and consumption • water policy formulation • water system modelling and other science needs • NWI-consistent water planning • water infrastructure investment planning • decision-making about water resource use

10. Improved water data for… • day-to-day management of water • effective operation of water markets • compliance and enforcement • water accounting and public reporting • performance benchmarking across the water sector • monitoring and review of water management decisions • & accountability of water decision-makers

11. New Water Data Role for the BoM • New capacity; additional resources • $460m over 10 years • $10m AWRIS start-up funding • Legislation for mandatory data standards collection and reporting Historic initiative

12. ABS / BoM roles • BoM: physical hydrology and water data standards and architecture • ABS: water supply and use in the economy • collaboration on the national water account. • Data integration (science, economic, social) is a serious unmet need in the water sector

13. BoM has an historic chance to deliver data differently… • collaboration to encourage user input and integration • “Make the data available” – a lost opportunity • “Actively making the most of the data” – new paradigm to • actively promote value adding to data, • actively building users into data design • actively championing novel data applications, • nurturing new data users, • i.e., intellectual leadership in water knowledge applications as well as good service delivery in water data provision

14. The Water Reform Cycle Assessment/Audit NWC Policy Implementation State & Commonwealth Departments Issue Identification (“Diagnosis”) NWC Policy Development (“Prescription”) Ministers, State & Commonwealth Departmental Advisors Diagnosis Incubation Acceptance Handover

15. The NWC and the Water Data Issue NWI identifies water data deficiencies NWC describes the data problem in its Baseline Assessment NWC convenes National Water Data Summit Water Ministers note need for action Water for the Future dedicates $450m to the BoM

16. The “Big Six” Challenges – Water Reform 2008-09 1. Resolving over-allocation 2. Adjustment of Australia’s irrigation industry 3. Improving management of water-dependant environmental assets Adjusting to Climate Change 4. Securing urban water supplies 5. Implementing the MDB reforms 6. Finding new Commonwealth/State working relationships in water

17. The NWI – more relevant than ever • Over-allocation… • Sustainable levels of extraction… • Balancing consumptive use and environmental water… • Managing climate change risks… • Water-induced adjustment… • Longer term water planning… • Institutional reform… • Introducing water trading… • Improved Accounting for water…

18. The NWI and data deficiencies • Over-allocation… • Sustainable levels of extraction… • Balancing consumptive use and environmental water… • Managing climate change risks… • Water-induced adjustment… • Longer term water planning… • Institutional reform… • Introducing water trading… • Improved accounting for water…

19. The Central Issue in Water in Australia How much water is available? How much for the environment? How much for consumptive use? How much for each alternative consumptive use? How much for each alternative consumptive use? How much for each alternative consumptive use?

20. In particular, better data needed for: • Specifying secure water entitlements • Undertaking transparent, statutory water planning • Specifying statutory provisions for the environment • Specifying, and managing to, sustainable levels of extraction • Facilitating water trading • Benchmarking and improving accountability of players • Addressing water-induced adjustment * Source: National Water Initiative

21. Some of the questions we still need to answer • How much water is available in different parts of the country today (and how does it compare with history)? • How much water is likely to be available in the coming days, weeks, months and years? Distribution? • How much water is the environment getting? Where? • How is water quality changing? • How much water is being intercepted by farm dams and various land management changes? Where? • How much water is being traded? Where and when is water being traded?

22. Some of the questions we still need to answer • What and where are the environmental assets? • Which and where are the stressed water systems? • Which and where are the most water-dependent communities? (social assessments) • Better understanding of the economics of water-dependent industries. • For all the above: baseline, trend, and forecasting data at national, regional, basin, catchment and local levels • …plus integration (biophysical, social, economic, regional)

23. Key messages today • More than most sectoral reform processes, water reform has made a feature of the data issue • There are still many gaps and deficiencies in current water data • Improved water data is sorely needed for many water management functions and many water policy issues • There is an historic opportunity for the BoM to play a leadership role in maximising the value of Australia’s water data. This would require close collaboration with ABS.