The Inspector-General of Water Compliance holds an important role in Australia’s water future. The statutory review process is a timely reminder that as the space changes, so must our departments, authorities and regulators.

The independence of a Commonwealth-empowered regulator is a powerful asset whose value has certainly proved itself in assisting the multi-jurisdictional implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Great advances have been made. However, as this submission notes, certain insufficiencies and limitations have held back and will continue to hold the IGWC should this statutory review not appropriately recognise the regulator’s strengths and make efforts to address its weaknesses.

The Coalition of Australia hopes this submission sparks genuine and meaningful discussions for ways to improve the Inspector-General of Water Compliance in being the best regulator it can be.