TY - JOUR
T1 - Drinking water security
T2 - The neglected dimension of Australian water reform
AU - Howey, Kirsty
AU - Grealy, Liam
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Drinking water security has been a neglected issue in Australian water reform. This article considers Australia’s chief water policy of the past two decades, the National Water Initiative, and its aim to provide healthy, safe, and reliable water supplies. Taking the Northern Territory as a case study, we describe how despite significant policy and research attention, the NWI has failed to ensure drinking water security in Indigenous communities in the NT, where water supply remains largely unregulated. The article describes shortcomings of legislated drinking water protections, the recent history of Commonwealth water policy, and areas where national reforms have not been satisfactorily undertaken in the NT. We aim to highlight key regulatory areas that require greater attention in NT water research and, more specifically, in the Productivity Commission’s ongoing inquiry process.
AB - Drinking water security has been a neglected issue in Australian water reform. This article considers Australia’s chief water policy of the past two decades, the National Water Initiative, and its aim to provide healthy, safe, and reliable water supplies. Taking the Northern Territory as a case study, we describe how despite significant policy and research attention, the NWI has failed to ensure drinking water security in Indigenous communities in the NT, where water supply remains largely unregulated. The article describes shortcomings of legislated drinking water protections, the recent history of Commonwealth water policy, and areas where national reforms have not been satisfactorily undertaken in the NT. We aim to highlight key regulatory areas that require greater attention in NT water research and, more specifically, in the Productivity Commission’s ongoing inquiry process.
KW - Drinking water
KW - Indigenous water rights
KW - National Water Initiative
KW - Northern Territory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105021903&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13241583.2021.1917098
DO - 10.1080/13241583.2021.1917098
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85105021903
VL - 25
SP - 111
EP - 120
JO - Australian Journal of Water Resources
JF - Australian Journal of Water Resources
SN - 1324-1583
IS - 2
ER -