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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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  1. Home
  2. Water
  3. Water policy and resources
  4. Water programs and initiatives
  5. Australian Government investment in water reform

Sidebar first - Water

  • Water programs and initiatives
    • Open
      • Off-farm Efficiency Program
      • On-farm emergency water infrastructure rebate scheme
    • Continuing
      • Economic Development Program
      • Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program
        • Community consultation
        • Large grants
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        • Small grants round 2
      • Water Efficiency Program
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    • Completed
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        • Agreement with South Australia
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        • Round 1
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      • Commonwealth On-Farm Further Irrigation Efficiency Program
      • Queensland healthy headwater
      • Environmental Works and Measures Feasibility Program
      • Menindee Lakes project
      • Supporting more efficient irrigation in Tasmania
      • Project Agreement for Tasmanian Irrigation Tranche II
      • Green Precincts Fund
      • Water Efficiency Opportunities Program
      • National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns
      • Water Smart Australia
      • National Urban Water and Desalination Plan
        • National Urban Water and Desalination Plan - supporting documents
    • Infrastructure benefits
    • Australian Government investment in water reform

Australian Government investment in water reform

More than $15 billion has been committed to major water reform projects nationally from 2007-08 to 2024-25. This includes $13 billion to implement the Murray–Darling Basin Plan and related activities.

Projects and outcomes have been delivered across multiple programs and by several agencies.

Current water reform funding

The tables below outline current funding for water reform in the 2022-23 October Budget that is:

  • appropriated to our department
  • appropriated to the Department of the Treasury for payment to the states as National Partnership payments
Funding for Murray–Darling Basin programs
Program 2021-22 Estimated actual
($ million)
2022-23 Budget
($ million)
2023-24 Forward estimate
($ million)
2024-25 Forward estimate
($ million)
2025-26 Forward estimate
($ million)
Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program1 2 211.935 853.759 749.041 153.800 -
Water for the Environment Special Account1 140.601 739.580 825.138 - -
Commonwealth Contribution under the Murray–Darling Basin Agreement1 13.641 16.894 20.659 20.772 22.783
Implementing Water Reform in the Murray–Darling Basin2 19.700 20.300 20.000 - -
Improving Compliance in the Murray-Darling Basin2 - - 6.000 6.000 6.000
Water Research Goyder Institute1 - 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000

Notes:

  1. Budget October 2022-23: Portfolio Budget Statements 2022-23, Budget Related Paper No. 1.3, Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Portfolio
  2. Budget October 2022-23: Federal Financial Relations, Budget Paper No. 3
  3. Capital budget excluded
Funding for national water reform initiatives
Program 2021-22 Estimated actual
($ million)
2022-23 Budget
($ million)
2023-24 Forward estimate
($ million)
2024-25 Forward estimate
($ million)
2025-26 Forward estimate
($ million)
Improving Great Artesian Basin Drought Resilience2 6.729 13.202 4.000 - -
On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate2 20.321 22.466 8.024 - -
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme1 2.607 4.020 2.289 2.381 2.476
Water Resources Special Account1 0.485 2.554 1.649 1.430 1.305

Notes:

  1. Budget October 2022-23: Portfolio Budget Statements 2022-23, Budget Related Paper No. 1.3, Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Portfolio
  2. Budget October 2022-23: Federal Financial Relations, Budget Paper No. 3

Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure Program (SRWUIP)

This program was established in 2007 and has funded a number of subprograms and projects. It currently funds over 50 projects including water efficiency, water reform, infrastructure and supply measures.

Find out more about the projects funded under this program.

Water for the Environment Special Account (WESA)

The WESA supports:

  • Efficiency Measures – to increase the volume of the Basin water resources available for environmental use by 450 gigalitres (GL) ($1.575 billion)
  • Constraints Measures – to ease constraints to deliver environmental water ($200 million).
  • The current Efficiency Measures program is the Off-Farm Efficiency Program.

Implementing Water Reform in the Murray-Darling Basin

The Australian Government and Murray–Darling Basin state governments work together to improve the health of the Basin.

The program provides funding to Murray–Darling Basin state governments to support water reform in the Murray–Darling Basin through to 2024.

Find out more about implementation of water reform in the Murray–Darling Basin

Completed programs

Funding for key completed programs
Program names Total national expenditure
($ million)
Total expenditure in the Murray–Darling Basin
($ million)
South Australian River Murray Sustainability Program 265 265
Water Smart Australia 897 331
SA Riverland Floodplains Integrated Infrastructure 155 155
Living Murray Initiative 184 184
Murray Environmental Flows (Water for Rivers) 38 38
Water for Fodder 31 31
Other completed programs 2,426 759

Read more about completed programs and their outcomes.

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Last updated: 16 December 2022

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.