Latest news
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On trust, fairness and the Basin Plan Review
02 June 2026
Watertrust Australia CEO Karen Hutchinson reflects on how philanthropy is such an important part of what makes Watertrust effective. At a recent funders forum, Watertrust had the opportunity to show our funders how our work is having an impact on the ground and breaking policy deadlocks. In this video, Karen explores this and other projects currently underway at Watertrust.
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AWA Policy Forum
14 April 2026
Bringing together people who work across water together from around the country, the AWA’s National Policy Forum provided an opportunity to interrogate some of the thorny problems of water reform, while providing a springboard for future progress.
For Watertrust Australia Principal Kane Aldridge it was an invaluable opportunity to be in the same room as water policy professionals from across the country.
For Watertrust Australia Principal Kane Aldridge it was an invaluable opportunity to be in the same room as water policy professionals from across the country.
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Connectivity and consultation
09 February 2026
Political theatrics and point-scoring can crowd out the big policy issues that impact communities. In this video, CEO Karen Hutchinson reflects on new research that identifies that tension and explains why it matters right now, with the Basin Plan Review consultation underway. Karen also flags what’s ahead in this edition, including engaging earlier, connectivity, welcoming new Board member Kinjia Munkara-Murray.
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Making room for decisions that actually solve problems
09 February 2026
A new piece of research released by Amplify really made me pause.
Their House Monitor looked at hundreds of hours of parliamentary debate and asked a simple question. In the middle of cost-of-living pressure, housing stress and growing frustration, how much time is being spent on the policy issues people are actually living with?
Their House Monitor looked at hundreds of hours of parliamentary debate and asked a simple question. In the middle of cost-of-living pressure, housing stress and growing frustration, how much time is being spent on the policy issues people are actually living with?
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Welcome to the Watertrust Board, Kinjia
09 February 2026
Watertrust is pleased to welcome
Kinjia Munkara-Murray to the Board.
In speaking with Kinjia, what comes through quickly is a grounded mix of science, field experience and a strong sense of what decisions need to look like in the real world. She is a proud Tiwi and Rembarrnga woman, and she sees that cultural perspective as something she carries into her work and into the boardroom in a practical way, with a clear focus on responsibility and genuine outcomes.
Kinjia Munkara-Murray to the Board.
In speaking with Kinjia, what comes through quickly is a grounded mix of science, field experience and a strong sense of what decisions need to look like in the real world. She is a proud Tiwi and Rembarrnga woman, and she sees that cultural perspective as something she carries into her work and into the boardroom in a practical way, with a clear focus on responsibility and genuine outcomes.
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Putting the Lower Balonne in perspective
04 February 2026
The Lower Balonne is one of those places where the map can mislead you. It only really makes sense when you see it in its entirety and notice how quickly the system changes as you move through it.
Nothing really prepares you for its scale. Until you’re there, it’s hard to picture a system that stretches across such a vast area and still behaves as one connected whole.
Nothing really prepares you for its scale. Until you’re there, it’s hard to picture a system that stretches across such a vast area and still behaves as one connected whole.
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The conversation before the consultation
19 January 2026
When projects or policy decisions create more blowback than harmony, it’s often because something was missed earlier. Chris explores the “pre-framing” space, the first interface with community, and why it matters more than we like to admit. Have a read and see why this early stage so often shapes what happens later.