Latest news

Honouring leadership, looking ahead

18 June 2025

This edition of our newsletter is a little special. We farewell a founding Director, celebrate a national honour, and share reflections from recent work in the Upper Murrumbidgee, Lower Balonne, and Beetaloo Basin. Across very different landscapes and communities, a common thread continues to emerge about the importance of relationships and the value of being part of conversations that help shape what comes next.

Who decides what's fair in water policy?

17 March 2025
Fairness in water policy isn’t a simple concept – it means different things to different people. Farmers, environmental groups, First Nations communities, and governments each have their own perspectives on what’s just and equitable when it comes to water. But how do these views shape the policies that affect us all? A new report from Watertrust Australia dives into more than 1,800 submissions, parliamentary debates, and social media discussions to reveal how fairness is framed in water policy, and why it matters.

A better way to secure the Upper Murrumbidgee’s future

07 March 2025
The Upper Murrumbidgee River has long been at the heart of cultural, environmental, and agricultural life for communities across the region. Today, more than ever, its future depends on how water is managed in the face of climate variability, competing demands, and the need to balance economic, environmental, and cultural outcomes.

A turning point for the Upper Murrumbidgee

27 February 2025
The Upper Murrumbidgee River sits at the heart of a complex challenge – balancing water needs for communities, industry, agriculture, and the environment. The proposed Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID) review presents a rare opportunity to rethink how water is managed, to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.

Shaping the future of water policy

13 February 2025
Water policy in Australia is at a turning point. The challenges we face – climate pressures, competing demands, and the need for greater transparency – are now firmly in the national spotlight. Watertrust Australia was created for this: to help drive smarter, more inclusive water decisions.

Creating a better way to shape water policy

10 February 2025
The review of the Snowy Water Inquiry Outcomes Implementation Deed (SWIOID) presents a unique opportunity to embrace a 21st-century approach to water policy decision-making – one that is transparent, collaborative, and community-driven.

Fairness in focus: A new path for Australia’s water future

31 January 2025
Two new reports from Watertrust Australia are challenging policymakers to rethink water governance by placing fairness, equity, and justice at the heart of decision-making.

These reports are part of Watertrust’s wider Equity, Fairness, and Justice initiative, which aims to reshape how water policy decisions are made in Australia.