Submission to the Water Science and Research Review

The consultation draft outlines important and complex issues of resourcing, governance, and trust between stakeholders. ATSE thanks ATSE Fellow and report author Professor Mary O’Kane AC FTSE for considering the comments provided by ATSE Fellows in developing the consultation draft. While in broad agreement with the direction of the consultation draft, this submission outlines additional feedback. ATSE also notes that the recommendations of the Review will require adequate resourcing if they are to be effective at uplifting water science and addressing the issues identified by the Review.

ATSE makes the following recommendations for amendments to the consultation draft:

Recommendation 1: Include a proposal for a renewed independent National Water Commission alongside the proposal for a Chief Water Scientist.

Recommendation 2: Include a proposal for a governance structure founded on an environmental and social governance (ESG) Framework.

Recommendation 3: Recommend an increase in water-related R&D and infrastructure funding including for digital and data platforms.

Recommendation 4: Include water-related metadata sharing in the Water Science and Research Principles.

Recommendation 5: Include in the Water Science and Research Principles the development and enhancement of a diverse, resilient water science workforce, including through scaling up existing successful programs.