The Legal Frameworks of Australian Water : Progression from Common Law Rights to Sustainable Shares

This chapter describes and analyzes Australian surface water and groundwater policies and laws, particularly in relation to agriculture. Building on the historical perspective provided by Musgrave in Chapter 3, I offer a legal perspective of the development phases in Australian water history. The chapter also goes beyond the period analyzed by Musgrave by providing an overview of the most recent policy initiatives. Particular attention is given to national water policy developments in 1994, 2004, and 2007, which are treated as separate policy episodes or eras