Independent Panel
An Independent Panel was formally appointed on 19 August 2009 by the then Minister for Water under Section 22F(1) of the Water Act 1989.
The Water Act outlines the role of the Independent Panel, as being to consider comments made in the process of developing Sustainable Water Strategies and to report findings to the Minister within the period specified by the Minister. The Panel may include in its report any recommendations that it thinks fit.
The Panel has reviewed all of the public submissions made in response to the Draft Strategy, and submitted its report on the key issues to the Minister on 16 March 2011.
Minister’s initial response to Independent Panel recommendation:
“While it is customary to allow the various Sustainable Water Strategy Consultative Committees time to consider Independent Panel recommendations, I believe it important to provide an initial government response to part of recommendation 9 to give certainty regarding stock and domestic water. The Government has no intention to impose volumetric entitlements to the stock and domestic rights that landowners have under Section 8 of the Water Act 1989.”
The Panel’s report on the key issues in the earlier Discussion Paper was submitted to the then Minister on 2 December 2009.
The Government's response to the Independent Panel's report is summarised in Appendix 1 of the Strategy.
Panel members and their credentials are listed below.
Panel members
Christine Forster (Chair), AM
Ms Forster became a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006 in recognition of her service to the environment in the area of water resource management. She is also a wool producer in western Victoria and has been actively involved with rural adjustment and regional development issues.
Professor John Langford, AM
Professor John Langford has unique system-wide perspective on water management in Australia from 38 years experience in water policy, management, strategic research and reform, including 15 years in chief executive positions.
Barry Steggall
Mr Steggall is the former State Deputy Leader of the National Party, former Member for Swan Hill (1983-2002) and former Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Water Resources and Technology (1999-2000).
Sally Farrier
Ms Farrier is Director of Farrier Swier Consulting, a Director of Hydro Tasmania, and a National Water Commissioner. She was a Director of Western Power between 2006 and 2009.