ABSTRACT
In November 2007 the Australian people went to the polls to elect a Federal government. For those with an interest in water policy formulation in Australia, these events attracted unprecedented interest. After all, water had been controlled by the various state jurisdictions in Australia for over 100 years. Moreover, whilst the Federal government has played a more active part in water policy recently, Section 100 of the Australian Constitution remains unchanged and resolutely proclaims the sovereignty of the states over water:
The Commonwealth shall not, by any law or regulation of trade or commerce, abridge the rights of the States or of the residents therein to the reasonable use of waters of rivers from conservation or irrigation.
