The Wentworth Group was invited to attend a public hearing and make a submission to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry into the three Nature Positive Bills introduced to parliament as part of tranche 2 of the Government’s Nature Positive reforms.
Australians do not have to choose between a healthy environment and a productive economy. Repairing Australia’s landscapes is essential, urgent, achievable, affordable, and in the national interest.
The Wentworth Group has made this submission to DCCEEW’s consultation process: “Seeking views on a future national water agreement”.
The Wentworth Group has undertaken a review of the proposed reforms to the EPBC Act based on material shared by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to date.
A practical approach for addressing cumulative impacts in reforms of Australia’s environment laws, in a way that minimises burden on developers and is within Commonwealth powers.
The Wentworth Group has made this submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023.
Assessment of whether river flows in the Murray-Darling Basin have achieved minimum flow requirements needed to ensure the river health.
Response to Minister Plibersek’s Announcement of a New Agreement to Implement the Murray-Darling Basin Plan
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists wish to layout these key points we believe are needed for the Reconciliation of the Sustainable Diversion Limits Adjustment Mechanism Projects.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists wish to layout these key points we believe are needed to uphold the Murray-Darling Basin Plan
The Wentworth Group has made this submission to the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water on Opportunities for Water Recovery under the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
The Wentworth Group has made this submission to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee Inquiry – Nature Repair Market Bill 2023
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023- Draft exposure
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Defenders Office’s Submission to the Namoi Valley Floodplain Harvesting Consultation
Wentworth Group’s Response to the Final Report of the Independent Review of Australian Carbon Credit Units
Wentworth Group’s response to the Clean Energy Regulator’s statements in Senate Estimates regarding our submission to the independent review of Australian Carbon Credit Units.
The Wentworth Group welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the independent review of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the National Biodiversity Market.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists would like to pay tribute to Dr Ronnie Harding FEIANZ, a founding Member of the organisation and a champion of environmental education, who passed away on June 18, 2022.
This brief sets out how the NSW Government’s floodplain harvesting flow targets prioritise irrigation extraction over needs for communities and river health.
This paper provides a critique of DPIE-W’s review of the Wentworth Group report “Assessment of river flows in the Murray-Darling Basin: Observed versus expected flows under the Basin Plan 2012-2019.”
The Board and Members of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists today welcomed Dr Ian Pollard, AM FAICD as the new Chair of the organisation.
On 24 September, the work of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists was misrepresented at the NSW Upper House Inquiry in Floodplain Harvesting. As this occurred when we were not able to address these inaccurate comments, we now seek to clarify the record.
Statement by Robert Purves in response to articles published in the Weekly Times
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Defenders Office made the following submission to the Inquiry into the NSW Government’s Management of Floodplain Harvesting
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the Inquiry into the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standards and Assurance) Bill 2021
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Defenders Office response to NSW Government claims related to access to information about the floodplain harvesting licencing framework
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made these submissions to the Productivity Commission’s National Water Reform Review
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Defenders Office made these submissions to the NSW Government on the draft rules for floodplain harvesting licences to be included in water sharing plans
Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 and Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) (consequential and transitional provisions) Bill 2020.
Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists report on river flows in the Murray-Darling Basin 2012-2019.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists reviewed the NSW draft WRPs/WSPs against the safeguards we consider necessary to ensure water resource plans developed for the Basin Plan will achieve the Plan’s objectives and meet statutory requirements.
Members of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists published a research paper in the special issue of River Research and Applications.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the Draft Native Fish Strategy in April 2020.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the Independent Assessment of Social and Economic Conditions in the Basin in April 2020.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in April 2020.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the Independent Review of the Water for the Environment Special Account (WESA) in December 2019.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority on the draft Basin-wide environmental watering strategy in August 2019.
The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists made this submission to the NSW Water Reform Action Plan on proposed amendments to the metering regulation in August 2019.
The Murray-Darling Basin Commission of Inquiry Bill seeks to establish an inquiry with the powers of a Royal Commission to investigate the management of the Basin water resources and the implementation and enforcement of the Basin Plan.
The Wentworth Group have developed this guide to reviewing Water Resource Plans (WRPs) to assist communities to understand WRP legal inclusions, the WRP accreditation process and the key scientific issues which should be included in robust WRPs.
In March 2019 Wentworth Group reviewed the Victoria’s North and Murray Water Resource Plan (WRP).
The Wentworth Group conducted a study to evaluate whether environmental water recovery has led to observable increases in river flows in the Murray-Darling Basin.
In January 2019 the Wentworth Group produced this snapshot report on the Murray Darling Basin.
In January 2019 the Wentworth Group made this response to the release of the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission Report.
In April 2018 Wentworth Group made this submission to the NSW Water Reform Action Plan.
Advice on the 2017 Murray-Darling Basin Plan amendment to increase sustainable diversion limits for surface water by 70GL in the northern Basin and for groundwater by 160GL in three zones across the Basin.
This report is the first independent and comprehensive review of water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin since the Basin Plan was agreed by the Australian Parliament in 2012.
In November 2017 the Wentworth Group made this submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority on the adjustment to the sustainable diversion limit (draft determination).
In May 2017 the Wentworth Group made this submission to the Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy as part of the 2017 review of climate change policies.
In April 2017 the Wentworth Group made this submission to the Climate Change Authority on the ‘Action on the land’ issues paper.
In April 2017 the Wentworth Group made this submission to the Productivity Commission on the National Water Reform Issues Paper.
In February 2017 the Wentworth Group made a submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority in light of the proposed changes and the environmental, social and economic future of the Basin as a whole.
A model for environmental accounting for measuring the condition of assets over time, with examples from the regional trial.
The first of two reports evaluating the application of the Accounting for Nature model as part of the Australian Regional Environmental Accounts Trial.
This report accompanies the Evaluation Report and provides a more detailed review of approaches used in the Australian Regional Environmental Accounts Trial.
Transformative, long-term economic and institutional reforms that Australia must implement if it is to create a healthy environment with a productive economy.
This report describes the application of an environmental asset condition accounting method, called Accounting for Nature, at a regional (sub-national) scale, based on the findings of a three year trial.
Transformative, long-term economic and institutional reforms that Australia must implement if it is to create a healthy environment with a productive economy.
The Wentworth Group calls on all Australian governments to take the long view and prepare the country for this new climate regime by recommitting to water reform through a new, broader national agreement.
In September 2014 the Wentworth Group made this submission to the Independent NSW Biodiversity Legislation Review Panel.
In June 2014 the Wentworth Group made a submission to the Productivity Commission Public Inquiry into Natural Disaster Funding Arrangements.
In April 2014 the Wentworth Group made a submission to the Senate Committee Inquiry into Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Bilateral Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014 [Provisions] and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2014 [Provisions].
In April 2014 the Wentworth Group made a submission to the Senate Environment and Communications Standing Committee Inquiry into Environmental Offsets.
In January 2014 the Wentworth Group made a submission to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee Inquiry into the Government’s Direct Action Plan.
Guidelines for Constructing Regional Environmental Asset Condition Accounts.
Describes how the Accounting for Nature model uses science and statistics to create a common unit of measure for environmental accounting.
In November 2013 the Wentworth Group made a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 and related bills.
Peter Cosier presented a keynote address, Accounting for Nature: A Common Currency for Measuring the Condition of Our Environment in NZ.
The threats of climate change and the trade-offs between extractions and flows are examined for the Colorado, Murray, Orange and Yellow Rivers.
Plan for a reduction in extractions combined with relaxation of eight constraints, falls well short of satisfying the requirements of the Water Act 2007.
Proposes a suite of reforms, as an alternative to the Commonwealth’s plans to hand environmental approvals powers to states.
Response to plan changes released on August 6, 2012. Once again the taxpayer pays, individuals benefit and the river loses.
Dr John Williams was invited to give the keynote address at the Australian Water Association NSW Heads of Water Gala Dinner.
Peter Cosier and Carla Sbrocchi presented to the UN Committee of Experts on Environmental-Economic Accounting in Rio de Janeiro.
Prof Bruce Thom presented to the Australian Bureau of Statistics: Completing the Picture – Environmental Accounting in Practice Conference in Melbourne.
Peter Cosier and Carla Sbrocchi presented at an Australian Bureau of Statistics conference.
Once water is allocated to consumption, it is very difficult to return it to the environment.
Prof Bruce Thom delivered the Keynote Address at the Australian Coastal Councils Conference, “Caring for Our Coasts?” in Hobart on 6 March 2012.
Statement on the 2011 Draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan in response to the release of the Draft Plan on November 28, 2011.
A paper presented to the UN Committee of Experts on Environmental Accounting at the Technical Meeting on Ecosystem Accounts in London.
Peter Cosier and Jane McDonald presented to the 16th London Group on Environmental Accounting in Santiago, Chile.
This report seeks to identify the scale of reductions in diversions required within each of the 18 catchments of the Basin.
It will be next to impossible to achieve the scale of reductions needed in sufficient time to avoid dangerous climate change.
In September 2008 this Submission was tabled at the Senate inquiry into water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes.
An environmental accounting system which would measure the health and change in condition of our major assets for long-term management.
Australia is going to have to get by with a lot less water, a whole lot sooner than we thought. Urgently accelerating agreed water reforms.
A plan to become water literate and the Council of Australian Governments to commit to urgently needed national reforms.
Landscape conservation founded on simplicity and flexibility, balancing investment security with high environmental standards.
If we get it right, Australia will continue to produce food and fibre for us and for the rest of the world. If we fail to act, history will judge us harshly.