Science Events Audio

Australian water law is now in its fifth epoch with the passing of the Water Act in 2007. The lecture will review the other epochs and the pitfalls inherent in these epochs. The water law processes in each epoch will be cast in the light of the social contracts and political movements that fostered them and the changes leading to the transition to the new epoch. Pitfalls and success stories will be presented for epoch 4 with emphasis on the regional water planning process. These have great lessons to offer. The latest epoch represents a radical legal change overcoming Constitutional impediments and other socio political challenges.