Managing Change: Australian structural adjustment lessons for water

The purpose of this report is to search Australia's extensive experience in running and reviewing structural adjustment programs for insights of relevance to water reform.

While recognising that adjustment from both economic and social perspectives has both positive and negative aspects, the approach taken focuses mainly on benefits and opportunities arising from facilitating and expediting change and adjustment.

This report is written with a view to assisting those responsible for implementing the National Water Initiative (NWI). All parties involved have recognised that water reform has important structural adjustment implications. They have agreed to address significant adjustment issues affecting water users and regions on a case-by-case basis.