The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed the suggestion by Treasury Secretary Ken Henry that water pricing should reflect water scarcity.
“Pricing is a critical part of managing demand for water,” said ACF’s Sustainable Australia Program Manager Monica Richter.
“Any pricing regime should take account of social and environmental concerns.
“A block tariff – where the more you use, the more you pay – would do this, while a flat tariff would not.
“Pricing is one of the tools governments can use to reward people who do conserve water.
“Water restrictions remain another important tool in managing the use of this precious resource,” she said.