Environment and water

ENVIRONMENT AND WATER DIVISION

Australians Unified – Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water Portfolio

The Environment and Water Division leads Australia’s national efforts to protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems, safeguard water resources, and strengthen environmental resilience. It delivers policy, regulation, science, and community partnerships that ensure Australia’s natural environment is healthy, sustainable, and able to support future generations.

The division works with government agencies, First Nations communities, scientists, industry, land managers, and international partners to protect Australia’s unique landscapes, waterways, species, and ecosystems.

 

OUR ROLE

The Environment and Water Division exists to:

  • Protect and restore Australia’s environment and biodiversity

  • Manage national water resources and river systems

  • Strengthen climate resilience and environmental adaptation

  • Deliver environmental regulation and compliance

  • Support threatened species recovery and habitat protection

  • Provide scientific and ecological advice to government

  • Partner with communities, industry, and First Nations groups

The division ensures Australia’s environment and water systems remain healthy, resilient, and sustainable.

OUR STRENGTHS

Environmental & Scientific Strengths

  • Strong ecological and hydrological science capability

  • Trusted environmental regulation and policy frameworks

  • National leadership in biodiversity and water management

  • Established partnerships with research institutions

  • Proven ability to deliver large‑scale environmental programs

Sovereign Strengths

  • Critical to national climate resilience

  • Essential for water security, agriculture, and communities

  • Supports international environmental commitments

 

OUR WEAKNESSES

Structural Weaknesses

  • Ageing environmental monitoring systems

  • Fragmented data across jurisdictions

  • Slow modernisation of digital regulatory tools

  • Limited long‑term funding certainty

  • Under‑resourced regional and remote operations

Operational Weaknesses

  • Workforce shortages in specialist ecological roles

  • Rising complexity of climate‑impacted ecosystems

  • Limited outreach to vulnerable and remote communities

  • Increasing demand for rapid environmental assessments

 

OUR THREATS

External Threats

  • Climate change increasing droughts, floods, and ecosystem stress

  • Biodiversity loss and habitat degradation

  • Water scarcity and over‑extraction

  • Pollution, invasive species, and land degradation

Internal Threats

  • Resource constraints

  • Outdated monitoring technologies

  • Workforce fatigue and retention challenges

  • Limited surge capacity for major environmental events

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Strategic Opportunities

  • Modernise national environmental and water monitoring systems

  • Strengthen climate‑resilient water and ecosystem planning

  • Expand biodiversity modelling and habitat restoration

  • Improve First Nations partnerships and co‑management

  • Enhance international environmental leadership

Operational Opportunities

  • Recruit and retain specialist ecologists and hydrologists

  • Improve digital platforms and analytics

  • Strengthen partnerships with industry and research bodies

  • Expand community and regional engagement

4. BETTER INTEGRATION WITH GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY & COMMUNITY

One national environmental management ecosystem

 

Key Actions

  • Integrated data‑sharing platforms

  • Stronger partnerships with industry and research bodies

  • National community and regional engagement

  • Shared analytics and intelligence systems

Outcome: A more coordinated, community‑connected environmental network.

 

5. A HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT AUSTRALIA

Protecting ecosystems, water systems, and communities

 

Key Actions

  • Climate‑resilient water and ecosystem planning

  • Habitat protection and restoration

  • Threatened species recovery programs

  • Public transparency and open data

Outcome: A healthier, more sustainable national environment.

Professional services

THE FUTURE‑READY ENVIRONMENT & WATER DIVISION

A national blueprint for environmental protection, water security, and climate resilience

 

1. FASTER, MORE ACCURATE ENVIRONMENTAL & WATER SYSTEMS

Strengthening national environmental intelligence

Key Actions

  • Modern digital monitoring systems

  • Faster environmental assessment pathways

  • Improved water modelling and forecasting

  • Strengthened coordination with agencies

Outcome: A more agile, responsive environmental management system.

 

2. STRONGER SOVEREIGN ENVIRONMENTAL CAPABILITY

Building Australian capability for long‑term sustainability

Key Actions

  • Specialist ecological and hydrological teams

  • National environmental data and modelling platform

  • Strengthened oversight and governance

  • Expanded climate and ecosystem analysis

Outcome: A more resilient, future‑focused environmental system.

 

3. A MODERN, RESILIENT ENVIRONMENT & WATER WORKFORCE

Supporting the people who protect Australia’s natural systems

Key Actions

  • Workforce wellbeing and retention programs

  • Specialist training pathways

  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives

  • Modern digital and scientific tools

Outcome: A strong, supported environmental workforce.

CONDENSED YEARLY COSTING MODEL — ENVIRONMENT & WATER DIVISION

Baseline + Uplift Investment Framework

 

BASELINE FUNDING (Already Provided)

  • Core environment & water operations: $0.38B

  • Environmental science & monitoring: $0.12B

  • Water management & river systems: $0.10B

Total Baseline Funding:

$0.60B per year

 

PHASE 1 — FOUNDATION (Years 1–2)

Annual uplift: $0.42B – $0.58B 2‑year uplift total: $0.84B – $1.16B

 

PHASE 2 — ACCELERATION (Years 2–4)

Annual uplift: $0.58B – $0.78B 3‑year uplift total: $1.74B – $2.34B

 

PHASE 3 — EXPANSION (Years 4–6)

Annual uplift: $0.74B – $0.98B 2‑year uplift total: $1.48B – $1.96B

 

PHASE 4 — FUTURE‑READY (Years 6–10)

Annual uplift: $0.95B – $1.25B 4‑year uplift total: $3.80B – $5.00B

 

TOTAL INVESTMENT SUMMARY

6‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $4.06B – $5.46B

  • Baseline: $3.60B

Total 6‑Year Investment:

$7.66B – $9.06B

10‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $7.86B – $10.46B

  • Baseline: $6.00B

Total 10‑Year Investment:

$13.86B – $16.46B