The Queensland Water Commission is governed by a legislative framework under Chapter 2A of the Water Act 2000. As required in Act, the Commission will:

• Advise government on supply options and demand measures to ensure a secure water supply;
• Develop and enforce a 'system operating plan' as the basis of a regional water grid;
• Ensure implementation of government-approved water security programs (such as building infrastructure and introducing retrofit programs);
• Set and enforce water restrictions to ensure secure regional water supplies; and
• Advise the Minister on matters relating to water security.

The Commission reports to the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade, the Hon Stephen Robertson MP.

Water Act 2000

Under the Water Act 2000, the Commission’s guiding principles are to:

• Manage water on a sustainable and integrated basis to provide secure and reliable supplies for all uses;
• Ensure scarce water resources are shared on a regional basis;
• Manage water from its source to its end-use, to ensure the health of catchments, aquifers and their ecosystems;
• Deliver water of the desired quality at the lowest overall cost;
• Maximise efficient and cost-effective service delivery;
• Share the cost of water sources among users;
• Consider environmental, social and economic factors when assessing regional water supply and include ‘least-cost-planning’ to ensure proper economic comparison of options;
• Use water restrictions to ensure sustainable and secure water supplies for the region; and
• Consider flood mitigation and dam safety when assessing options for regional water supply.