Sustainable management of inter-jurisdictional river systems is a global challenge. We review the history of governance of the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia to draw lessons for future management. An Inter-State Commission is mandated in the Australian Constitution to adjudicate inter-jurisdictional disputes and was seen as the solution to the many governance issues relating to the Basin. Such a Commission was eventually established alongside the River Murray Waters Agreement and then abolished. In this article we draw on key literature to assess whether lessons can be drawn from the history of the Commission and the Agreement that highlight key unresolved issues which can inform improved governance of inter-jurisdictional rivers, in particular the Murray-Darling Basin and water resources more generally in Australia. Major problems have emerged in the Basin because of excessive water extraction and the consequent environmental damage. These are now compounded by climate change and exacerbated by contestation over water management among the state and federal governments. A plethora of government agencies have been established to tackle the problems. In one way or another, they have all failed. We conclude that the coercive powers of the Commission or a similar body are needed for more sustainable water management.
Australia ranks among the highest per capita electronic waste (e-waste)-generating countries in the world. Each year, Australians discard significant quantities of electronic devices, many of which end up in landfill. One notable approach to reducing e-waste is promoting repair to extend product lifespans to reduce the quantity of products going to landfill. Many jurisdictions have already addressed repair barriers through regulations that improve extended producer responsibility, design and parts availability, while providing repair incentives to encourage individuals and businesses to choose repair over replacement. This article examines the effectiveness of repair incentives in promoting a repair culture to reduce e-waste. It analyses how various European Union countries have implemented repair incentives and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches to determine whether the lessons can be applied to Australia. Insights from e-waste generation and crowd-sourced repair data, combined with reviewing policy and e-waste generation trends, are used to assess the broader environmental and economic benefits of repair. With Australia yet to begin removing key barriers to repair, this article aims to inform Australian policymakers of the merits of repair incentive initiatives in helping Australia meet its obligations under the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Adaptive management (AM) is an iterative approach to structured decision-making, typically related to the management of natural resources, that emphasises the importance of ongoing learning and adapting as accrued knowledge reduces system uncertainties. AM is increasingly adopted in proposals seeking regulatory approval to offset uncertainties in expected environmental impacts, particularly in Australia. Here, we investigate and critique the AM guidance of Australian government agencies applied within environmental regulatory oversight, with comparisons to AM guidance from Canada, Denmark and the United States. AM guidance in Australia was found to vary across individual jurisdictions, in the absence of national guidelines. The results found major deficiencies relative to international guidelines, with major AM components often omitted. The significant variability in the AM guidance offered by Australian regulators has arguably led to deficiencies and inconsistent AM applications, as apparent in a review of Australian AM plans currently implemented to manage projects. Without clear, consistent guidance within Australia, AM will continue to be misinterpreted and misused, creating threats to environmental assets within the impact footprint of major developments.
Low waste mobile phone (WMP) recycling rates are a global phenomenon, including in Australia, where they persist despite recycling initiatives. Robust qualitative research has been advocated to deepen understanding of this complex sustainability issue. Accordingly, 127 Australian consumers provided insights via this study's online focus groups and interviews. This sample size had an 80 per cent chance of capturing four or five instances of hoarding and other WMP recycling barrier themes, as relevant to 5 per cent of the population. The key non-recycling reason was WMP hoarding convenience. WMPs are easily stored and are consequently kept as a digital archive and as a standby. Significantly, WMPs are retained, as hoarding also mitigates the wide-ranging issues and risks that consumers associate with recycling. Thematic analysis identified four broad WMP recycling barrier categories, comprised of nine themes and multiple subthemes. While the broad barrier categories align with prior research, this study's large qualitative sample further exposed the interrelated nature of WMP recycling concerns and how hoarding mitigates these. A comprehensive WMP hoarding and other recycling barriers typology is presented to inform future research and waste management strategies that focus on creating recycling benefits that outweigh the convenience of entrenched WMP hoarding behaviour.
