1   Short title

                   This Act may be cited as the National Water Commission Act 2004 .

2   Commencement

                   This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3   Object of this Act

                   The object of this Act is to establish the National Water Commission, as an independent statutory body, as required by the National Water Initiative.

4   Definitions

                   In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

Australian Water Fund means the Australian Water Fund announced by the Minister on 13 September 2004.

Australian Water Fund Account means the Australian Water Fund Account established by section 40.

CEO or Chief Executive Officer means the Chief Executive Officer appointed in accordance with section 25.

Chair means the Chair of the NWC.

COAG means the Council of Australian Governments.

COAG Water Reform Framework means the agreement, executed by COAG in 1994 to reform the management and regulation of Australia’s water resources, as incorporated into the Agreement to Implement National Competition Policy and Related Reforms, and as amended from time to time.

Commissioner means a Commissioner of the NWC appointed in accordance with section 11 and includes the Chair.

full-time CEO means a CEO appointed on a full-time basis.

full-time Commissioner means a Commissioner appointed on a full-time basis.

Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council means:

                     (a)  subject to paragraph (b), the Natural Resource Management Council established by COAG in June 2001; or

                     (b)  if another body is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition—that other body.

NWC or National Water Commission means the National Water Commission established by section 6.

NWI or National Water Initiative means the Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, signed on 25 June 2004, and as amended from time to time.

part-time CEO means a CEO appointed on a part-time basis.

part-time Commissioner means a Commissioner appointed on a part-time basis.

5   This Act binds the Crown

                   This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities, but does not make the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an offence.