Devolution Enhances Integration

This paper provides an overview from the perspective of someone working within the Natural Resources Management Team of the Australian government on regional delivery of the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality and the Natural Heritage Trust. This is a significant change to NRM delivery in Australia. The paper argues that the aim of integrated NRM delivery is enhanced through devolution of responsibilities from the Australian and State governments to regionally based organisations. The paper examines six components including: devolution of government administrative arrangements to Joint Steering Committees; devolution of priority setting to regional bodies; integration of Federal, State and local government activities through the work of the regional bodies; enhanced Indigenous engagement through devolution; improved integration of policy development and program delivery through devolution; and that devolution of monitoring and evaluation enhances the integration of program delivery.