University of Adelaide WATER RIGHTS SURVEY Thank you for participating in our water rights survey. There are 29 questions in all and almost all of them require a simple 'single click' response. There are also two optional open-ended questions where we invite you to share your ideas and thoughts more extensively. We hope your enjoy taking this survey. Question Title 1. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? It is good policy and good practice to separate water rights from land rights and allow water rights to be separately traded. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 2. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? Allowing Water rights to be traded independently of land leads to greater agricultural productivity at the regional and national levels. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 3. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? It is ‘socially beneficial’/ ‘overall better for the country’ to allow water rights to be traded independently of land. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 4. Do you currently trade in water rights? Yes No Not applicable Question Title 5. This question concerns your impression of the impact of water trading on work activity and you personally. Compared to a situation in which trading in water rights does not exist, the introduction and operation of water rights trading has made the commercial operation of my property: much worse somewhat worse neither better or worse somewhat better much better N/A much worse somewhat worse neither better or worse somewhat better much better N/A Question Title 6. Which region of the Murray Darling Basin do you live in and what is your postcode? Region Postcode Question Title 7. What of the following best describes your role in the MDB community, your main activity or employment/business activity? Farmer Grazier Horticulturist Viticulturist Service provider to the agricultural sector NGO role Local Council employee State Government Officer Commonwealth Government Officer Employee in a water trading company An industry association Officer Town-based retailer General community member Other (please specify) Question Title 8. If your answer to the previous question included a role in (broadly defined) farming or agriculture, which of the following best describes your use of irrigation water? my activity is completely dependent on irrigation water and could not be viable without it my activity is somewhat dependent on irrigation water and would probably not be viable with it my activity uses irrigation water but, with some adaptation, could possibly be viable without it my activity is sometimes dependent on irrigation water but sometimes not depending on what I do on a seasonal or longer term basis my activity makes no use of irrigation water. not applicable Question Title 9. Which of the following describes your belief about the relationship between land rights and water rights? Land and water rights should be permanently linked and not separately tradable There should be some limited flexibility to trade water rights independently of land rights There should be some limitation on the extent to which water rights can be traded independently of land rights but otherwise significant flexibility It should be possible to trade water rights completely independent of initial allocations of water to land Question Title 10. Now, considering a questions similar to the one above but from a more quantitative perspective, which of the following best describes your belief about the extent to which water rights should be tradable independently of associated land 100% of the total water rights should be tradable no more than 75% of the total water rights should be tradable no more than 50% of the total water rights should be tradable no more than 25% of the total water rights should be tradable water rights should not be and never be tradable independently associated land Question Title 11. Thinking about your answers to the previous two questions, if you would like to tell us something about why you have made the responses that you have, please do so here. Question Title 12. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? The market for water rights operates efficiently to the benefit of all participants or at least the significant majority of participants. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 13. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? Ecological or environmental flows are an important consideration and should be taken into account when determining water allocations. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 14. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? Economic considerations should be given higher priority than ecological or environmental flows when determining water allocations. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 15. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? The systems and processes for determining ecological or environmental flows work well and produce good outcomes. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 16. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? Aboriginal and Torrens Strait islanders (ATSI) flows (sometime called ‘indigenous flows’) are an important consideration and should be taken into account when determining water allocations on an equal basis with environmental and economic considerations. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 17. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? The systems and processes for determining ATSI flows work well and produce good outcomes. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 18. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? Climate change makes developing more effective and efficient water management in the Murry Darling Basin more important. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 19. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? Climate change makes developing effective and efficient water trading systems more important. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 20. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? The Government should have the right to compulsorily acquire water rights. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 21. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? I ought to be compensated if the government reduces my water entitlement. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 22. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? The only acceptable rationale for government to compulsorily acquire water rights is to use the water to benefit the whole community. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 23. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? The government should have the right to acquire water rights in order to increase general government revenue. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 24. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? It is inappropriate for regulation to specify what I should be permitted to do with my own water. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 25. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? I have a responsibility for cultivating crops that are ecologically sustainable for my region. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 26. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? If my water use impacts people downstream, they should seek redress through their local representative. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree N/A strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree N/A Question Title 27. To what extent do you agree with the following statement? If my water use impacts people downstream, it’s their problem not mine. strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree Question Title 28. To what extent do you believe that you understand the relevant regulation and law in relation to your water rights? I understand the regulation and law extremely well I understand the regulation and law sufficiently well to operate effectively within the system I understand just enough about regulation in the law to get by I find regulation in the law difficult to understand I find regulation in the law confusing and very difficult to navigate Question Title 29. Do you think current water policy settings cause any current and/or possible future unintended consequences which are insufficiently discussed in public debate on water issues? How does policy lead to negative or positive outcomes that were not part of the objectives in the original policy design? (If you would like to, please express your views, experience and knowledge about such effects) Done