and holistic policies, regulatory frameworks and institutions can be developed. Also,
it needs to be ensured that these are designed to endure political election cycles and
have a practical, achievable long-term goal. However, there are many elements and
layers to the water-energy-food nexus. Instead of devising one ‘global’ solution,
consideration should be given to a more ‘modular’ approach that is able to develop
suitable solutions to the various ‘wicked problems’ that arise in the water-energyfood nexus (as per the case studies). Such a modular approach needs to build
acceptance and consensus among multiple stakeholders and competing interests
which itself is premised on the ability to ‘hear’ and ‘be heard’. Engagement and a
good understanding of the problems and how they are perceived by various stakeholders are important to devise appropriate solutions that are ‘scalable’ and can be
replicated in different contexts. As the energy sector has highlighted, united calls
from the agricultural and business sector to both State and Federal Governments to
take action on the ‘energy trilemma’ (affordability, reliability and low emission) can
initiate change. However, a long road is ahead of us to fully integrate the waterenergy-food nexus. A few positive steps are observable, yet further leadership is
required at all levels of government to bring energy, water and food challenges to the
same table. In a time of climate change, time is of the essence. If Australia’s policies
on water-energy-food are to deliver, it is time to address the nexus challenges and
focus on tangible, long-term solutions for Australian agricultural producers.
7.10 Conclusions
Framing a water-energy-climate change ‘nexus’ for QLD’s and NSW’ agricultural
sectors allows for the identification of critical interlinkages between natural resource
management and factors such as agricultural productivity and provides an opportunity to identify the implications from uncoordinated decision-making or government
programmes. Domestic policy settings are critical determinants of agricultural productivity as they shape farmers’ incentives and capacity to innovate and improve
productivity. The imperative of a strong, sustainable and resilient agricultural sector
is essential to provide social and economic value to Australia’s rural areas and
provide food security. As such, there must be State-/economy-wide agricultural
policy settings which create conditions conducive to innovation to ensure an efficient and effective agricultural sector.
There is the perception that the cause-effect relations are complex in the waterenergy-climate nexus for Australia’s agriculture. This is compounded by the lack of
clarity around the solutions whilst the magnitude of the issues (at farm level)
escalates. Despite these problems being urgent, there is no central authority to
solve them, and, indeed, neither State nor Federal Governments assume responsibility. Undeniably, those who have tried to solve them and the government-funded
packages supporting these efforts, as outlined in the case studies in this chapter,
have, to date, even contributed to their causation and severity. So, what is the best
way to effectively address the wicked problems impacting QLD’s and NSW’
7 Water Security: Challenges to the Irrigation Water-Energy Nexus in Australia
109
it needs to be ensured that these are designed to endure political election cycles and
have a practical, achievable long-term goal. However, there are many elements and
layers to the water-energy-food nexus. Instead of devising one ‘global’ solution,
consideration should be given to a more ‘modular’ approach that is able to develop
suitable solutions to the various ‘wicked problems’ that arise in the water-energyfood nexus (as per the case studies). Such a modular approach needs to build
acceptance and consensus among multiple stakeholders and competing interests
which itself is premised on the ability to ‘hear’ and ‘be heard’. Engagement and a
good understanding of the problems and how they are perceived by various stakeholders are important to devise appropriate solutions that are ‘scalable’ and can be
replicated in different contexts. As the energy sector has highlighted, united calls
from the agricultural and business sector to both State and Federal Governments to
take action on the ‘energy trilemma’ (affordability, reliability and low emission) can
initiate change. However, a long road is ahead of us to fully integrate the waterenergy-food nexus. A few positive steps are observable, yet further leadership is
required at all levels of government to bring energy, water and food challenges to the
same table. In a time of climate change, time is of the essence. If Australia’s policies
on water-energy-food are to deliver, it is time to address the nexus challenges and
focus on tangible, long-term solutions for Australian agricultural producers.
7.10 Conclusions
Framing a water-energy-climate change ‘nexus’ for QLD’s and NSW’ agricultural
sectors allows for the identification of critical interlinkages between natural resource
management and factors such as agricultural productivity and provides an opportunity to identify the implications from uncoordinated decision-making or government
programmes. Domestic policy settings are critical determinants of agricultural productivity as they shape farmers’ incentives and capacity to innovate and improve
productivity. The imperative of a strong, sustainable and resilient agricultural sector
is essential to provide social and economic value to Australia’s rural areas and
provide food security. As such, there must be State-/economy-wide agricultural
policy settings which create conditions conducive to innovation to ensure an efficient and effective agricultural sector.
There is the perception that the cause-effect relations are complex in the waterenergy-climate nexus for Australia’s agriculture. This is compounded by the lack of
clarity around the solutions whilst the magnitude of the issues (at farm level)
escalates. Despite these problems being urgent, there is no central authority to
solve them, and, indeed, neither State nor Federal Governments assume responsibility. Undeniably, those who have tried to solve them and the government-funded
packages supporting these efforts, as outlined in the case studies in this chapter,
have, to date, even contributed to their causation and severity. So, what is the best
way to effectively address the wicked problems impacting QLD’s and NSW’
7 Water Security: Challenges to the Irrigation Water-Energy Nexus in Australia
109