A new advisory group has been formed to guide the federal government on potential water market reform.
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Eight people have been selected by federal water minister Keith Pitt to assist Daryl Quinlivan, a former agriculture department secretary, as he examines the ACCC's report into water market trading, and the government's response to it.
Among the committee is Coleambally Irrigation Co-operative's policy and communication manager Jenny McLeod.
NSW Nationals Senator Perin Davey said Mrs McLeod's local knowledge would be a valuable addition.
"The water market started in the NSW Murray Irrigation Districts where both Jenny and I live and Jenny has watched it evolve from a tool for neighbours to transfer water to an inter-valley and interstate market place with a range of users from farmers to investors to retirees," Ms Davey said.
"There is no doubt there is room for improvement in water markets to improve confidence for users, but we need to ensure that any reform will deliver the intended benefits without burdening users with unnecessary costs.
"The ACCC identified some key areas for reform and it will be up to the advisory group to identify what can be done in the short term and what needs more time and consideration, what can be done unilaterally by the Commonwealth and what needs state co-operation."
Joining Mrs McLeod are former Victorian Farmers Federal water council chairman Richard Anderson, former Queensland Farmers Federation president Stuart Armitage, Renmark Irrigation Trust general manager Rosalie Auricht, Ruralco Water general manager Phil Grahame, NSW Regional Economic Development chief economist Andrew Stoeckel economist Dave Appels and former Liberal MP turned consultant Peter Hendy.
The committee will be creating a "roadmap" to help inform the federal government's response to the ACCC's final inquiry into Murray-Darling Basin water markets in March next year.
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