@hingehead,
Just in case you were wondering, I was being facetious and Dutchy is being serious.
Fact is we are the second driest continent with the oldest soils and an incredibly low population density. Moving and storing water outside of natural waterways further damages the environment and makes arable land even less sustainable. We have a massive salination problem in our most productive agricultural area.
We are still transitioning from a European style farm mentality that works in a much more robust environment than we have.
We have some terrible mismanagement issues and some poorly maintained water delivery services (I think about 30% of Sydney's water supply leaks out of pipes before it gets to a tap/faucet) and Dutchy is right that throwing money would help, but it's not the whole solution.
And our pollies aren't paid that well - compare their wages to a CEO, consider the responsibility each bears, the impact on family and friends. To live that life either indicates an amazing sense of public duty or disturbing need for power and attention.
