Israel's former state water commissioner says better management of supply and changes in storage methods should be key to preparedness for more regular and longer lasting droughts in Australia.

Completing a visit to NSW and Queensland organised by leading businessman and ANZ chairman David Gonski and the Jewish National Fund of Australia, Shimon Tal said Israel's success in developing so-called "new water" technology could be hard to replicate in Australian agriculture, but improved efficiency in water transport, reservoir management and ground water use could take pressure off communities and businesses in future drought events.