Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council Meeting

Murray-Darling Basin Ministers met today to continue to progress the full delivery of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

Ministers recognised the importance of Basin governments working together, including to improve connectivity from the north to the south of the Basin. This follows the recent successful trial to mitigate persistent poor water quality in the Lower Darling (Baaka).

Ministers noted significant progress to deliver the Australian Government’s plan to return 450 gigalitres of water to the environment by 2027.

The Australian Government is supporting this water recovery with strong action, including by:

• passing Restoring Our Rivers legislation last year to deliver more time, options, funding, and accountability to deliver the Basin Plan 
• making more than $500 million available to state and territory governments for water saving infrastructure projects 
• supporting regional communities with a record $300 million investment in local job-boosting programs through the Sustainable Communities Program 
• making $100 million available for First Nations peoples to buy water in the Basin
• investing $34.3 million in the Budget for stronger water compliance, making sure the water market has strong rules against insider trading and requirements for proper record keeping. 

The communique is available online.

Also today, Australian Water Ministers met for the first time in a decade to renew their commitment to work together to protect and secure the country’s water resources.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek MP:

“Millions of Australians rely on a healthy Murray-Darling river system for drinking water, food, and fibre. It is absolutely critical for our iconic plants and animals, too.

“That’s why, after a decade of sabotage by the Liberals and Nationals, the Albanese Government has stepped in to rescue the rivers.

“We are on track to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full, supporting the communities, industries and environments that depend on it.  

“Basin governments are now getting on with the job of delivering the Basin Plan, enabled by the Restoring Our Rivers legislation and Commonwealth funding.

“Without this, Basin communities could have been confronted by a shortfall in water recovery of more than 700 gigalitres. Now we have a pathway to full implementation.

“We will keep working to deliver the Basin Plan in full and restore trust in water management and markets.”