Water is crucial to life. Our economy, communities, rivers, lakes and wetlands depend on a healthy Murray–Darling Basin. This means a large number of governments, authorities and agencies, who are responsible for many different communities and interests, are involved in managing water.
Managing water is complex. It is underpinned by a partnership between the Australian Government, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australian, Victorian and the Australian Capital Territory Governments.
![]()
Key facts
Water in the Basin is managed across 4 states and a territory, covering 1 million square kilometres.
Basin state and territory governments manage the water in their own area, in line with nationally agreed principles and plans.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder manages the Australian Government’s water entitlements and allocations of water for the environment.
The Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water recovers water to achieve the outcomes of the Basin Plan.
The Australian Government minister responsible for water accredits the states’ water resource plans, which set the local rules for water use.
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is a key agency responsible for coordinating how the Basin’s water resources are managed through the Basin Plan, and uses an approach, based on evidence, that considers the health of the Basin as a whole. The aim of the Basin Plan is to ensure that water is shared between all users, including the environment, in a sustainable way.
We use science and research in many fields to make decisions. This includes economics, hydrology, ecology and sociology. We also consider water governance and law and sustainable systems.
People across the Basin are also key for decision making. Communities share their deep history and knowledge of the rivers and this local knowledge helps guide decisions.
The MDBA uses all the best available information to make its decisions, and adapts water management as new information becomes available.
Roles and responsibilities
Water resource plans
Water resource plans set local rules for water and outline how each region aims to achieve community, environmental, economic and cultural outcomes.
MDBA
Assess and recommend for accreditation.
Basin states
Develop and implement.
Water for the environment
Water for the environment is used to improve the health of our rivers, wetlands and floodplains.
MDBA
Plan, coordinate and prioritise at a Basin-scale .
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Plan and implement across the Basin.
Basin states
Plan and implement at a local level.
Compliance
An effective and fair compliance system will underpin the integrity of environmental water, water resource plans, water markets, and water entitlements.
Inspector-General of Water Compliance
Monitor and enforce Basin scale compliance and drive improvements and harmonisation in state compliance arrangements and levels.
Basin states
Monitor and enforce compliance locally.
Monitoring and evaluation
Monitoring, evaluating and reporting are critical to ensuring the way water is managed works and is on track.
MDBA
Monitor and evaluate Basin Plan outcomes and activities.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Monitor water recovery program.
Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Monitor and report results of water for the environment.
Water Markets and trade
Water in the Murray–Darling Basin can be bought or sold, permanently or temporarily.
MDBA
Provide information and faciilitate water trade across Murray–Darling system.
Basin states
Implement the water trading rules, including allocating water, monitoring use and day-to-day trade operations.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Provide advice on the water trade and charge rules and complaints.
Sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism
The sustainable diversion limit adjustment mechanism involves a suite of projects that are being developed to ensure water delivery systems are more effective and water losses are reduced.
MDBA
Coordinate, assess and monitor projects.
Basin States
Propose, design and implement projects.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Fund and implement projects.
Recovering water
Under the Basin Plan water is recovered and retained in the system to keep rivers, lakes and wetlands healthy.
Basin states
Implement some efficiency programs.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Strategic purchases and efficiency programs.
River Murray operations
Infrastructure such as dams and levees are developed, maintained and operated to store water and allow flows to occur.
MDBA
Operate and manage the River Murray.
Basin states
Day-to-day management of dams, locks, weirs and barrages.
