Did you know the Water Act 2007, Australia’s national water framework, is being reviewed?
The Water Act provides an important framework for protecting rivers and wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin and we encourage you to make a submission as this is a critical opportunity to make sure nature has a voice in this review.
Your submission doesn’t have to be technical or detailed – even a short submission making a few key points will make a difference.
The Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance have prepared some guidance to help in drafting your submission, included below.
You can find out more about the Water Act Review and upload your submission at https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/water-act-review by 31 August 2026.
Guidance to help with making your submission
Despite some progress since the Water Act was introduced in 2007, too much water is still being taken from rivers and aquifers for irrigation and not enough water is reaching important wetland and floodplain ecosystems. Where environmental water has been restored, there have been improvements — but too little water has been returned to the environment overall, and Basin ecosystems remain at risk. Toxic algal blooms, mass fish kills, declining waterbird and fish populations, and reduced water quality all point to a river system under severe stress. Climate change is adding further pressure, bringing hotter temperatures and less water flowing into rivers.
The Basin Plan has not delivered on the objects of the Water Act. Water extraction remains at unsustainable levels and ecosystem health is declining. The original commitments for water recovery were well below what was needed for system health and haven’t been delivered in full.
The failures of the current system were highlighted by the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission in 2018. The findings included that the determination of the water recovery target (and the Sustainable Diversion Limit and Environmentally Sustainable Level of Take) was not based on science and was therefore unlawful. Many of the Commission’s findings and recommendations are relevant to the Water Act and should be considered in the review of the Water Act.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) was endorsed by Australia in 2009. UNDRIP affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination, to maintain and strengthen Indigenous peoples relationships with traditionally owned or otherwise occupied lands and waters, and to own, use, develop and control such lands and resources. It also establishes the standard of Free, Prior and Informed Consent in relation to decisions affecting Indigenous peoples’ rights and interests. Despite Australia’s endorsement of UNDRIP, these principles have not been sufficiently implemented within Commonwealth water legislation or Basin governance frameworks. Further work is needed to embed substantive rights, enforceable agreement platforms, and decision making authority consistent with UNDRIP.
The Water Act provides a strong framework for environmental protection in the Murray-Darling Basin. I want to see it retain its strength and focus on environmental protection and be refined to ensure better alignment of the next version of the Basin Plan with the objects of the Act.
My highest priority recommendations for the Water Act Review are:
- Retain the strength and environmental focus of the Water Act and refine definitions and requirements to make sure the next version of the Basin Plan delivers on the objects of the Water Act.
- Address the unsustainable level of water extraction by tightening the definition of Environmentally Sustainable Level of Take and ensuring climate change impacts and projections are considered in setting the level of water extraction.
- Implement in full, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People within the Water Act, the Basin Plan, and all other subsidiary instruments, including Water Resource Plans to require water management to advance First Nations rights and interests.
- Address serious failings in governance and data integrity by requiring state hydrological models to be independently verified, published and tested against flow gauge data.
- Set a target in the Water Act of protecting and restoring at least 60% of Basin wetlands and ensuring they receive the water they need to thrive, and measure and report progress.
Restoring the health of the Murray-Darling river system is not only vital for ecological health and cultural wellbeing, but for the health and prosperity of all Basin communities and economies. The long-term future of Basin communities and industries relies on a healthy, functioning river system.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide a submission to the review.