ACSEES Communique: MDBA
The 36th meeting of the Advisory Committee on Social, Economic and Environmental Sciences (ACSEES) was convened virtually 21 April 2026 ... The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) updated the Committee on its business priorities and progress on the Basin Plan Review.
Gannawarra leads call for Basin Plan reform
Gannawarra Shire Council is calling on the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to recalibrate the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to reflect that the municipality has been the hardest impacted area in northern Victoria. Council has produced a five-page submission to the 2026 Basin Plan Review, which will look at whether change is needed to make the Basin Plan work as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Farrer by-election campaign tests candidates
With bookmakers offering shorter odds for the One Nation and Independent candidates in the Farrer by-election, questions remain for voters following campaign scrutiny and mixed messaging ahead of Saturday’s polling ... As one of Australia’s richest agricultural regions, water has been a key issue for irrigators and towns, and more recently fuel and fertiliser costs; other key issues included health services, housing affordability, and local government funding.
We’re starting from 62
Hugh Schuitemaker. The announcement of a "worst-case" water allocation scenario for SA River Murray irrigators – the first in five years – is set to compound the region's economic struggles, according to a senior irrigation figure, and a Riverland politician. The DEW last week announced South Australian River Murray irrigators were projected to receive minimum opening water allocations of 62 per cent for the 2026-27 water year.
SA standing up for the River Murray – does One Nation?: Bourke
This year’s projected opening allocation for South Australian River Murray water users has reinforced the importance of a healthy and flowing Basin – and ensuring parties representing River communities put local interests ahead of upstream states.
Council continues targeted engagement ahead of Murray-Darling Basin Plan review
Greater Shepparton City Council is intensifying its advocacy and engagement efforts to ensure local community and industry voices are heard as part of the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) review, with public submissions closing on 1 May 2026. As part of its water advocacy program, Council is undertaking targeted engagement activities to encourage community and stakeholder participation in the review process...
Hundreds attended Basin Plan forum
A forum highlighting the negative impacts of the basin plan on rural communities was held in Barham recently – hundreds were in attendance or have watched the forum online. Southern Riverina Irrigators (SRI) joined the Central Murray Environmental Floodplain Group, The Bridge Newspaper and Upper Goulburn Catchment Alliance to organise the event which included a variety of speakers across industry, science and agriculture.
The National Digital Twin for Australian Agriculture – the best yet investigative tool
The first major project unveiled by the Australasian Space Innovation Institute, the National Digital Twin for Australian Agriculture holds immense potential for the agricultural industry to harness existing national datasets and observation systems to model scenarios, test options and inform discussions and decisions, including at scale. Australian Rural & Regional News found out a good deal through an in depth interview with Andrew Beveridge, Director of the National Digital Twin for Australian Agriculture.
New analysis shows Basin water buybacks sending Victoria backwards: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) own analysis shows further water buybacks are unlikely to deliver significant improvements in environmental objectives across the Basin and zero improvements in any Victorian river systems including the Victorian Murray.
Irrigators face tighter rules as NSW lifts Menindee threshold for floodplain harvesting
Irrigators in the northern basin will face tighter conditions for floodplain harvesting under new rules introduced by the NSW Government, which has raised the threshold at which water access is permitted. Under the previous framework, irrigators could capture water from floodplains once the Menindee Lakes system held 195 gigalitres. That trigger has now been lifted to 250 gigalitres, meaning harvesting cannot proceed until the lakes are more substantially filled.
Climate change gums up the works
Leading scientists have issued a dire warning that the widespread death of a key eucalypt species in Australian ecosystems could be imminent, due to global heating. Scientists from eminent institutions recently gathered at the Snow Gum Summit in Jindabyne to discuss combating the loss of an iconic tree of the Australian Alps, the Snow Gum.
Nats listen to water users as pressure rises
The Nationals team met with Murray-Darling water users in Narrandera on Sunday, speaking about increasing pressures from water buybacks, fuel costs and energy costs. Key stakeholders, businesses and members of the public met with key Nationals members to have their water issues heard at a roundtable meeting.
I am not a Harvard graduate – One Nation candidate David Farley
Kimberly Grabham and Tertia Butcher. One Nation's candidate for Farrer, David Farley, firmly denied he falsely claimed to have a degree from prestigious Harvard University. In response to a question from The Riverine Grazier during his visit to Hay last week, Mr Farley said he attended Harvard University three times to deliver a course, not as a student.
Every voice counts – MDBA urges locals to shape the future of our rivers: MDBA
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is urging everyday people across the Basin to speak up as public consultation for the Basin Plan Review reaches its halfway mark.
Snow gum dieback
Dr Brookhouse and the Snow Gum Summiteers (Snow gum dieback raises fears for largest river system) should look at the history and basic ecology of chronic eucalypt decline or so-called dieback ... Pests, parasites and diseases are symptoms and contributors, not causes of chronic eucalypt decline ... Chronic decline of eucalypts is not a consequence of climate change.
Basin leaders gather to shape future of Murray–Darling Basin: MDBA
There's been spirited debate and productive discussion about the Murray–Darling Basin Plan Review (the Review) at the 2026 Basin Leadership Summit. Nearly 200 senior leaders from across communities, agriculture and tourism industries, environmental groups, First Nations, government and science converged in Brisbane over two days to discuss the future management of the Murray–Darling Basin.
New report details First Nations progress across the Murray-Darling Basin: Watt
The Albanese Government has ... tabled the annual Murray–Darling Basin First Nations water report for 2024–25. This report provides an overview of the progress made in 2024–25 by the Albanese Government to strengthen First Nations peoples’ leadership, knowledge and self determination in water management and planning decisions across the Murray–Darling Basin...
Game on for Farrer
After 25 years under Sussan Ley, the electorate of Farrer is scrambling to find its new champion. The electorate of Farrer has been held by either the Libs or Nats since 1949, but that may soon change. Frustration over the crippling of our irrigated agriculture sector, with a huge reduction in water availability and an explosion in pricing, often freezing out the next generation of farmers, is fuelling the winds of change.
The stink about releasing the carp virus
The Carp Herpes Virus (scientifically known as Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 or KHV) is a biological control agent proposed by the Australian government to combat the invasive common carp. Since its introduction in the 1800s, carp have decimated Australia's freshwater ecosystems, with experts estimating they make up 80 to 90 per cent of the fish biomass in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Northern Murray-Darling Basin buybacks: announcement and initial responses
The Federal Government's announcement that it will consider purchasing water entitlements in the northern Murray-Darling Basin has, unsurprisingly, provoked differing responses. The announcement from Minister Watt and the responses from Nationals Senator and Shadow Minister for Water, Ross Cadell, from the Shadow Minister for Water (NSW), Steph Cooke, and from the Nature Conservation Council of NSW point to the different issues and views on this contentious topic.
Mayors briefed on Basin Plan Review: MRGC
The Murray River Group of Councils (MRGC) met in Melbourne last week for a dedicated strategic forum to discuss and shape its initial response to the 2026 Basin Plan Review. Mayors and CEOs from the MRGC … received a comprehensive briefing from Murray–Darling Basin Authority CEO Andrew McConville and senior executives on the MDBA’s recently released Basin Plan Review Discussion Paper.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique, February 2026: MDBA
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) met for the first time this year on 19 February in Canberra on the Lands of the Ngunnawal people with all members present.
