The Murray–Darling is Australia’s largest river system — stretching thousands of kilometers across south-eastern Australia. Its rivers are sacred to Traditional Owners and are the lifeblood of communities, sustaining towns, farms, culture and unique ecosystems.

But the Murray–Darling river system is in trouble. Despite the intent of the 2012 Murray–Darling Basin Plan to restore these rivers to health, the system continues to decline. Where environmental water has been delivered, we have seen genuine improvements — but far too little water has made its way back to the river. Only 4% of wetlands in the Basin are getting the water they need to be healthy and threatened species like the Macquarie Perch and Murray Cod continue to decline. 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 2026 review of the Basin Plan is a critical opportunity to turn things around for the Murray-Darling and we simply can’t afford to miss it. I am concerned that the Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review Discussion Paper lacks the ambition necessary to restore the health of the river system and safeguard Basin communities against the impacts of climate change.

The Paper proposes to make no changes to the Sustainable Diversion Limits (the amount of water that can be extracted) in response to projected climate change impacts. The 2012 Basin Plan failed to consider climate change projections. Given the latest modelling again indicates that the Basin will be hotter and drier on average and that there will be less water flowing into rivers, it would be highly irresponsible to delay consideration of climate change for another 10 years. Doing so would only be delaying the inevitable changes that are needed and would further expose species, ecosystems and Basin communities to unacceptable levels of climate risk. It is clear we need to make changes to how much water we take and how we manage these rivers. Ignoring the truth is no longer an option.

We need a more ambitious approach to the Basin Plan Review. To restore the river system to health we need to:

1. Return water to rivers by delivering on existing commitments and setting new, science-based water recovery targets that take climate change into account.
2. Re-connect rivers with wetlands and floodplains by relaxing constraints that inhibit or prevent controlled flooding.
3. Restore longitudinal connectivity of rivers (continuity of flow along a river’s length, providing adequate flow to the next river downstream all the way to the sea) by protecting first flush flows, protecting environmental flows and legislating limits to pumping based on thresholds that ensure protection of critical base flows.
4. Respect First Nations water knowledge and aspirations, invite participation in river management and decision making and deliver water rights for First Nations.
5. Improve transparency, monitoring and reporting to increase accountability and enable oversight and enforcement of Basin Plan implementation.

Restoring the Murray–Darling to long-term health demands bold action now. We must choose a better future — one that puts healthy rivers, the legal rights of Traditional Owners and healthy communities at the centre. A future where water use is balanced with the needs of the river itself, ensuring future generations inherit healthy rivers, clean water and thriving landscapes.

I ask that you consider these recommendations for the future Basin Plan, which is so important for the survival of threatened species, the health of Ramsar listed wetlands, the wellbeing of First Nations people and for the future prosperity of all Basin communities.