MDBA rejects SA Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission recommendations, claims of maladministration

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has rejected claims of maladministration made by the state Royal Commission, stating there is “no specific evidence for such serious accusations”.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has rejected claims of maladministration made by the state Royal Commission, stating there is “no specific evidence for such serious accusations”.

The South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission report, released last month, found plans to save the River Murray had been derailed by maladministration and recommended more water be taken from irrigators to protect the environment.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority today released a statement in which its main message is to “stay the course”.

It was co-signed by acting chair Joanna Hewitt, chief executive Phillip Glyde and Authority board members Susan Madden, George Warne and Stuart Bunn.

“The Basin Plan and subsequent amendments were prepared consistently with the Water Act, relying on the Government's legal advice and stand as law,” they write.

“The fact that the South Australian Royal Commission report puts forward a different legal opinion on some aspects is not conclusive. It is simply a different opinion.”

Abandoning the Basin Plan and starting again would be a “reckless act — setting back progress towards a healthy and sustainable Basin, and causing substantial uncertainty for Basin communities”.

However the Authority recognises there is room for improvement, as “progress towards recovering the additional 450GL through efficiency measures has been slow, and more work is needed to protect environmental flows”.

In October the commission heard that the 450 gigalitres of extra environmental flows, secured largely through SA’s lobbying, was “highly unlikely to ever eventuate”.

The review scheduled for 2026 will factor in climate change, following review of a discussion paper also released today for public consultation and new research underway with CSIRO.

“We are also looking to strengthen collaborations with other expert agencies, such as the Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia.”

In rejecting the claim of maladministration, which the Authority emphasises that it is “a principled organisation that abides by the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct”.

“We demand the highest standards of ethical behaviour from our staff and from Authority board members.”

A detailed response to the Commission report including its recommendations and findings is available on the MDBA website.

“We hope that those interested in ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for this critically important river system will take the time to read it and draw their own conclusions.”