1. Murray-Darling Basin, Australia

2. On behalf of the MDBA and in the spirit of strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal people we would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land.
We pay our respects to the Elders both past and present as they hold the memories, knowledge and traditions of a living Aboriginal culture. We would like to particularly acknowledge any Elders that have joined us here today.
We offer our deep appreciation and respect for Aboriginal peoples’ continued guardianship of the land and waters of the Basin and their unique role in the life of the Murray–Darling Basin.

3. The Murray–Darling Basin
Northern
Territory
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
New
South
Wales
A.C.T.
Victoria
Tasmania

4. Irrigation area
Reserve/park/forest 4

5. Inflow variability

6. 2006
MDBC - Living Murray ( )

8. Loss of floodplain inundation
Impacts of over-use
Salinity
Loss of floodplain inundation
Algal blooms 8

9. Up to 2006 9

10. Former Prime Minister John Howard
The Water Act 2007
“The current trajectory of water use and management in Australia is not sustainable… We need radical and permanent change.”
“We must strike a sustainable balance between the demands of agriculture, industry and towns on the one hand and the needs of the environment on the other.”
Former Prime Minister John Howard
January 2007 10

11. Basin Plan 2012
Sustainable diversion limits - Surface water and groundwater Water trading rules Environmental water strategy

12. Developing the Basin Plan: determining an environmentally sustainable level of take12

13. Developing the Basin Plan: assessing social and economic impacts13

14. Water Resource Plans Sustainable Diversion Limits

15. Water recovery 15

16. Developing the Basin Plan: adoption in Parliament16

17. Photo Tony McLeod c2004