The Murray–Darling Basin is Australia's largest river system, covering more than a million square kilometres across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and the ACT.
It generates about 40 per cent of the nation's agricultural produce.
The system features 23 rivers, including the Murray River (Australia's longest river at 2,508 km) and the Darling River.
There are more than 77,000 km of rivers in the Basin and more than 30,000 wetlands.
The Basin sustains more than 8,000 irrigated agriculture businesses and a $15 billion tourism industry.
About 2.5 million people live in the Basin.
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has released its What We Heard report, reflecting the themes and perspectives raised during the public consultation on the 2026 Basin Plan Review.
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MDBA chief executive, Andrew McConville said people had plenty of different views about how water should be managed, but the clear message was that the Basin Plan matters, and people want it to work better.
During the 12-week consultation period, MDBA teams spoke directly with more than 2,900 participants, more than 500 First Nations peoples and groups on Country and visited almost 100 towns and regional centres across the Basin.
Close to 2,500 submissions were received.
Areas of common ground included getting the most out of environmental water, improving water quality and critical human water supplies, doing more to support native fish, and managing land and water together.
The Murray River below the Yarrawonga Weir.
Clear differences centred around future water recovery, how to deal with climate risks, and how to balance environmental needs with farming and community wellbeing.
“Many submissions spoke about the effects associated with water recovery and the lasting toll on their communities,” Mr McConville said.
“We also heard First Nations peoples speak of their pain of watching Water Country decline, and the impacts of this on community wellbeing.”
“None of that is easy to hear, but it’s important.”
“None of that is easy to hear, but it’s important.”
"A broad range of people including conservationists, farmers, First Nations people, irrigators, business operators, councils and community members took the time to make submissions or speak with us,” Mr McConville said.
“Their views provide first-hand insights into how water management, and water challenges, are experienced in Basin communities.
Those perspectives are central to our work on the Review as we consider our recommendations for Basin governments."
The Basin Plan Review is a legislated 10-yearly process to ensure the Basin Plan remains fit for purpose as communities, industries and the environment face new challenges, including a changing climate.
The feedback received during the public consultation now sits alongside the science, modelling and policy work shaping recommendations.
The Review Report will include a series of recommendations to governments on how to improve Basin water management over the next decade.
The What We Heard report and submissions with permission to be published are available at mdba.gov.au/water-management/2026-basin-plan-review.
