On 16 August 2017, the following matter was referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 5 December 2017: The integrity of the water market in the Murray-Darling Basin, with particular reference to: (a) the allegations of theft and corruption in the management of water resources in...

This report sets out a suite of long-term reforms that are necessary if the nation is to achieve its ultimate goal of restoring the health of river systems in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Through its decisions following my Interim Report on NSW water management and compliance, the NSW Government has embarked on an historic program of reforms to the way water compliance and enforcement is managed in the state. This second, and final, report provides advice on progress in implementing those reforms.

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and an Independent Panel have conducted a Basin-wide Compliance Review at the request of the Australian Government, to assess the legislative, policy and practical implementation of compliance in water management across the Basin.

The allegations of water theft and maladministration that are the subject of this investigation were raised on the ABC TV ‘Four Corners’ program “Pumped: Who is benefitting from the billions spent on the Murray-Darling?’’