This research report shows that the Murray-Darling Basin's new Inspector General, former AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty, has ignored key issues in his first annual report on the Northern Basin.

The Australian National Audit Office is investigating so-called strategic water purchases in the Murray Darling Basin. The Australia Institute has prepared this submission on the procurement of strategic water entitlements. This submission relates to four “strategic” purchases of water in the Murrumbidgee, Warrego, Condamine-Balonne and Lower Darling/Barka.

Research in this report contradicts claims by federal and state government ministers that new dams are not being built in Australia. The report shows that 20 to 30 large new dams have been recently constructed, funded at least in part by Australian taxpayers.

This strategy shows the South Australian Government's full response to the Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission and the Productivity Commission’s five-year assessment – with a continued focus on implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, in full and on time, by 2024.

The purpose of this Plan is to set out how New South Wales will meet its obligations under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan 2012 in the NSW Murray and Lower Darling Surface Water Resource Plan Area.