Murray-Darling Basin Plan: Implementation review 2023

What we’ve been asked to look at

Under the Water Act 2007 (Cth), the Commission is required to undertake an inquiry every five years into the effectiveness of the implementation of the Basin Plan and water resource plans. This is the second such inquiry conducted by the Commission – the previous assessment was conducted in 2018.

We invite you to subscribe to this inquiry to be notified of further developments.

Call for submissions and comments

The Commission issued a call for submissions and comments on 17 May 2023.

Participants are encouraged to provide evidence to support their views, including data and specific examples where possible.

Initial submissions were due by 31 July 2023.

Read the call for submissions

Interim report released

This interim report assessed and made findings about the progress made toward implementing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan since 2018. A number of draft recommendations are made about the actions needed to achieve full implementation of the Basin Plan and to strengthen and simplify the framework.

The Commission sought feedback on this interim report by 20 November 2023.

Read the interim report

Final report to Government and release

The final inquiry report is to be handed to the Australian Government by 19 December 2023.

The release of the final report by the Government is the final step in the process.

Under the Productivity Commission Act 1998, the Government is required to table the report in each House of the Parliament within 25 sitting days of receipt.