The Australian Water Brokers Association (AWBA) has lodged its submission to the 2026 Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review, calling for a shift in focus from further water recovery to improving environmental outcomes through better management of existing environmental water.

AWBA’s submission recognises that the Basin Plan has largely achieved its original objective of rebalancing water between consumptive and environmental use. Rather than pursuing additional buybacks, the Association believes future policy should focus on improving environmental water delivery, investing in complementary measures such as fish passage and habitat restoration, and providing greater certainty for Basin communities and water market participants.

The submission also highlights the growing importance of Australia’s irrigated agriculture sector in supporting national food security amid increasing global supply chain uncertainty. AWBA argues that future water policy should carefully balance environmental objectives with the need to maintain productive agricultural capacity.

AWBA has recommended:

• No further water recovery, including buybacks.
• Deferring Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) reassessment mechanisms for 3–5 years.
• Optimising existing environmental water holdings before considering further recovery.
• Investing in environmental infrastructure and complementary measures.
• Supporting stable, efficient and transparent water markets.

AWBA looks forward to continuing to work with governments and stakeholders to ensure future Basin policy delivers practical, evidence-based outcomes for the environment, Basin communities and Australia’s water markets.