Helen Dalton MP, Member for Murray, says the truth about what she describes as $13 billion of wasted taxpayer money needs to be told.

The independent member is referring to a new four-year study into the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) Plan reveals mixed results.

The four-year study released last involved 12 scientists from Australia’s leading universities, and drew on data from 1980 to 2023. 

The report is co authored by Matthew Colloff, Kate Lanyon, Jamie Pittock, Milo Costanza-van den Belt, Sarah Wheele, Quentin Grafton, John Williams, Fran Sheldon, Richard Kingsford, Gilad Bino, Luigi Renzullo and Bradley Moggridge.

Professor Kingsford, from the University of NSW, is well known in the region, having worked extensively on water bird research in the Low Bidgee eco-region and across the entire Murray-Darling Basin. 

“It is the most comprehensive report card to date on government policies to protect the Murray-Darling,” said one of the report’s authors Jamie Pittock, a professor at the Australian National University.

“We found expensive and contentious reforms, including the once-vaunted Murray-Darling Basin plan, have mostly failed to improve outcomes for people and nature along the river system.

“The result is deeply alarming for a natural asset so fundamental to Australia’s environmental, cultural and economic well-being.”

Ms Dalton said the research confirms what our communities have known for years.

“This Basin Plan was destined to fail from the start.

“You can’t fix complex river system issues with simplistic ‘just add water’ solutions.

“These childlike ‘solutions’ and lazy politics aren't just failing - they're making things worse. 

“While billions are wasted on flawed water buybacks, basic issues like pest control and infrastructure maintenance are ignored.”

Ms Dalton said the river systems are being overrun by carp, claiming the pest species accounts for 90 per cent of river biomass.

The report found just two of 12 MDB Plan environmental indicators were met and claims flows required to achieve environmental outcomes were not met at 65 per cent of the river gauge sites assessed.

The report says abundance of waterbirds is declining and the incidence of very large fish-kill events is increasing, as witnessed at Menindee Lakes, NSW, twice in the past decade.

“The basic human right to access adequate, safe drinking water is not being met in many towns, including predominantly Indigenous communities such as Wilcannia,” Mr Pittock said.

The finding of this recent report is contrary to claims in several studies, including one commissioned by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

In response, Ms Dalton has released her own 12 Steps to a Better Murray Darling Basin Plan on her website.

Step one is to stop water buybacks.

“We must reinstate legislated protections to ensure water projects don’t hurt communities and only proceed if they have neutral or positive effects.”

Ms Dalton’s plan also calls for upgrades to Burrinjuck Dam to increase capacity, and build mid-Murrumbidgee storages at Lake Coolah and Lake Mejum, near Narrandera.

“Dams often need to release water during floods, worsening downstream flooding as seen in 2016 and 2022,” Ms Dalton’s plan reads.

“Building mid-Murrumbidgee storage would reduce flood impacts, improve efficiency for agriculture and the environmental water holder.”

Menindee Lakes also form part of the Member for Murray’s plans.

“A proposed solution is to let 712 gigalitres through Menindee, reserving some for local needs, and swap it for water from the Murray system to improve supply and reduce restrictions.”

Ms Dalton refers to Lake Alexandrina and Albert in South Australia as ‘fake lakes’ and has previously called for the water bodies to be returned to estuarine waters, rather than fresh water.

“Changes must be implemented on these fake lakes to return an estuarine managed system, which would save water, restore natural ecosystems, and improve balance across the Murray-Darling Basin.”

Ms Dalton claims floodplain harvesting in northern NSW and outdated water meters in south-eastern South Australia are issues that need addressing.

“Installing accurate meters in NSW and smart meters in South Australia will ensure water use is properly measured and managed.

“Meter, monitor and police water use,” she urges in her 12 step plan.

On social media Ms Dalton compared the $13 billion spent on the MDB Plan as being equivalent to 32,500 family homes, 13,000 Ferrari sports cars or $903 from every Australian taxpayer.

The Murray Darling Basin Authority has not released a response to the recent report by scientists.