The Inspector-General of Water Compliance (Inspector-General), the Hon. Troy Grant, has announced the launch of an inquiry, the first to be undertaken by the Inspector-General, into the Northern Basin Toolkit (the Toolkit), a significant government program aimed at improving the health of the Murray-Darling Basin.

The Toolkit, a package of policy and infrastructure measures, resulted from a review of the northern Basin undertaken by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) from 2012 to 2016. Following this review, the MDBA recommended to Government that the water recovery target for the northern Basin could be reduced by 70 gigalitres (GL), provided the Australian, New South Wales, and Queensland governments agree to implement a number of toolkit measures designed to improve water management.

The Australian Government allocated up to $180 million for the implementation of the Toolkit measures.

While the adjustment to the recovery target was passed into law in 2018, there has been little substantive progress in the last six years on implementing several of the Toolkit measures, particularly those involving critical infrastructure works.

“Everyone will remember the 2019 fish death events in the lower Darling. One of the recommendations from an independent review of these events was that the respective governments should set an aggressive timeline for the delivery of the Toolkit measures. That recommendation was put to the Government in early 2019,” said Mr Grant.

The original deadline for the completion of Toolkit implementation was June 2024. In August 2023, this deadline was extended to 31 December 2026.

“It appears there are significant issues delaying or preventing the implementation of some Toolkit measures, in part driven by the lack of accountability for implementing this program,” said Mr Grant.

“The integrity of the Basin’s water resources management is paramount. This inquiry will seek to support parties to uphold their commitments and provide the community with accountability.

“Through this inquiry, I will provide a transparent and thorough examination of the current status of the implementation of the Toolkit. We must address the delays and lack of accountability that may jeopardise the future of the Basin. This inquiry is a call to action for all involved to fulfill their commitments.

“Without pre-empting what this inquiry might find, there are likely to be lessons learned that can be applied by all governments in the Basin.”

The Inspector-General is seeking input from stakeholders, particularly those with direct involvement in the Toolkit. This is an opportunity for interested parties to have their say.

Submissions are now open until 29 November 2024 and can be made via the Inspector-General’s dedicated inquiry website: inquiry.igwc.gov.au.

The IGWC anticipates having its report ready for the Australian Government in mid-2025.