Commonwealth Cannot Buy More Surface Water Rights in the Murray-Darling Basin; New Annual Reporting on Water Purchases
Water Amendment (Ending Further Murray-Darling Basin Water Buybacks) Bill 2026
Opposition BillSenate
House of Representatives
Assent
Topics
environmental protection government accountability government spending Indigenous affairs water management
Introduced by: Senator Matthew Canavan (NAT)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Commonwealth cannot enter into new contracts to buy surface water rights in the Murray-Darling Basin if it would increase the total amount of water the Commonwealth owns.
Buying water rights under the Murray-Darling Basin Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program is allowed and does not count as a new water purchase contract.
The Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water must give the Environment Minister a report by 30 September each year. This report must list the number and details of contracts the Commonwealth used to buy surface water rights in the Basin.
The Environment Minister must present a copy of the water purchase report to both Houses of Parliament within 15 sitting days of receiving it.
Any water purchase contract signed in breach of the ban on new purchases remains legally valid.
The Environment Minister can make temporary rules for up to 12 months to manage the transition to these new laws.