Murray-Darling Basin Commission
MDBC
1988 – 15 December 2008
Intergovernmental commission that operated the River Murray system and coordinated natural resource management across the Murray-Darling Basin on behalf of the Commonwealth and the basin states, under the direction of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council.
How it came into existence
Established in 1988 under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement 1987 between the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, which was given effect by Commonwealth and state legislation. It replaced the River Murray Commission and took over its works and water-sharing functions.
- River Murray works and operations
- Sharing of River Murray waters
- Water quality management
Legislation: Murray-Darling Basin Agreement 1987 (approved by Commonwealth and state Acts); Murray-Darling Basin Act 1993
Changes during its life
- 1993The Murray-Darling Basin Act 1993 approved the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement 1992, which replaced the 1987 agreement.
- 1996Queensland joined the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement.
- 1998The Australian Capital Territory joined the Murray-Darling Basin arrangements under a memorandum of understanding.
- 30 January 2007Commonwealth oversight moved from the agriculture portfolio to the Department of the Environment and Water Resources.
How it ended
Absorbed into the Murray-Darling Basin Authority on 15 December 2008 under the Water Amendment Act 2008 and state referrals of power, following the 2008 Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform.
- River Murray operations
- Basin water sharing
- Salinity and natural resource management programs
Main functions
- Operation of the River Murray storages, locks and weirs
- Water sharing between the basin states
- Salinity and drainage management
- Basin-wide natural resource management strategies
- Administration of the cap on surface water diversions
- Support for the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Lineage
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Sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.