Overview

• Justice Angus Stewart ruled the 2022 accreditation invalid because the then minister, Tanya Plibersek, did not have the plan before her when she signed it.
• The court ordered the accreditation decision be quashed and the matter reconsidered by the current Environment and Water Minister, Murray Watt.
• Judges found statutory consultation with First Nations rights holders was not met under the Water Act.
• The Murray–Darling Basin Authority’s recommendation to accredit the plan was upheld as lawful, despite consultation falling short of what First Nations sought.
• MLDRIN welcomed the ruling, urged law reform to protect Indigenous water rights, and asked Minister Watt not to re-accredit the plan in its current form.