This NAIDOC week, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) welcome the launch of the Murrumbidgee Catchment Nations Declaration. This year’s NAIDOC theme ‘50 Years of Deadly’ celebrates five decades of First Nations voices calling for truth, celebrating culture and honouring resistance. The Declaration is a Traditional Owner–led...Read More

In a major milestone for First Nations leadership in environmental watering, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) and the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) have signed their first multi-year partnership agreement up to 30 June 2028. Media Release: Joint media release_MLDRIN and CEWH agreement_Nov 2025_MLDRINendorsed.docxRead More

MEDIA RELEASE 13th February 2025 Legal action taken by MLDRIN, a Confederation of First Nations from the southern half of the Murray-Darling Basin, has led to the Federal Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek conceding she made a mistake in accrediting the NSW Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan (WRP). The Minister conceded that she made...Read More

MLDRIN is in the Federal Court today to challenge the decision by Minister Plibersek to accredit the NSW Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan. MLDRIN, a confederation of First Nations from the southern half of the Murray-Darling Basin, is before the Federal Court on Monday to obtain justice for First Nations. The challenge is brought because...Read More

New report illustrates the scale of water injustice in the Murray Darling Basin As part of NAIDOC Week, MLDRIN has launched an illuminating report that illustrates the current state of water injustice in the Murray Darling Basin, including compelling infographics by Tati Tati artist Brendan Kennedy. View the report here. “Returning water to First Nations...Read More

The Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) applauds the appointment of Nari Nari man Rene Woods as the first Indigenous member of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) Board. ‘Rene Woods has been an incredibly effective and committed advocate for First Nations water justice, as Chair of MLDRIN since 2016,’ said MLDRIN Acting Chair...Read More

First Nations organisations MLDRIN and NBAN will kick off a thorough and independent assessment of all NSW Water Resource Plans (WRPs) today, fulfilling a key regulatory role spelt out in the Basin Plan. In June, the NSW Government submitted the last of 22 WRPs that it is required to prepare under the Murray Darling Basin...Read More

Media Release: Friday 6th December 2019 Scrapping the Basin Plan could damage cultural values along Australia’s greatest river system and marginalise vulnerable communities, a peak body representing First Nations from the Southern Basin has warned. ‘Campaigns led by irrigators and the NSW National Party to derail the Basin Plan do not represent the interests of...Read More

MLDRIN has welcomed the establishment of a legislated, permanent First Nations position on the Board of the Murray Darling Basin Authority, following the passage of the Water Amendment (Indigenous Authority Member) Bill 2019 in Federal Parliament last Thursday. MLDRIN worked alongside the Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations and other First Nations organisations to lobby successive Federal...Read More

MLDRIN has called on all governments to heed world-first research, which demonstrates strong support for reallocation of water to First Nations. The research conducted by Griffith University and released this week indicates that 70% of Murray Darling Basin residents surveyed would back the reallocation of water to Aboriginal communities. The study also found that around...Read More