The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council

Composition of the Ministerial Council

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The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council is the primary body responsible for providing the policy and direction needed to implement the Murray-Darling Basin Initiative. The Ministerial Council was established at a meeting of government ministers in Adelaide in 1985 and its operation is specified in the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement.

The Ministerial Council comprises the Ministers responsible for land, water and environmental resources within the Contracting Governments (ie the governments of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the Commonwealth). Up to three Ministers from each government may sit on the Council. The Australian Capital Territory participates in the Initiative via a memorandum of understanding. The memorandum allows the ACT to take part in planning and management of Basin environmental resources, but not to be involved in water management of the River Murray system. The memorandum provides for an ACT Government minister to be a non-voting member of the Ministerial Council. The chairperson of the Community Advisory Committee also attends all Council meetings.

The Ministerial Council's main functions, specified in clause 9 the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, are:

  • generally to consider and determine major policy issues of common interest to the Contracting Governments concerning effective planning and management for the equitable efficient and sustainable use of the water, land and other environmental resources of the Murray-Darling Basin; and
  • to develop, consider and, where appropriate, to authorise measures for the equitable, efficient and sustainable use of such water, land and other environmental resources.

Being a political forum, the Ministerial Council has the power to make decisions for the Basin as a whole. Resolutions of the Council require a unanimous vote. This means that decisions taken by the Council represent a consensus of governmental opinion and policy across the Basin. The Council meets at least once per annum.

 

Composition of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council

Australian Government

  • Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water
  • The Hon Peter Garrett, AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
  • The Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

New South Wales

  • The Hon Verity Firth, BA, LLB MP, Minister for Environment and Climate Change
  • The Hon Nathan Rees, MP, Minister for Water
  • The Hon Ian Macdonald MLC, Minister for Natural Resources and Minister for Primary Industries

Victoria

  • The Hon Tim Holding MP, Minister for Water
  • The Hon Joe Helper MP, Minister for Agriculture

  • The Hon Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for Environment and Climate Change

South Australia

  • The Hon Karlene Maywald MP, Minister for the River Murray
  • The Hon Gail Gago MP, Minister for Environment and Conservation
  • The Hon Rory McEwen MP,Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and Minister for State / Local Government Relations

Queensland

  • The Hon Craig Wallace MP,  Minister for Natural  Resources and Water

Australian Capital Territory

  • Mr Jon Stanhope MLA, Chief Minister and Minister for the Environment, Water and Climate Change
  • Mr John Hargreaves MLA, Minister for The Territory and Municipal Services