SA’s Commissioner for the River Murray

As part of its March 2022 election commitments, the Government of South Australia promised to appoint an eminent jurist as Commissioner for the River Murray. On 23 August 2022 Mr Richard Beasley SC commenced in this role.

As Commissioner, Mr Beasley is:

• Advocating for the health of the Murray, the Lower Lakes and the Coorong. This may include engaging with media, key stakeholders, jurisdictional ministers and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority Board.
• Assisting in securing the delivery of the final 450 gigalitres of water recovery required to achieve an Environmentally Sustainable Level of Take as proposed by the Water Act 2007 and the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
• Assisting the South Australian Government in improving the transparency of information provided about the management of the Murray and the communication of River Murray-related outcomes, directions and issues.
• Providing strategic advice to the South Australian Government on matters relating to the implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The Department for Environment and Water is supporting Mr Beasley in this part-time role.

• Mr Beasley’s contract can be viewed here
• Any enquiries for Mr Beasley relevant to the Commissioner’s role can be directed to DEW.RiverMurrayCommissioner@sa.gov.au

Annual reports delivered by the Commissioner

Mr Beasley’s annual reports describe the health of the River Murray in South Australia, achievements from the reporting period, key priorities for the coming period and key activities undertaken:

• Commissioner for the River Murray in South Australia Mr Richard Beasley SC Annual Report 2023-24
• Commissioner for the River Murray in South Australia Mr Richard Beasley SC Annual Report 2022-23

Reports delivered by the Commissioner

• Interim Report November 2022
• The unrecovered 450GL of water for the environment under the Basin Plan

Royal Commission

On 15 September 2023, the South Australian Government published its response to the Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission Report:

• PDF for viewing online
• PDF for printing

The renewed response was prepared in consultation with South Australia's Commissioner for the River Murray.

In the Royal Commission response, the South Australian Government has outlined its expectations and requirements for full delivery of the Basin Plan by reference to four themes:

1. The original target for Basin Plan water recovery must be achieved in full
2. Further action must be taken to maximise environmental outcomes from required Basin Plan water recovery
3. First Nations Australians’ water rights and interests must be addressed
4. Water management across the Basin must be done transparently and with accountability.

The final section of the response lists the Royal Commission’s 44 recommendations together with a description of how the South Australian Government is addressing each recommendation and/or working to influence the responsible agency or government to address the recommendation.

Background

The Murray-Darling Basin Royal (MDB) Commission was established in 2018 to undertake an independent investigation into the current state of implementation of the Basin Plan and whether the Basin Plan will achieve its objects and purposes and those of the Water Act 2007 (Cth). It reported to the Governor of South Australia on 29 January 2019.

The Commission collected evidence through community consultation and site visits across the Murray-Darling Basin, written submissions, oral evidence in public sessions and undertook its own research and investigations. The ability of the Commission to probe the development of the Basin Plan was limited by the non-participation of Commonwealth agencies.

This evidence and the submissions received informed the range of issues addressed in the final report released on 31 January 2019.

Royal Commission submissions and reports

• Response to the MDB Royal Commission Report - South Australian Government 2023
• MDB Royal Commission Report - MDB Royal Commission 2019
• Submission to the Productivity Commission’s MDB Plan: Implementation Review 2023
• Submission to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee

Royal Commission transcripts

18 June, 2018
Witness: Mr David Bell

27 June, 2018
Witness: Dr. Matt Colloff
Witness: Mr Peter Cosier

28 June, 2018
Witness: Professor Richard Kingsford
Witness: Professor John Williams

3 July, 2018
Witness: Professor Sarah Wheeler

5 July, 2018
Witness: Associate Professor Rebecca Lester

10 July, 2018
Witness: Associate Professor Jamie Pittock, Wentworth Group
Witness: Mr Peter Cosier, Wentworth Group
Witness: Professor Bruce Thom, Wentworth Group
Witness: Dr Celine Steinfeld, Wentworth Group

11 July, 2018
Witness: Associate Professor Jamie Pittock, Wentworth Group
Witness: Mr Peter Cosier, Wentworth Group
Witness: Professor Bruce Thom, Wentworth Group
Witness: Dr Celine Steinfeld, Wentworth Group

12 July, 2018
Witness: Mr Michael Murray, Cotton Australia
Witness: Mr Adam Kay, Cotton Australia
Witness: Ms Maryanne Slattery

17 July, 2018
Witness: Ms Rachel Strachan
Witness: Alan Whyte
Witness: Professor Justin Brookes

18 July, 2018
Witness: Mr Fred Hooper, Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations
Witness: Ms Monica Morgan, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation
Witness: Mr Steve Whan, National Irrigators' Council

19 July, 2018
Witness: Mr Steve Whan, National Irrigators' Council
Witness: Mr David Harriss
Witness: Mr Rene Woods, Murray Lower Darling River Indigenous Nations
Witness: Will Mooney, Murray Lower Darling River Indigenous Nations

24 July, 2018
Witness: Ms Emma Bradbury, Murray-Darling Association
Witness: Mr John Clements

25 July, 2018
Witness: Mr Bill Johnson
Witness: Dr Martin Mallen-Cooper

26 July, 2018
Witness: Professor Quentin Grafton
Witness: Mr Ian Cole
Witness: Mr Tony Thompson

30 July, 2018
Witness: Dr David Adamson
Witness: Dr Adam Loch
Witness: Mr Rob Rendell

31 July, 2018
Witness: Ms Maryanne Slattery

2 August, 2018
Witness: Mr Grant Rigney

16 August, 2018
Witness: Mr Rob McBride
Witness: Ms Katharine McBride
Witness: Ms Louise Burge

23 August, 2018
Witness: Mr Mal Peters
Witness: Mr Geoff Wise
Witness: Mr Chris Bagley

24 August, 2018
Witness: Mr Justin McClure, Australian Floodplain Association
Witness: Mr Stuart Le Lievre, Australian Floodplain Association
Witness: Mr Terry Korn, Australian Floodplain Association
Witness: Mr Mark McKenzie - NSW Irrigators' Council

28 August, 2018
Witness: Mr William (Badger) Bates, Barkandji Nation
Witness: Ms Juliet Le Feuvre, Environment Victoria
Witness: Ms Jan Beer

29 August, 2018
Witness: Mr Garry Hall
Witness: Mr Dugald Bucknell
Witness: Hon Karlene Maywald

30 August, 2018
Witness: Mr Hugo Hopton, Nature Foundation SA
Witness: Ms Natalie Stalenberg, Nature Foundation SA
Witness: Dr Anne Jensen

4 September, 2018
Witness: Professor Justin Brookes
Witness: Dr Chris Perry (via Skype)

5 September, 2018
Witness: Mr David Papps
Witness: Associate Professor David Paton

6 September, 2018
Witness: Dr Andy Close
Witness: Mr Jason Modica
Witness: Mr Mark Jenkins, Mildura Rural City Council

20 September, 2018
Witness: Dr Emma Carmody

21 September, 2018
Witness: Mr Chris Lamey
Witness: Professor Andy Pitman

25 September, 2018
Witness: Mr Jason Alexandra
Witness: Professor Mike Young

26 September,2018
Witness: Mr Ben Bruce, South Australian Department for Environment and Water
Witness: Dr Theresa Heneker, South Australian Department for Environment and Water
Witness: Ms Chris Morony, South Australian Department for Environment and Water

27 September, 2018
Witness: Dr Emma Carmody (via Skype)

23 October, 2018
Witness: Professor Petra Tschakert (Via Skype)
Witness: Professor Mark Howden (Via Skype)