Overview
The federal government made the Water Amendment (Murray-Darling Basin Agreement - River Murray Increased Flows and Other Measures) Regulations 2026 on 4 September 2026 under the Water Act 2007. The regulations were administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
What the regulations covered
The regulations amended Schedule D of the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement. The subject matter included:
- River Murray increased flows
- South Australia's storage rights
- Other measures related to the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement
Duration and repeal
The regulations were in force from 4 September 2026 to 5 September 2026 - a single day. The regulations are now repealed. The source does not specify why the regulations were repealed after one day or what instrument, if any, replaced them.
Key actions
The following steps are available to parties operating under water entitlements or irrigation licences in the Murray-Darling Basin:
- Contact the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water directly to confirm what rules apply following the repeal of these regulations - the source does not identify any replacement instrument.
- Search the Federal Register of Legislation at legislation.gov.au for any successor instrument to F2026L01158 to confirm the current rules on River Murray increased flows and South Australia's storage rights.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.