High profile prosecutions for water thefts in New South Wales might seem like a good thing for the Murray Darling Basin, which as Australia’s largest river system, provides vital water to communities, businesses and the environment. But it masks what some legal and economic researchers have this week described as a dog’s breakfast when it comes to the mix of laws and enforcement action across state borders.

Full statement from Acting Inspector-General of Water Compliance, Daniel Blacker.

Study by Loch et al in Nature Water

Image: Wikimedia – Jeremy-Buckingham (CC BY 4.0 Deed)

Produced By: Matthew Ward Agius

Featured In Story: Dr Adam Loch – Associate Professor and former ARC DECRA Fellow at the University of Adelaide, and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 18th April 2024