The meeting was chaired by Professor Bill Young. All members were present except for Dr Lynette Liddle. Professor Mike Stewardson joined the meeting online, and Authority member Professor Stuart Bunn joined online as an observer. Prior to the meeting, committee members and supporting Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) staff were formally welcomed to Ngunnawal country and participated in a smoking ceremony in Glebe Park.
MDBA Executive Director of the Basin Science and Knowledge Division, Scott Ashby, updated ACSEES on progress of the Basin Plan Review and the supporting Discussion Paper. He noted the significant progress on the Integrated River Modelling Uplift program, which is undertaking river system modelling to inform the Basin Plan Review. He stressed the current significant effort in within MDBA to review all Sustainable Diversion Limits in the current Basin Plan. Committee members shared updates on their current work relevant to the Murray-Darling Basin.
The Committee discussed the latest draft outputs from the Sustainable Yields and Outlook programs, which are intended for wide public dissemination. The Committee noted its concerns over the scientific quality of these outputs and how they may be interpreted by the science community and the wider community Advice was provided on improving the communication of hydroclimate modelling; revisions of the documents to better communicate environmental trends (positive and negative); avoiding over-generalising outcomes across the diverse environments and communities of the Basin; and need to include information on the potential impacts of climate change on water entitlements and allocations. The Committee advised MDBA to be explicit in these reports as to where future outlooks have been informed by recent river system modelling, and where, because of delays in this work, MDBA has relied on other information.
Professors Nick Bond, Sue Jackson and Troy Meston led a discussion on the recently concluded Murray-Darling Water and Environment Research Program (MD-WERP). They offered advice on how the MDBA can maximise the impact of future research programs, and highlighted that challenges associated with short-term research funding, including difficulties in meeting community expectations. MDBA shared the preliminary findings of the formal MD-WERP evaluation. The evaluation was overwhelmingly positive, but it was noted that the traditionally siloed structure of the program prevented comprehensive integration of the research. The committee advised MDBA to explore economic valuation of the MD-WERP impacts, as this would provide important additional evidence to support future research investment.
The MDBA briefed ACSEES on the Basin Condition Monitoring Program (BCMP), a three-year program of environmental, social and economic condition activities codesigned with Basin communities over a nine-month period. Members noted the value of codesign and participatory implementation for building community trust in MDBA but advised that for outcomes to be robust in assessing condition and to useful in informing policy and planning, appropriate scientific standards need to be adopted across all activities.
Rachel Kelly, the chair of the Basin Community Committee (BCC), joined the meeting to explain the functions and operation of the BCC. Members noted the importance of cross-connections between advisory bodies to ensure comprehensive and complementary advice to the Authority. ACSEES and BCC committed to collaborate more closely in the future and will seek opportunities for joint sessions in 2026.
MDBA updated the committee on the development of an initiative to guide MDBA's science and knowledge agenda for the decade beyond the Basin Plan Review. Members complimented the efforts to date and the commitment to future consultation to refine the initiative. Members advised the initiative needs to be contextualised by a clear description of the role of science in enabling MDBA to fulfil its various functions, including basin planning, river operations, and asset management.
Members stressed the importance of First Nations science and knowledge as a core component of a future science program; advised more focus needs to be placed on social and economic research; and noted the value of pursuing partnerships nationally and internationally with relevant research and Basin management organisations. Members recommended the science and knowledge program be a vehicle for early community involvement to build shared understanding and recommended strong integration across the program; to this end a matrix design for the program may be useful.
Members stressed the importance of clearly outcome-oriented research, but with a mix of discrete short-term highly targeted research and broader long-term strategic research. The importance of a robust adaptive governance framework for the program was noted, and uncertainty, resilience, and adaptation were noted as key areas of focus for future research.
MDBA briefed the committee on the planning for the November 2025 Basin Leadership Summit. Members recommended incorporating discussion on alternative world views, ensuring diverse voices are heard, and ensuring opportunities are provided for encouraging emerging leaders.
MDBA briefed the committee on recently updated data management and data governance policies for managing scientific data and information across MDBA. The Committee recommended adoption of the FAIR data principles (findable, accessible, inter-operable, and reuseable) and noted the opportunity to provide a central data repository service for the Basin research community. The committee stressed the importance of ensuring all data (including model outputs) that support water policy and planning decisions, including as part of the Basin Plan Review, are fully and easily accessible. Members stressed the importance of adopting rigorous ethical standards for the collection and management of social and cultural data.
The next ACSEES meeting is scheduled for 19-20 March, 2026.
