Murray-Darling Inspector General Mick Keelty criticises lack of transparency, leadership

Mick Keelty's report into the Impact of lower inflows on state shares under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement highlights how the current drought has challenged parts of the Basin Plan.

The report also examines how information is relayed to communities about how the plan is operating.

"Fuelled by uncertainty, misinformation, misperceptions or misappropriation of available information, the public debate around Basin management has become increasingly toxic," the report reads.

"In the absence of strong, basin-wide leadership, there is a perception that some parties are too busy 'playing politics' and are ineffectual at making any tough decisions-especially when it comes to making decisions in the national interest and at the 'whole of Basin' level."

The report also explored inflows into the Murray and found that half of the driest years on record occurred in the last 20 years, while water sharing arrangements have remain mostly unchanged.

Following the release of the report, National Irrigators Council has called on the burden of the current drought to be shared equally.

"Drought risk and burden must be shared fairly in a multi-jurisdictional Basin," NIC CEO Luke Simpkins said.

"There are both climatic and regulatory issues facing irrigation farmers in the Basin."

Five recommendations have been presented to the government focusing on the need for further analysis of water inflows by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, the need to increase trust and transparency and communication with communities.

Meanwhile, Murray-Darling Basin Authority CEO Philip Glyde welcomed the report's release.

"We cooperated fully with Mr Keelty's team and provided them with data and facts as they requested," Mr Glyde said.

"They challenged us rigorously, and subsequently found that as river managers we are doing a good job.

"We know some irrigators will feel disappointed that the report has not unearthed any new water for communities doing it tough because of the drought, however it does show that every drop is accounted for and is made available to the state governments to manage and allocate according to their rules."

Federal water minister Keith Pitt accepted those recommendations and said the government was working on a response.

"I accept the five key recommendations of Mr Keelty and I have directed both my department and Murray Darling Basin Authority to take action to implement them," Mr Pitt said.

"It's important to remember that this is one of three key inquiries that together will help guide Commonwealth and state governments' policies around the management of the Murray-Darling Basin."

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Mr Pitt said this report wouldn't be the end of Mr Keelty's involvement in the Basin.

"He had intended to return to present his findings in person but the COVID-19 means Mr Keelty will now explain his findings to any community members who are interested through an online webinar."

The federal government will prepare a response to Mr Keelty's report after the Basin Socio-Economic report is presented, once the ACCC's inquiry into water trading markets is completed and a review of the water special account is done.