The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) will no longer fund an Indigenous advisory group set up to provide recommendations to river managers, claiming it has failed to meet its contractual obligations.
The Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations (NBAN) organisation was notified by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's chief executive Andrew McConville, last month, that contractual arrangements worth hundreds of thousands of dollars would be finalised.
"The MDBA has had several contracts with NBAN since 2010," Mr McConville told the ABC.
"In recent times, NBAN has been unable to deliver on its contractual commitments and we are now in the process of finalising these arrangements
"We thank NBAN for their contributions to the work of the MDBA in helping to facilitate engagement with First Nations in the northern Murray-Darling Basin."
The MDBA confirmed the most recent major contracts provided to NBAN included a $400,000 per year commitment to sustain NBAN's internal operations and a $1,250,000 deal to fund a cultural flows project officer to assist First Nations peoples to develop cultural flow plans.
Both contracts expired on October 31.
On its website, NBAN said it was established as "a not-for-profit company and peak body that represents, advocates for and empowers First Nations in water management in the northern Murray-Darling Basin".
"Since 2009, through the cultural authority of its member nations, NBAN has been providing strategic advice on First Nations water rights and interests and delivering and partnering on projects at a state and federal level," according to the website.
Under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, the authority is required to consult First Nations communities when approving water resource plans (WRP), which set out how water is shared across the river system.
While other states have completed their WRPs, NSW has been running incredibly late — with the MDBA approving just two of the 20 WRPs required from that state.
It's now unclear how the MDBA will consult First Nations communities regarding the outstanding WRPs in NSW.
Mr McConville said the authority was urgently seeking an alternative forum to consult with First Nations in the northern basin, with NSW expected to submit its remaining plans for approval.
"The MDBA is committed to listening to First Nations voices across the Murray-Darling Basin and is revising its approach to First Nations engagement in the northern Basin," Mr McConville said.
"As a priority, we are exploring alternative arrangements to bring First Nations groups in the northern basin together and are setting up meetings to consult widely with First Nations."
First Nations water funds in the pipeline
The comments come after Mr McConville called on Australians to rethink how Indigenous knowledge is incorporated into the management of the country's largest river network, in an address at the National Rural Press Club.
In a response provided to the ABC, federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek said she was not concerned that the split between the MDBA and NBAN would lead to delays in delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Ms Plibersek also said the federal government was committed to delivering $40 million as soon as possible, so First Nations communities could participate in the water market.
"We have already been consulting with First Nations communities and I've met with First Nations groups across the basin on my trips," Ms Plibersek said.
"We will shortly begin consultation on a specific program of delivery of First Nations water."
The $40 million First Nations water commitment was first announced in 2018 by the then-water minister, David Littleproud, but is yet to be delivered.
State and federal water ministers are expected to meet in early February.
NBAN has been contacted for comment.
