Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission & the Law-Science Linkage Part 4: The Basin Plan & Ecologically Sustainable Development – An Achievable Long-term Solution or an Illusory Bargain?

TAGS: Water Act 2007 (Cth); MDB Plan; MDB Royal Commission; MDB Authority; Basin Plan; SDL; ESLT; ESD; Sustainable Solutions; community concerns; Nick James; Multi-Objective Analysis

Some uncertainty exists between the MDB Royal Commission findings for achieving ESD outcomes and the MDB Authority’s response to these findings.

Specifically, whether Basin Plan outcomes provide a framework for achieving sustainable long-term solutions in accordance with the statutory meaning of ecologically sustainable development in the Federal Water Act?

Two issues are reviewed: Basin Plan decision-making and primacy under the Water Act; and the scientific methodology to derive ESD outcomes.

Problem-solving solutions are outlined.

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