Murray-Darling Basin Authority should be broken up, 'damning' report finds

Productivity Commission review finds authority's dual roles are often in conflict

The agency in charge of Australia's most important and complex river system should be broken up as part of a major overhaul to protect the Murray-Darling basin and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, the Productivity Commission says.

The government released the Productivity Commission's five-year review of the management of the Murray-Darling basin late on Friday afternoon. The report warned of serious risks in Australia's long-term $13bn plan for the basin, which is designed to reset the balance between the environment and consumptive uses through to mid-2024.