Federal Government

Murray Darling Basin Commission

The Murray-Darling Basin Commission is the vehicle for the delivery of the Murray-Darling Basin Initiative. The Initiative is a partnership between the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. Its purpose is to promote and coordinate effective planning and management for the equitable, efficient and sustainable use of the water, land and other environmental resources of the Murray-Darling Basin.

The Commission is the executive arm of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council and is responsible for:

· managing the River Murray and the Menindee Lakes system of the lower Darling River, and
· advising the Ministerial Council on matters related to the use of the water, land and other environmental resources of the Murray-Darling Basin.

It therefore has a role in undertaking works and measures at the direction of the Ministerial Council, and also in coordinating the efforts of the government partners to the Murray-Darling Basin Initiative. It has the mandate to initiate, support and evaluate integrated natural resources management across the Murray-Darling Basin.

Find out more: www.mdbc.gov.au

Environment Australia

Environment Australia advises the Commonwealth Government on policies and program for the protection and conservation of the environment, including both natural and cultural heritage places

It works with Australian business organisations and industrial sectors, the community and other levels of Government to protect Australia's atmosphere and to improve the environmental performance of Australian industry.

Environment Australia manages a number of natural resource management programs under the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality that are jointly administrated with Australian Fisheries and Forestry Australia.

Find out more: www.ea.gov.au

Department of Agriculture , Fisheries and Forestry Australia

The Department of Agriculture , Fisheries and Forestry Australia has dual roles of providing customer services to the agricultural, food, fisheries and forest industries and addressing the challenges of Natural resource management.

AFFA is responsible for activities, which enhance the natural resource base on which their portfolio industries rely on:
- developing national initiatives to address issues of sustainable resources management and use
- conducting research to build an information base and encourage information-sharing
- administering programs that promote widespread adoption of sustainable natural resource management practises

Find out more: www.affa.gov.au