The Federal Government has formally listed the Lower Murray River ecosystem as critically endangered under national environment law, marking a significant shift in environmental protection for Australia’s most important river system.

The decision reverses a controversial move made more than a decade ago and restores national oversight of the Murray River and its connected landscapes.

The minister for the environment and water has accepted a recommendation from Australia’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee to list the “River Murray downstream of the Darling River, and associated aquatic and floodplain systems” as a Critically Endangered Threatened Ecological Community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The listing applies to the lower reaches of the Murray River and includes South Australia’s internationally significant Coorong Lagoon.

The decision followed extensive scientific assessment involving hundreds of peer-reviewed studies, expert advice, contributions from state governments and public submissions.

A landmark scientific assessment first completed in 2013 found the Murray River, from the Darling junction to the sea, functioned as a single, connected ecosystem.

That assessment concluded the river met the highest threshold for protection under national environment law.

Despite the strength of the science, the original listing made by the Rudd Government in 2013 was repealed just four months later by the Abbott Government in an unprecedented parliamentary intervention.

It remains the only threatened ecological community ever overturned in this way.

“When Abbott overturned the listing it was a triumph of politics over science, and today we are finally seeing his sabotage undone,” Conservation Council of SA campaigns co-ordinator Char Nitschke said.

Conservation groups say conditions across the Murray River system have worsened significantly over the past decade.

Repeated toxic algal blooms, mass fish kills, declining river flows, rising salinity and intensifying climate stress have pushed the system closer to ecological collapse.

Across the Murray-Darling Basin, 286 species are now listed as threatened with extinction.

Scientific evidence shows the Murray River’s decline is driven not only by reduced water volumes but also by long-term over-extraction, river regulation and the loss of hydrological connectivity.

Additional pressures include invasive species, salinisation and the accelerating impacts of climate change.

These combined threats have disrupted critical ecological processes such as breeding, migration, nutrient cycling and the recruitment of native species.

Species affected include Murray cod, freshwater mussels and floodplain forest communities.

The new listing makes the Murray River ecosystem a Matter of National Environmental Significance under the EPBC Act.

This strengthens national scrutiny of developments, water extraction and land-use decisions that could further harm the river system.

The decision comes ahead of the 10-year review of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan scheduled for 2026.

“This listing is long overdue and enormously significant,” Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance co-national director Craig Wilkins said.

“It recognises the Murray River is not just a water supply or economic resource, but a living ecosystem whose health underpins public health, regional livelihoods, cultural connection and community wellbeing,” he said.

Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt said the Federal Government was acting on the latest scientific advice.

“A healthy river is crucial for the environment, for industry, tourism and for community,” Mr Watt said.

“South Australians, and all Australians, love this region, but its ecosystems are threatened on multiple fronts, with those threats intensified by climate change.”

The listing will not change land tenure or prevent ongoing land and water use.

“It was disappointing there was nothing in today’s announcement about practical solutions, which we know these areas need,” National Irrigators’ Council chief executive Zara Lowien said.

“Instead, the government continues buying water from farmers that has limited deliverability to these floodplains, refuses to commit to long-term community-supported constraints projects that would actually get water on to them, and ignores key threats like carp that erode riverbanks and worsen water quality.

“This announcement is all words and no substance — creating more complexity and uncertainty for no environmental gain.”

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Wednesday, 23rd September 2026

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