A confederation of 20 First Nations groups has launched a legal challenge against the federal government, alleging it failed to meet its legal requirements to engage and consult with Indigenous groups before approving a water resource plan.The NSW Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan was approved by the federal water minister in 2022
The Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations group claims members of affected nations were not appropriately consulted on matters including cultural, social, and spiritual aspects tied to water resources. In November 2022, the MDBA recommended the federal minister approve the Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan.
A Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water spokesperson acknowledged that the case had been filed in the federal court and said it would be "inappropriate to comment further". " set a precedent that ensures that all Murray-Darling Basin water resource plans must be properly undertaken according to fair and reasonable standards of consultation," Mr Kennedy said.
"Each nation has a voice of its own. It has its own specific stories, cultural values, objectives, they're all sovereign nations," Ms Long said."On behalf of MLDRIN, we will ask the Federal Court to find that the minister's decision to approve the plan, and the MDBA's decision to recommend approval, were invalid.