28,000 irrigators lose $1.5-billion class action against MDBA

A long-running $1.5-billion class action lawsuit brought by 28,000 irrigators against the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has concluded with a victory for the authority. The legal action was initiated by irrigators who claimed that mismanagement by the MDBA resulted in significant financial damages, specifically citing lost profits and inflated water prices.

The resolution of the case marks a major legal outcome for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, defending its management practices against allegations that directly impacted tens of thousands of agricultural water users. The class action represents one of the largest groups of primary producers to challenge water management authorities in the region over economic losses.