We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the sovereign Traditional Owners of Australia and thank them for their stewardship of this Country, its lands, waters and skies. We respectfully acknowledge their culture and customary practices, and pay respect to their Ancestors, Elders and future leaders.

For the first time, the State of the Environment report includes a strong Indigenous narrative across all 12 thematic chapters, a narrative crafted through recognising the leadership, collaboration and authorship of Indigenous Australians who continue their connection as Traditional Owners to their lands, waters and skies.

Click to view the State of the Environment report

On 28 March 2025 the government assumed a Caretaker role. Information on websites maintained by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the conclusion of the caretaker period.

Due to technical issues, graphs, maps and tables are currently not displaying within the main content, however, are available via the chapter resources navigation bar. We are working on a solution to resolve the issue.

References

D

Dargin P (1976). Aboriginal fisheries of the Darling–Barwon rivers, Brewarrina Historical Society, Brewarrina, New South Wales.

Davies S, Wilson J & Ridges M (2020). Redefining ‘cultural values’: the economics of cultural flows. Australasian Journal of Water Resources 25(1):15–26.

Davis C (ed) (2007). Water in Australia: facts and figures, myths and ideas, Australian Water Association, Sydney.

DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2019). National Water Initiative, DAWE, Canberra, https://www.awe.gov.au/water/policy/policy/nwi.

DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2020a). About Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre Basin, DAWE, Canberra, https://www.awe.gov.au/water/policy/national/lake-eyre-basin/about.

DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2020b). About wetlands, DAWE, Canberra, https://www.awe.gov.au/water/wetlands/about.

DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2021a). Improving water access for Indigenous people in the Murray–Darling Basin, DAWE, Canberra, https://www.agriculture.gov.au/water/mdb/basin-plan/commitments/indigenous-water-access.

DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2021b). Australian Ramsar wetlands, DAWE, Canberra, https://www.awe.gov.au/water/wetlands/australian-wetlands-database/australian-ramsar-wetlands.

DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2021c). Great Artesian Basin, DAWE, Canberra, https://www.awe.gov.au/water/policy/national/great-artesian-basin.

DAWR (Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources) (2017). Water Quality Management Framework, DAWR, Canberra, https://www.waterquality.gov.au/anz-guidelines/framework.

DAWR (Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources) (2018). Cultural and spiritual values, DAWR, Canberra, https://www.waterquality.gov.au/anz-guidelines/guideline-values/derive/cultural-values.

Deloitte Access Economics (2013). Economic value of groundwater in Australia, report prepared for the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, Deloitte Access Economics, Canberra.

DELWP (Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) (2016). Water for Victoria: water plan, DELWP, Melbourne.

DELWP (Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) (2017). Yarra River Action Plan (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron), DELWP, Melbourne.

DENR (Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources) (2017a). Strategic Aboriginal Water Reserve Policy Framework, DENR, Darwin.

DENR (Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources) (2017b). Strategic Indigenous Reserves stakeholder discussion paper, DENR, Darwin.

DENR (Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources) (2019a). Katherine Tindall Limestone Aquifer water allocation plan 2019–2024, document no. 32/2019D, DENR, Darwin.

DENR (Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources) (2019b). Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer water allocation plan 2019–2029, DENR, Darwin.

Department of the Environment (2016). Wetlands and Indigenous values, Australian Government Department of the Environment, Canberra.

Doolan J (2016). The Australian water reform journey, Australian Water Partnership, Canberra.

DWER (Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation) (2019). Annual report 2018–19, DWER, Perth.