The Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) is Australia’s most significant agricultural region and also faces some of the country’s greatest water management and environmental challenges. Decades of reform—including the 2012 Basin Plan—have aimed to balance environmental, economic and community outcomes. However, implementation has been complex, with many communities still feeling unheard or impacted by the changes. The upcoming 2026 Basin Plan review is a critical opportunity to learn from the past and shape future directions.

To support this, Mosaic Insights was engaged by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to develop a sentiment tracking strategy. This work included a literature and submissions review to better understand how people and communities across the Basin have responded to reforms.

The strategy equips the MDBA with tools to track and monitor community sentiment over time, providing critical insights into the lived experience of Basin communities and guiding future engagement and policy implementation.