/environment/ en /environment/news/list/2024/04/22/murray-darling-basin-water-theft-laws-suck-more-than-river-irrigation-pumps Water is one of Australia’s most valuable commodities. Rights to take water from our nation’s largest river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, are worth almost A$100 billion. These rights can be bought and sold or leased, with trade exceeding A$2 billion a year. But water is also being stolen (no-one knows how much) and the thieves usually get away with it. April 22 2024 Belinda Gosden /environment/news/list/2024/04/22/murray-darling-basin-water-theft-laws-suck-more-than-river-irrigation-pumps /environment/news/list/2023/07/03/the-murray-darling-basin-shows-why-the-social-cost-of-water-concept-wont-work Access to safe, clean water is a basic human right. But water scarcity or barriers to access can cause conflict within and between countries. July 03 2023 Belinda Gosden /environment/news/list/2023/07/03/the-murray-darling-basin-shows-why-the-social-cost-of-water-concept-wont-work /environment/news/list/2023/06/29/soil-erosion-is-filling-vital-inland-river-waterholes-putting-the-squeeze-on During droughts, Australia’s inland rivers dry up, leaving waterholes as the only wet places in a parched landscape. Fish, turtles, crayfish and other aquatic animals retreat to these vital refuges. June 29 2023 Leah Panakera-Thorpe /environment/news/list/2023/06/29/soil-erosion-is-filling-vital-inland-river-waterholes-putting-the-squeeze-on