Water is for "the public interest". "A group of 28,000 irrigators has lost a $1.5-billion class action against the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). A NSW Supreme Court judge ruled the MDBA had no duty of care to the group to avoid pure economic loss to one group of people above others. In handing down his findings, Justice Faulkner said the Murray River system was to be operated in the "public interest". https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-31/judgment-in-murray-darling-basin-class-action/107096734