4610.0.55.007 - Water and the Murray-Darling Basin - A Statistical Profile, 2000-01 to 2005-06  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 15/08/2008  First Issue
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This publication presents a range of water, social, environmental and economic statistics relating to the Murray-Darling Basin. This region produces a high proportion of Australia's agricultural production and uses approximately 70% of the water applied to agriculture in Australia. Approximately two million Australian's live in the Basin, and are mainly employed in retail, health and agriculture. The region is environmentally significant in terms of internationally recognised wetlands, red gum forests, and the river ecosystem itself.

The information about the Murray-Darling Basin included in the publication covers:
- climate
- water availability
- water consumption
- agricultural production
- Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production
- population
- employment
- social characteristics; and
- natural resource management.

The publication will cover the period from 2000-01 to 2005-06 and, where data are available, present data for smaller areas within the Basin. Maps are used extensively throughout the publication.