Indigenous Nations-led and governed water organisations have united to call on the Australian Government to deliver a stronger national vision for water reform through the review of the Water Act 2007.

Together, the organisations represent more than 100 Nations, Peoples and language groups connected to four of Australia's great free-flowing river regions - the Martuwarra Fitzroy River in Western Australia, the Roper River in the Northern Territory, the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Basin and the Murray-Darling system.

Professor Anne Poelina of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council said "no matter where we come from, we can all agree that water is life".

"Martuwarra is one of the few remaining large, healthy, free-flowing rivers in the country and holds an ancient legacy of the effectiveness of Indigenous-led governance and water management," she said.

"The renewed Water Act must support self-determination in water governance and decision-making and recognise and engage with Traditional Owner-led governance bodies."

Professor Poelina told National Indigenous Times that for Yi-Martuwarra, the peoples of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River, the River has "an inalienable right to live and flow".

"However, this isn't unique to us, as Indigenous people have cared for, studied and understood the Rivers they belong to since time immemorial. All Rivers have the right to live and flow," she said.

"We know what effective River governance looks like, because we have been doing it for tens of thousands of years. This is why it's critical that a renewed Water Act creates pathways for Indigenous Nations' knowledge, law, culture and governance systems to shape national water policy and management.

"The mighty Rivers that each of the joint letter's signatories speak for are at real risk from climate change and its main cause - the mining and burning of coal, oil and gas. Not only that, the pressures from industrial agriculture mean some are taking more than their fair share of water."

Professor Poelina said "a robust and renewed Water Act that prioritises a cooperative approach of Indigenous and Western science would help us learn from the past, and protect these Rivers for the future".

Josh Gorringe of the Lake Eyre Basin Traditional Owner Alliance said a renewed Water Act must recognise and respect Indigenous Peoples' enduring rights, responsibilities and relationships with water.

"It must engage with Traditional Owner-led governance bodies and create real pathways for Indigenous knowledge, law and culture to inform national water policy and management," he said.

The joint statement calls on the federal government to ensure a renewed Water Act:

• recognises and respects the rights, responsibilities and enduring relationships Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have with water and water places;

• supports Indigenous Nations' self-determination in water governance and decision-making;

• recognises and engages with Traditional Owner-led governance bodies;

• protects water places of outstanding cultural and environmental significance;

• creates pathways for Indigenous Nations' knowledge, law, culture and governance systems to shape national water policy and management; and

• reflects Australia's commitment to justice, reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Melissa Andrews-Wurramarrba of the Ropa Woda Governance Council water reform is "not only about policy settings, it is about authority, accountability and the future of living waters".

"A renewed Water Act must ensure decisions are made with the Nations who hold cultural responsibility for water places, so national reform protects Country and supports strong governance for generations to come," she said.

Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations acting Chair, Aunty Alice Williams, said healthy rivers 'are living cultural entities and places of responsibility, identity and connection, not only environmental assets".

"We are urging the Australian Government to embrace an inclusive national framework that protects free-flowing rivers and builds a fairer future for water management in Australia."