* Queensland, NSW, the ACT, Victoria and South Australia signed up to the national Murray-Darling Basin Plan in 2012. The agreement outlines how the river's water should be used.
* ABC's Four Corners in 2017 revealed allegations upstream irrigators in NSW were taking billions of litres of water designated for the environment.
* Former SA premier Jay Weatherill launched a royal commission in November, 2017 to investigate the alleged upstream theft.
*Leading constitutional lawyer Bret Walker SC was appointed royal commissioner in December, 2017.
* With a change of government in March 2018, SA's new Liberal government allowed the commission to continue but refused requests for an extension of time. The original deadline of February 1, 2019, remained.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
* The federal government brought action in the High Court to prevent commonwealth officials appearing before the commission after summons were issued to current and former staff.
* The commission's first public hearing was held June 18, 2018.
* The High Court action was discontinued in August after Mr Walker withdrew summonses for the production of documents and for officials to give evidence in order to meet the deadline.
* The last public hearing was held October 30, 2018.
* Mr Walker delivered the report to SA Governor Hieu Van Le January 29, 2019.
* It was tabled by state cabinet and publicly released on January 31.
