Just like the diversity of fishes in the Murray-Darling Basin, within the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) there is a diverse range of projects and programs that support native fish recovery. The MDBA’s involvement in native fish recovery includes research, monitoring, interventions and communications. The involvement spans across multiple teams and interacts with many State and Commonwealth departments and their initiatives. MDBA is involved in native fish recovery. But does the MDBA have roles and responsibilities in native fish recovery? If so, what are they? If not, should the MDBA stay out of the way? Recent investigation has shown that there has been a significant decline in high-level engagement between the MDBA and fisheries researchers and managers, and a corresponding loss of trust and understanding of MDBA’s role. To begin the journey forward, this presentation will delve into the recent history of MDBA involvement in native fish recovery. It will respond to recent funding decisions and explore what they mean going forward. The presentation will also test some assumptions and proposed ways of working that lean on lessons from the past, so that the future of the MDBA’s involvement in native fish recovery can take shape.