Changes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan have passed the Senate with a raft of amendments after a deal between the government, Greens and crossbenchers.
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Social and economic impacts on communities will be considered when decisions are made on returning Murray-Darling water to the environment.
The amendment was one of dozens agreed to as the government's overhaul of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan passed the Senate on Thursday, with support from the Greens and crossbenchers.
The $13 billion plan aimed to return 450 gigalitres of water to the environment by June 2024 but that deadline will be moved to the end of 2027.
A deal with Victorian independent David Van led to the insertion of a clause ensuring the responsible minister considers the "social and economic impact of the program on communities in the Murray-Darling Basin" in deciding on water purchases.
The minister would have to report on matters taken into account when making decisions.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the government would start looking at voluntary water buybacks next year.
"This is an amazing day for the Australian environment, for the million square kilometres of inland Australia that these rivers sustain," she said.
ACT independent senator David Pocock struck a deal for an additional $20 million for the health and monitoring of the Upper Murrumbidgee.
Another $30 million will be in the contingency reserve for more water in the Upper Murrumbidgee during drought-like conditions.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe gained support for an amendment to ensure the use and management of basin water resources takes into account the "spiritual, cultural, environmental, social and economic matters relevant to Indigenous people".
The laws would put in place a new agreement with all basin states except Victoria, which is opposed to more buybacks.
Farrer MP Sussan Ley blasted the deal, describing it as a "death sentence" for communities in the Basin.
"The Basin Plan is no longer a plan," she said.
"The Basin's heart has been broken by a government that has ignored communities. They haven't even bothered to visit them.
"It's just such a nail in the coffin to single handedly trade off the lives and livelihoods of the farmers that we represent.
"Buybacks (are the) simplest, laziest form of water recovery with the biggest impact on regional communities.
"But the regional communities that I represent, we will not forget this. We will not forget this betrayal. And I don't think every Australian will agree with what you have done. I think Australians in the cities will wonder why a government has used billions of taxpayers money to try to take water away from farming with no positive result at all."
Many farmers and producers have come out against the new deal, warning their communities will suffer as a result of buybacks.
Thousands have rallied in basin communities over the past two weeks opposing water buybacks.
"The impacts will be felt by all Australians at the supermarket checkout," National Farmers' Federation president David Jochinke said.
Mr Jochinke said taking more water away from agricultural production through buybacks was a "kick in the guts" to basin communities.
But scientists have welcomed the plan.
"This bill is an important step forward for the long term health of the Murray Darling Basin," said Celine Steinfeld, from the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.
Dr Steinfeld said water buybacks remain one of the best tools to ensure a healthy river system.
"The measures give greater guarantees that the health of the river and the river flows will improve."
The Greens struck a deal on a raft of amendments including an independent audit of water in the basin and $100 million for First Nations water and the Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program.
The federal opposition argues buybacks are not the best way to protect the river system because they hurt regional communities.
It wants more water-efficient infrastructure and updated modelling on flows.
Opposition water spokeswoman Perin Davey said Senator Van's amendments would not help basin communities.
"It is highly unclear what those provisions will mean and until we actually get some detail and some clarification on that, I don't hold my breath," she said.
