It will not consider a release date until the end of August, a move which National Farmers' Federation president David Crombie says is about dodging scrutiny and will anger irrigators from across the basin.

"This decision to delay public scrutiny will have all Australians asking, ‘what is the Authority or Government hiding?’," Mr Crombie said.

"Irrigators and regional communities are crying out for information and opportunity to have a say on their future. This opportunity is today further delayed.

"Let’s be clear on the caretaker conventions for election campaigns. This is not a major policy decision; this is about information and advice to irrigators and communities.

"NFF seriously questions whether the caretaker conventions apply.

"For the so-called independent Authority to cut and run from public scrutiny is outrageous."

NSW Farmers’ Association president Charles Armstrong said the MDBA "must show that it is truly independent of Government and release the plain English version of the draft Basin Plan in early August as planned".

"The Basin Plan is the most significant Federal Policy issue affecting rural and regional communities within the Murray Darling Basin," he said.

"It is unconscionable that an election could extend the doubt and uncertainty of irrigators and farmers within the Murray Darling Basin.

"The present threats we are hearing regarding major cutbacks to irrigation water have placed a black cloud over our community’s future.

"It is critical that potential impacts of the Basin Plan are known prior to the election to allow this issue to be debated during the election campaign."