MDBA chair Neil Andrews says the group has not failed to address water theft.

Reports in The Guardian say the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) authority had satellite evidence of possible water theft in NSW months before the ABC revealed similar concerns, but believed it was flawed.

Mr Andrew said the satellite data was not conclusive enough to prosecute anyone.

The MDBA uses Data Cube technology to track environmental flows in the basin, but not water theft.

Mr Andrew said the data gave enough insight for the authorities to pass on the information, but that he did not know if the NSW or federal governments followed up on the Data Cube findings.

Conservationists say more action should have been taken beyond passing the information on to state authorities.

Mr Andrew said the authority would need stronger powers to force compliance.

“It is no more frustrating for me than it is for each one of the state governments if they believe other state governments aren't complying,” he said.

“Effectively compliance is vested in the states. The constitution ensures that is the way it will stay, but there is now a dramatically enhanced recognition of the importance of compliance by all of the state agencies.

“Is it fair to say are we an authority with too little authority? Well, perhaps, but we are an authority whose job it is to create a basin plan.”

There are now five inquires underway between the Commonwealth and State levels into compliance issues, including the MDBA's internal compliance review.

The Greens want a royal commission into the allegations of water theft.