Water is central to the law and culture of Aboriginal people in Central Australia. There is a potential risk to the cultural values placed on this tangible and spiritual resource when water is diverted or used for economic, recreational or domestic purposes. A range of local to international policies, legislation and guidelines now entitle the interests of Aboriginal people. There is a need to develop case studies that demonstrate how Aboriginal values and their provision can be articulated to decision-makers in effective ways. Cultural water provisions are the equivalent of water allocations to other water users nd are the mechanism to protect cultural values of water.