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23 April 2026, Sydney, NSW: The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) met in Sydney today to finalise a response to the
Murray-Darling Basin Plan Review, issuing a sneak peek.
“The balance has been struck when it comes to sharing water, with three-decades of reforms shrinking the share for farmers by one-third,”
said NIC CEO, Zara Lowien.
“The Government’s own science says there’s no need to further reduce water from farming, showing 92% of environmental indicators across the
Basin’s rivers would not change.”
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/now-is-the-time-for-stability-irrigators-submit-to-basin-plan-review/
2026-04-23 04:51:00
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/review-finds-its-time-to-move-beyond-just-adding-water-to-the-basin/
2026-02-04 18:30:00
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/national-epbc-listing-in-mdb-just-words-not-action/
2026-01-15 03:10:04
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The NIC Office will be closed from Monday, 22nd December 2025 until Monday 5th January 2026.]]>
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2025-12-19 05:25:02
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2025-12-11 18:20:00
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“Water use has drastically declined since the Basin Plan,” said NIC CEO, Zara Lowien “with one in three litres of irrigation water, now out
of production and new Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) set by the Basin Plan in force". [...]
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/basin-plan-blowout-continues-as-failed-projects-open-gap-in-southern-mdb/
2025-12-07 20:18:01
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“All climate change scenarios will have significant risks on water security for Australian agriculture,” said NIC CEO, Zara Lowien “farmers
are adapting every day to changing climate, but can only adapt so far, water security is critical” [...]
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2025-11-26 22:21:03
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“The report findings call into question the Government focus on just water, with a $1.3 billion blowout, and their own science saying
priorities have shifted” said NIC CEO Zara Lowien [...]]]>
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/wesa-outcome-review-needed-as-13-billion-buyback-blowout-looms/
2025-11-26 02:35:52
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“This was a missed opportunity for Minister Watt to put politics aside and send a strong message about refocusing the Basin Plan on
outcomes, not just numbers” said NIC CEO, Zara Lowien. [...]
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/golden-opportunity-missed-at-basin-leaders-summit/
2025-11-12 21:35:46
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National Climate Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Plan exposes the risks to Australia’s
agriculture sector from climate change, particularly water security for irrigation to grow food and fibre. “Climate change poses a very real
risk to irrigated agriculture,” said NIC CEO, Zara Lowien. [...]
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2025-09-15 05:36:57
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2025-09-09 14:00:00
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“The report confirms Sustainable Diversion Limits are being enforced and in fact, water diversions are well under these limits,” said
National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Zara Lowien.
“Getting water use below these Sustainable Diversion Limits was a huge feat, and it means 1 in 3 litres of irrigation water are now out of
production and remain in rivers.”
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2025-08-25 22:39:00
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shares the concerns of stakeholders regarding the halting of licenced environmental water
delivery in NSW but emphasises this is a dispute between the State Government and the Commonwealth Environmental Water holder, not
irrigators.]]>
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2025-08-19 14:00:00
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water for the environment is essential, but on its own is likely not sufficient”
[MDBA Overview]... The National Irrigators’ Council has described many parts of the Evaluation as refreshing and
a wakeup call needed to shape thinking in the Basin going forward and is calling for more quick thinking on how to determine and prioritise
a package of strategic environmental investments in these complementary (non-flow) measures to inform next steps on the Basin Plan, given
the Evaluation found this as a missing piece of the current Plan puzzle. [...]
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2025-07-23 14:00:00
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/basin-commuities-fear-being-overlooked-in-upcmoing-evaluation/
2025-07-22 14:00:00
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/irrigators-celebrate-australian-made-week-and-call-for-the-national-food-security-strategy-to-include-water-security-for-farming/
2025-05-22 21:50:36
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/new-government-new-leaders-new-opportunities/
2025-05-14 01:08:00
859
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/budget-failures-by-both-sides-must-be-addressed-by-the-48th-parliament/
2025-03-28 01:14:00
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https://www.irrigators.org.au/news/media-releases/irrigators-respond-albanese-governments-muddied-budget/
2025-03-26 03:36:24
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2025-03-05 20:30:00
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“The advice before the Minister to inform the decision is flawed,” said Zara Lowien, CEO of National Irrigators’ Council. [...]]]>
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2025-02-24 21:07:00
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“Many will glance at the key findings of effective process and give the Government a pat on the back, but the devil is in the detail when
the report goes on to question the link between the buyback program and the intended policy objectives for the environment” said National
Irrigators’ Council CEO, Ms Lowien [...]
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2025-02-18 22:39:00
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Our office and key communications will shut down from COB Friday 20th December 2024 and will reopen Monday 6th January
2025.
We look forward to working with you in 2025!
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2024-12-19 22:00:00
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“The MDBA has delivered an honest account of the challenges the constraints relaxation program has faced” said Zara
Lowien, CEO of NIC. “We support their efforts, but the refreshed process will only succeed if Basin governments reach agreement and commit
to a new approach.” [...]
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2024-12-19 00:16:09
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"Sir Angus Houston's dedication to listening to Basin communities and his focus on repairing relationships and trust have been crucial
during a period of significant uncertainty and challenge," said Zara Lowien, CEO of NIC.[...]
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2024-12-13 01:04:00