NEWS & EVENTS

MDBA declares ‘game changing’ positive results for the Basin but sends a wakeup call- we need to move beyond just adding more wa
24 Jul

Today’s publication of the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation and Sustainable Rivers Audit has found the health of the Basin has improved, advising that “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.  [...] Read More…

Basin communities fear being overlooked in upcoming Evaluation
23 Jul

Basin communities fear socio-economic impact assessments soon to be released by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) will water down the true impact, overlooking community and industry-level data, in their Basin-scale assessment. “Basin Plan legislation requires 5-yeraly Evaluations, but at a Basin-scale”, said Zara Lowien, National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, “we know the most severe impacts are felt at a local community level, and within specific industries, but these impacts get smoothed out when the assessment zooms to the Basin-scale.”  [...] Read More…

Irrigators celebrate Australian Made Week and call for the National Food Security Strategy to include water security for farming
23 May

The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) joined a chorus of Australian businesses this ‘Australian Made Week (19-25 May), by celebrating Aussie grown food and fibre, with a call to action for the Federal Government to include water security for farming in their new National food security strategy: Feeding Australia. “This week we celebrate how 93% of Australia's fruit, nuts and grapes together with 83% of our vegetables are all grown by Aussie irrigators,” said NIC CEO, Ms Zara Lowien. [...] Read More…

New Government, New Leaders, New Opportunities
14 May

14th May 2025, Canberra, ACT: The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) congratulates Murray Watt on his appointment as the Minister for the Environment and Water, saying this is an opportunity for new leadership to put policy above politics and partnerships over partisanship. “Until recently, water management in Australia has had a long history of bipartisanship across politics.  We hope under new leadership... we can see a return to respectful and constructive water policy solutions, that can once again rise above politics,” said NIC CEO, Zara Lowien. [...] Read More…

Budget failures by both sides must be addressed by a future 48th Parliament
28 Mar

National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) calls on all parties and independents to re-dress this week’s budget fails during the Federal Election campaign and commit to safeguarding Australia’s food and fibre future for the benefit of all Australian’s.  NIC CEO, Zara Lowien said, “During this week’s budgets both sides of government claimed they want to strengthen our economy and build Australia’s economic resilience, but neither provided any real plan to harness Australia’s world-leading water management systems and technologies to secure our nation’s future”. [...] Read More…

AICD Scholarship opportunities
12 May

The Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) has recently opened applications for their Not-for-Profit Scholarship programme for 2025-2026.  This program will allow up to 375 NFP leaders the opportunity to deepen their understanding of governance principles. Scholarship recipients will be invited to enrol in scheduled Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors courses available in capital cities across Australia or courses taking place in these seven regional locations.  For more information, see their website with applications due 15 June 2025. Read More…

Ambitious women urged to join ag leadership program
21 Feb

Women with leadership ambitions are urged to apply to the popular Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program (DiALP).  The initiative is run by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and is now entering its eighth year. Twelve women will be selected for the 2025 program.  Applications open Monday, 24 February and will remain open for one month. 

For more information visit https://nff.org.au/programs/diversity-in-agriculture-leadership/  Read More…

Churchill Fellowship information session for ag hort and food sectors - February 25
17 Feb

Registrations are now open for a free online information session being hosted by former head of ABC Rural Leigh Radford on Tuesday, February 25 2025, specifically for people involved in any aspect of agriculture, horticulture and food production. Starting at 6 pm (AEDT), the session will run for about an hour, with the opportunity to ask questions, gain helpful advice and be inspired by Churchill Fellows sharing their experiences and insights. The speakers include Tim Roache who travelled overseas in 2017 to investigate milk pricing models and ways to manage price risk in the Australian market.

A series of regional information sessions is also currently being rolled out at select locations across Australia, including Newcastle and Launceston (Feb 20), Toowoomba (Feb 27), Geelong (March 4), Bendigo (March 5), Cairns (March 6), and Broome and Bunbury (March 15).  Read More…