NEWS & EVENTS

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…

Irrigators respond Albanese Government’s muddied budget
26 Mar

Irrigators have joined the chorus of farming and small business groups calling out the mixed messaging and missed opportunities for agriculture, regional businesses and communities in this year’s budget. “This week’s budget is confusing to anyone wanting to buy locally grown, green, food and fibre”, said Zara Lowien, CEO of National Irrigators’ Council (NIC). [...] Read More…

Irrigators launch new platform urging parties and independents to safeguard our water future
6 Mar

The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today launched its Federal Election platform, urging all parties and independents to commit to securing Australia’s water future and investing in actions to restore our rivers whilst supporting agricultural productivity and rural communities. NIC CEO, Zara Lowien said, “Two-decades of water reform means Australian water management system is world-leading but to secure our nation’s future, we must look to new ways of ensuring sustainability and secure water for agriculture”. [..] Read More…

Irrigators question recent efforts to consider socio-economic impacts of buybacks
25 Feb

Irrigators call out Minister Plibersek’s decision to sign off on purchasing another 100 GL of water in the southern Basin with questionable procurement processes and deliberately narrow evidence to support the decision.

“The advice before the Minister to inform the decision is flawed,” said Zara Lowien, CEO of National Irrigators’ Council. [...] Read More…

Auditor General report of buybacks shows a well-paved road, but to where?
19 Feb

The release of the Auditor General’s report of the Federal Government’s water buybacks finds the Government implemented a well-paved road of effective process but struggled to find the link between the buyback program and the intended policy objectives for the Murray Darling Basin Plan.  

“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 [...]

Read More…

Christmas closure period 2024
20 Dec '24

The staff wish our Members, Partners and stakeholders a very merry and safe Christmas and New Year.  

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!

NIC welcomes MDBA’s refreshed approach on constraints, calls for firm Government commitments
19 Dec '24

NIC has welcomed the refreshed approach proposed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to relax delivery constraints in the Murray-Darling Basin to value add environmental benefits for rivers and floodplains but warns that firm commitments from Basin governments are critical to ensure the program’s momentum is not lost.

“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.” [...] Read More…

NIC thanks former MDBA Chair for his leadership
13 Dec '24

National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) expressed its sincere gratitude to Sir Angus Houston, who has led the MDBA since 2020. Under Sir Angus' leadership, significant progress has been made in fostering better relationships with communities across the Basin, prioritising transparency, and restoring trust in the management of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
"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.[...] 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…