Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industries.
National EPBC listing in MDB, just words not action
“Today’s announcement is just smoke and mirrors by the Albanese Government,” said National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Zara Lowien. “Listing these areas [parts of Murray Basin floodplain] only adds complexity, creates uncertainty for new developments, overlooks the progress of the Basin Plan and offers no new solutions.” [...] Read More…
Office Closure
We're taking a short break to refuel and get ready for 2026.
The NIC Office will be closed from Monday, 22nd December 2025 until Monday 5th January 2026.
Analysis finds Governments additional water buyback spree is flawed
NIC report reviewed the Federal Government’s purchases and found most have low environmental utility and cannot directly contribute to today’s environmental priorities in the Basin – despite costing taxpayers billions.“These additional water buybacks go beyond what was required to ‘bridge the gap’ to get Sustainable Diversion Limits in place for the Basin Plan,” said NIC CEO Zara Lowien “most of this additional water will not be able to be used as intended and unlikely to contribute to desired environmental outcomes”. [...] Read More…
Basin Plan blowout continues as failed projects open gap in Southern MDB
The amount of water that can be used in the Southern Murray-Darling Basin may need to drop by a further 255 to 355 gigalitres (GL) after
2026, as States remain behind on vital environmental projects, a new report finds
“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". [...]
Read More…
Water security for farming must be a focus
Farmers in the Basin are calling on the Federal Government to escalate water security for agriculture as a priority, following the findings
of the Basin Outlook, published today which echoed findings from the National Climate Risk Assessment.
“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” [...]
Read More…
WESA Outcome Review needed as $1.3 billion buyback blowout looms
The National Irrigators’ Council is calling for an independent review of program outcomes, after a statutory review on the Water for the
Environment Special Account (WESA) found an additional $1.3 billion would be needed to buy an additional 450 gigalitres, beyond what is
required to achieve Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) in the Murray Darling Basin.
“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 [...]
Read More…
Golden opportunity missed at Basin Summit
Many stakeholders have been left shocked by yesterday’s Federal Government announcement to fast track an additional 130 gigalitres of water
purchases from farmers in the Southern Murray-Darling Basin, despite evidence that the Basin management needs to move beyond “just adding
water”.
“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. [...]
Read More…
National Climate Risk Assessment exposes water security threats to farming
Today's release of the 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. [...] Read More…
NIC opinion in Irrigation Australia Limited Spring Journal
Irrigation Australia Limited's Spring Journal features our CEO, Zara Lowien's comments on the 2025 Basin Plan Evaluation (on page 32-35) indicating there were plenty of first the MDBA's 'game changing' 2025 evaluation but what does it mean for the irrigation industry. Zara highlighted the opportunity before Minister Watt has to work collaboratively with communities and industry on a much-needed reset, that looks to refocus the Basin Plan on outcomes rather than numbers. Read More…
MDB irrigation water use remains in full compliance with SDLs
A new report has found the Murray-Darling Basin is in full compliance with the new Sustainable Diversion Limits, consistent with previous
findings and the recent 2025 Evaluation that the Basin has seen an environmental turnaround.
“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.”
Read More…
Media statement in response to halting of environmental water delivery in NSW
The National Irrigators’ Council 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. Read More…
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
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…
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
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…
AICD Scholarship opportunities
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
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
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…
Training opportunities with IAL
Irrigation Australia Limited has released is new training calendar providing nationally accredited, industry qualifications and certifications and for future irrigation professionals that wish to join this ever-growing industry. We provide a unique blending learning
experience, with courses running face-to-face and virtual classrooms.
IF you have new staff or identify a skills gap yourself, check out what they have on offer with courses Australia wide.
Read More…
Irrigation Australia Media Release: Murray system reaches full allocation before spring making river operators and landholders ‘
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Griffith, NSW |
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Griffith, NSW |
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Belvedere Resturant |
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Microsoft Teams Meeting |
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Old Parliament House |
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agriculture industry.