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Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industries.

NIC Media Releases

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The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) says a basin plan amendment, adjusting proposed Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDL) by 605GL, is critical, and has urged Federal Members of Parliament to put delivering the plan ahead of short – term political considerations. The Commonwealth Government announced the instrument had been registered, this week, also pointing out that it […] …


Australia’s irrigators have spent summer working hard to produce the fresh vegetables, fruit and nuts we’ve all enjoyed over the break says Steve Whan, CEO of the National Irrigators Council (NIC). “One of the things Australian’s love about summer is being able to enjoy tables laden with fresh fruit, nuts, summer salads and plenty of […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has welcomed the appointment of the member for Maranoa, David Littleproud to take on the role of Water Minister as part of the important Agriculture & Water Resources portfolio. NIC CEO Steve Whan said Mr Littleproud was taking over the portfolio at an important time during the implementation of the Murray […] …


National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan, says today’s ministerial council meeting is a serious set back for a cooperative Murray Darling Basin plan. Steve Whan said “we called on Ministers to keep the plan on track by indicating unanimous support for the steps to which all Governments agreed in 2012. That meant providing support for […] …


National Irrigators’ Council(NIC) has urged ministers to take a balanced and constructive approach to the basin water ministers meeting in Albury tomorrow (Tuesday 19 December). NIC CEO, Steve Whan,says “recent media coverage on the basin has tended to focus on an overly negative view of progress. It is a view not supported by the evidence […] …


The Murray Darling Basin Authority’s first five year review of the Basin Plan has provided a sensible and realistic assessment of the plan and should provide a strong signal to all involved of the need to stay the course and implement the steps of the plan as envisaged in 2012. National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve […] …


National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan, has described a media release by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young proposing to move disallowance of Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Measures (SDLAM), as a baffling misunderstanding of the basin plan. Steve Whan said,”no one is surprised that the Greens would move disallowance of anything to do with the Murray Darling […] …


National Irrigators Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan says the release of the Wentworth Group’s report into the Murray Darling basin plan is a relevant,though not ‘independent’, contribution to the implementation of the plan. Steve Whan said “as I said on the first two occasions the Group released findings, they have a legitimate role in advocating […] …


The National Irrigators Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan, says the review of compliance by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and an independent panel, forms a basis for building an effective and trusted compliance system. “However,” Steve Whan said, “working through the detail, and implementing the basin plan, will be made much harder if hysterical […] …


The National Irrigators Council (NIC) has joined celebrations of the first National Ag Day by highlighting the contribution Australian Irrigators make to our national economy and by welcoming an announcement of a grant under the ‘Leadership in Agricultural Industries Fund.” NIC CEO, Steve Whan, says “the first National Ag Day is a great initiative from […] …


The National Irrigators Council (NIC) has urged Parliament to adopt Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) recommendations from of the Northern Basin Review (NBR) which have been presented to the Minister. NIC CEO Steve Whan said “the Northern Basin Review was a thorough process, it proceeded as agreed when the plan received bipartisan support in 2012. […] …


Australian’s need irrigators if they are to have fresh vegetables, nuts and fruit and wine – that’s the clear message from recent ABS statistics, says National Irrigators Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan. The recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production 2015 – 16 figures show that on dollar values 78% […] …


National Irrigators Council CEO Steve Whan says headline seeking comments from the Wentworth group are unhelpful to the task of achieving the basin plan, and dealing with the very difficult issue of removing constraints. Steve Whan said “the Wentworth Group has a legitimate role in advocating the environmental health of the Murray Darling Basin, but […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) says the announcement of a new Federal energy policy including the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) is positive but says that the nation needs a bipartisan agreement on energy policy if the crisis is going to be relieved in the long term. NIC CEO, Steve Whan said “the Government’s policy, including the […] …


The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) preliminary report on retail electricity pricing is a good start, and reveals the enormity of the task of restoring Australia to the position it should have; power as a competitive advantage – not disadvantage, says the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC). NIC CEO Steve Whan said “Australia’s power prices […] …


National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan, has expressed cautious optimism about the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) assessment of Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) adjustment measures. SDL adjustment measures are designed to produce equal or better environmental outcomes without reducing reliability of supply to Murray Darling Basin water users. They are a key component of the […] …


Hard work by irrigators and irrigation communities is reflected in the achievements of the National water reform agenda highlighted in the Productivity Commission’s draft report delivered today. CEO of the National Irrigators Council, Steve Whan says “the Commission’s draft progress report on National water reform makes it very clear that a huge transformation has taken […] …


The National Irrigators Council (NIC) has broadly endorsed the NSW Matthews’ report principles around compliance and greater transparency. CEO, Steve Whan said “at the time allegations on compliance in the Northern Basin were raised, I made it very clear that it was critical that everyone have confidence that water was going where it was intended. […] …


The drive toward even more efficient irrigation water use and world’s best metering standards will be enhanced by an MOU, signed this week, between Australia’s two leading irrigation industry bodies Irrigation Australia Ltd (IAL) and the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC). Australia’s irrigation sector is world leading when it comes to using the least possible water […] …


ABC Lateline attempts to portray Murray Darling Basin environmental water programs as a failure are unjustified says National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan. The program made claims about the entire basin plan based on one single property and an allegation of an illegal structure. Steve Whan said “What the program did not make clear was […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council says that projected shortages of climate modellers raised last week by the Australian Academy of Science are a concern. NIC CEO, Steve Whan said “irrigators, like all Australian primary producers, are at the mercy of our variable climate and our industry benefits if we are able to get quality projections. “Australia’s […] …


Agricultural groups say independent research that shows failure of regulation and monitoring is resulting in electricity prices ‘exceeding efficient supply costs’; confirms that the electricity market – at every level – is failing to work in the interests of consumers and the nation. Steve Whan, CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, says “Australia’s energy price […] …


CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Steve Whan, says the Wentworth Group’s report on progress of the Basin Planis unduly pessimistic. Steve Whan said “the Wentworth Group raises some reasonable points in their brief report, but at the same time a number of their conclusions are hard to justify. “It is difficult to understand […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council says an announcement, by the Prime Minister and Minister for the Environment and Energy, of Federal Government action that may help bring energy prices down will be welcome news to all people interested in seeing Australia produce competitively priced food and fibre. NIC CEO, Steve Whan said “irrigators have been making […] …


Basin Ministers emerged from their meeting today smiling and in agreement, sending a very positive signal to Basin communities that it is now possible to deliver the basin plan with no more buybacks in the Southern basin and a reduced recovery target in the Northern Basin. National Irrigators’ Council, CEO Steve Whan said “Basin water […] …


Friday’s meeting of Murray Darling Basin Ministers should see a crucial next step toward implementation of the Basin Plan says National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan. Steve Whan said “the Basin Plan obviously has contentious elements and there is now substantial evidence to show that water buybacks have had very negative impacts on Basin […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) says Friday’s Finkel report must set the stage for a return to certainty and lower electricity prices otherwise Australia risks pricing itself out of international markets. NIC CEO Steve Whan said “Government and the Australian people see agriculture, and particularly irrigated agriculture, as supplying fresh food for Asia, driving export […] …


The National Irrigators Council (NIC) says, meeting the promise that there would be no negative community impact is critical, if the so called ‘up – water’ component of the Basin Plan is to be delivered, and that makes Friday’s release by the Deputy Prime Minister of terms of reference for an independent study, an important […] …


It would be fair to say that, for irrigators, the budget continues to deliver expected programs and previously committed funding for Commonwealth State infrastructure, particularly as it relates to the Murray Darling Basin and National Water agendas. Some of the key decisions on resourcing for the agencies involved in water were announced in the Mid […] …


CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Steve Whan, says the organisation welcomes the Turnbull/Joyce Government’s ongoing commitment to the contribution irrigated agricultural production can make to Australia’s economic prosperity. Steve Whan said “the 2017 budget has met the commitments the Government has made with funding for water related programs, including resourcing for Commonwealth agencies […] …


The National and NSW Irrigators’ Councils have welcomed an Agriculture Industries Energy Taskforce submission to the House of Representatives Inquiry into “Modernising the electricity grid”, saying it highlights irrigators’ fears about “modernisation” being another excuse for exorbitant network costs. NIC CEO, Steve Whan, said “it is a blight on our system that Irrigators don’t feel […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) submission to the Productivity Commission’s triennial review of the National Water Initiative (NWI) says objectives can be achieved without reducing agricultural productivity, and in a way that more fairly allocates cost and risks NIC CEO Steve Whan said “irrigated agriculture is a vital contributor to providing the food and fibre enjoyed […] …


Australia will not achieve its goal of being a food bowl for Asia without a healthy, efficient and growing, irrigated agriculture sector the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has told a Parliamentary Inquiry. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources is holding an inquiry into water use efficiency in Australian agriculture. NIC’s […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan, says he welcomes the cautious optimism Basin Water Ministers seem to be expressing following their meeting in Mildura on Friday. Steve Whan said “with some rapidly approaching deadlines, irrigators and Basin communities still have a long way to go before they can feel secure about their futures, however […] …


Socio economic data from the Northern basin review should be seen as a gamechanger by Basin State Water Ministers, as they head into Friday’s Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting in Mildura, says National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan. Steve Whan said “Ministers need to focus on outcomes for river health and the community […] …


CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Steve Whan, says the ABC’s 7:30 Report has nailed the dangers for rural communities of skyrocketing energy prices with rural reporter Lucy Barbour’s story last night. The ABC 7:30 Report story highlighted a tripling of electricity prices and the likely loss of jobs in Bundaberg. Steve Whan said […] …


Headline seeking commentary by ANU Water Economics Professor Grafton claiming ‘little to show’ for the money spent on the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) plan is selective and misleading says Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan. Steve Whan said “last week Professor Grafton gained a few headlines attacking hard working irrigators and basin communities. He claims irrigators […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO Steve Whan says Irrigators’ submission to the ‘Finkel Review’ highlights the major changes that need to be made to the operation of the electricity market if Australian food and fibre producers are going to be able to continue to provide irrigated product for the Australian and international market. Steve Whan […] …


CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council(NIC), Steve Whan, says agreement from States to changing the power market’s “Limited Merits Review (LMR) process would be a positive first step toward reforming the industry to focus more on serving consumers and less on generating guaranteed super profits for network operators. Steve Whan said “unsustainably high electricity prices […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has welcomed recognition by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) in its Northern Basin amendments of negative socio – economic impact from water buybacks and the need for measures other than ‘just add water’ to improve the environment. NIC CEO Steve Whan said “the MDBA’s Northern Basin review has finally […] …


CEO of the National Irrigators Council (NIC), Steve Whan has welcomed new rules introduced by the Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, which remove the need for Irrigation Infrastructure Operators (IIOs) to produce fully – costed Network Services Plans every five years saying it is a “genuine example of practical red – tape reduction that will […] …


The peak lobby group for Australia’s Irrigators, the National Irrigators Council (NIC) will be holding its national council meeting in Launceston on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 February. NIC CEO, Steve Whan, said “our members will be in Launceston discussing some of the key national issues affecting irrigators. “Launceston has been chosen because it is […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) says amendments to the Basin Plan proposed by the Opposition are not helpful to reaching a long – term triple bottom line outcome. NIC CEO Steve Whan said “this week the Shadow Minister for Water has said he is considering introducing an amendment formally linking the 450GL of water known […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council says the unreliability and high cost of power is a serious challenge to the future of affordable local food production. NIC CEO Steve Whan says “the experience of power interruptions, on top of high prices, seen again in South Australia, has serious short and long term implications for food and fibre […] …


National Irrigators Council (NIC) has today welcomed the appointment of former NSW Primary Industry Minister Steve Whan as CEO of Australia’s peak irrigator representative organisation. NIC Chairman Gavin McMahon said Mr Whan will bring to NIC a breadth of experience in the area of government, policy and advocacy. “Mr Whan’s 12 years in NSW Parliament, […] …


Today’s release of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) recommendations from the Northern Basin Review makes it clear that the promised ‘triple bottom line’ outcomes under the Murray Darling Basin Plan cannot be realised with the ‘just add water’ methodology currently in place. The National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Tom Chesson said the MDBA’s own research […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today welcomed the bipartisan passage of the Water Legislation Amendment (Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2016 which means that no more productive water needs to be recovered from the Southern Basin. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said the Deputy Prime Minister’s comments that the passing of the Bill “… will eliminate […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) is searching for a new CEO following the decision by CEO, Tom Chesson to move on. NIC Chair Gavin McMahon told Members of the organisation: “Tom has been a great advocate for the irrigation industry in both water and energy policy and I thank him for his dedication and commitment to […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today expressed its extreme disappointment that two key reports underpinning the Northern Basin Review have been released just days before the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) Board is due to make a decision on whether it’ll recommend changes to the Basin Plan. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said the process to […] …


For many consumers the price of electricity across the National Electricity Market (NEM) is already at crisis point and Friday’s COAG Energy Ministers meeting must address the issues causing out of control electricity prices. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said people across the NEM were now genuinely fearful of and stressed out by their electricity bills. […] …

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News & Media from Member Organisations


Legalwise is again holding their annual Water Law Symposium in Sydney.
As water law continues to evolve in response to environmental challenges, policy reform and heightened regulatory scrutiny, secure expert guidance on key legal and strategic issues shaping Australia’s water governance framework. You will gain insights into the lessons of the past decade in water reform, the intersection of Indigenous rights and governance, and the design of the Basin Plan Review.  …


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. …


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/  …

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Upcoming Events

Past Member Events 

NIC General Meeting

The Pullman, O'Riordan St

DCCEEW Basin Plan Webinar

NIC Member only General Meeting - October

Griffith, NSW

NIC Members Annual General Meeting

Griffith, NSW

NIC Networking Dinner

Belvedere Resturant

Climate, risk and water policy presentation

Microsoft Teams Meeting


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