NEWS & EVENTS

Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industries.

NIC Media Releases

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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. […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has welcomed today’s announcement by the MDBA that ‘localism’ would finally be ‘hard – wired’ into the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) with the decentralisation of some of the functions of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA). NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said today’s announcement by the MDBA CEO, Dr Phillip […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today called on the incoming Minister to ensure that ‘localism’ would be finally ‘hard – wired’ into the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) with the decentralisation of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to communities hard hit by the MDBP. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said during the development of the […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has commended the Coalition’s election commitment to make irrigated agriculture central to its renewable energy investment strategy. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson welcomed the announcement today by the Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce that are – elected Coalition Government will direct the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to work with […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), appearing before the Hon. Justice Middleton at the Australian Competition Tribunal (the Tribunal) in Adelaide today during community consultations, said the Tribunal should reject the SA Power Networks appeal of the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) Electricity Network Determination as consumers could not afford yet another massive rise in electricity costs. NIC […] …


National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed Federal Budget measures supporting irrigated agriculture business, building on the Government’s $4 billion Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper announced in mid – 2015. Council Chair Gavin McMahon said measures underpinning the sustainability of irrigated agriculture businesses through the easing of the tax burden for small business, a continuation of the Farm […] …


National Irrigators’ Council has commended the federal government’s commitment to progress a plan to remove carp from Australia’s waterways. Chair of the Council Gavin McMahon welcomed the announcement by the Australian Government of $15 million in the 2016 federal budget towards the plan, which includes the intended release of a carp – specific herpes virus. […] …


National Irrigators’ Council Chair Gavin McMahon has welcomed today’s decision by Commonwealth and State Environment and Water Ministers (MINCO) to agree to an amendment to the Basin Plan that would provide for a second round of projects by 30 June 2017, under the sustainable diversion limit (SDL) adjustment mechanism. No tification regarding SDL projects was […] …


Carp herpes virus first step in native fish recovery says Alliance The Australian, state and territories governments are considering the release of a carp – specific herpes virus to knock down Australia’s worst freshwater pest, the European Carp, but it could be a wasted opportunity unless it is supported by river recovery actions. An alliance […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Tom Chesson said State Governments could do much more to save jobs as the impacts of low inflows and the successive ‘historic’ water reforms erode social and economic resilience in the Murray Darling Basin. “The Victorian Government could immediately direct Melbourne Water to use allocations attached to the 75,000 megalitres […] …


The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said he was amazed by the histrionics which has accompanied the announcement that at the Federal level water will be returning to the Agricultural portfolio.” The near hysterical response from some quarters warning of dire consequences shows a frightening lack of knowledge about how the Basin […] …


The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said he was amazed by the histrionics which has accompanied the announcement that at the Federal level water will be returning to the Agricultural portfolio.” The near hysterical response from some quarters warning of dire consequences shows a frightening lack of knowledge about how the Basin […] …


The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said he was amazed by the histrionics which has accompanied the announcement that at the Federal level water will be returning to the Agricultural portfolio.” The near hysterical response from some quarters warning of dire consequences shows a frightening lack of knowledge about how the Basin […] …


National Irrigators’ Council CEO Tom Chesson today welcomed the 1500 GL cap on water buybacks in the Murray – Darling Basin, secured into legislation through the Water Amendment Bill 2015. Mr Chesson said the Council had long pursued a campaign for a legislated 1500 GL cap and commended the Government for its commitment to irrigated […] …


National Irrigators’ Council CEO Tom Chesson today welcomed the 1500 GL cap on water buybacks in the Murray – Darling Basin, secured into legislation through the Water Amendment Bill 2015. Mr Chesson said the Council had long pursued a campaign for a legislated 1500 GL cap and commended the Government for its commitment to irrigated […] …


National Irrigators’ Council CEO Tom Chesson today welcomed the Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) Adjustment Stocktake Report released by the Murray – Darling Basin Ministerial Council. Mr Chesson noted that while progress towards the SDL Adjustment Mechanism is in its early stages, he said the report will nevertheless be welcome news for the irrigated agriculture sector.The […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Tom Chesson said the failure to fund the Commonwealth Water Agencies including the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder beyond the 2016/17 forward estimates sent a very poor message to Murray Darling Basin communities about the Commonwealth’s long term commitment to the Basin Plan. “It is disappointing that when the former Prime […] …


The National Irrigator’s Council (NIC) today welcomed what could only be described as a ‘luke warm’ attempt by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to reign in out of control electricity prices. Chair of the National Irrigator’s Council Energy Committee, Dale Holliss said he was disappointed the cuts did not go further and said NIC would […] …


Chair of the National Irrigators’ Council Energy sub – committee Dale Holliss today expressed disappointment in many aspects of the Federal Government’s Energy White Paper noting the complete omission of any reference to the network charging regimes of electricity companies’, a key factor in driving the unsustainable cost of electricity in the irrigated agriculture sector. […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council is calling on the Federal Senate not to get distracted by talk of inquiries and to focus on acting now to minimise the uncertainty in irrigation communities. National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Tom Chesson said the Council would not support a Senate inquiry into the Murray Darling Basin Plan at this […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council today welcomed the appointment of the Hon Neil Andrew as Chair of the Murray – Darling Basin Authority. CEO Tom Chesson said the Council looked forward to working with Mr Andrew on the broad range of issues of importance to those involved in the irrigation industry and the communities they support. […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today welcomed the renewed commitment by the Coalition Government to legislate a cap of 1500 gigalitres on water buy – backs in the Murray Darling Basin and said it hoped that the Labor Party would continue the tradition of bipartisan support for Basin reforms. CEO Tom Chesson said back in […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council today welcomed a return of common sense and common decency with the disallowance of two sneaky critically endangered listings. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said the decision to list as ‘critically endangered’ the ‘River Murray and associated wetlands, floodplains and groundwater systems, from the junction of the Darling River to the sea’ […] …


Many farmers are dreading a visit to the mail box with out of control electricity bills soon due to land on kitchen tables around the country. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said one of the biggest issues facing NIC Members was escalating electricity prices.” “We need cheaper electricity. We need it […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council said it was disappointed that after six years and millions of dollars the MDBA was only able to produce a ‘work in progress’ as its draft Constraints Management Strategy (CMS). NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said the draft document released today was grossly inadequate especially given it was meant to provide guidance […] …


Many farmers are dreading a visit to the mail box with out of control electricity bills now due to land on kitchen tables around the country. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said one of the biggest issues facing NIC Members this election was escalating electricity prices.” “We need cheaper electricity. We […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council said it was extremely disappointed about the lack of consultation surrounding the Government’s decision to burden communities in the Basin with more green tape. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said the decision to list as ‘critically endangered’ the ‘River Murray and associated wetlands, floodplains and groundwater systems, from the junction of the […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today welcomed the Coalition’s draft Water Plan and said if we are to meet future food security challenges both here and abroad it is time we had a sensible discussion on what our future needs are and how they can be delivered in a sustainable way. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has warned repeatedly that the future of the Nations’ food bowl was resting on the implementation of Murray Darling Basin Plan and unless it was properly resourced it would become a complete shambles. “Over $12 billion of taxpayers funding has been allocated to recover water, yet funding to implement and […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) said the future of the Nations’ food bowl was resting on the implementation of Murray Darling Basin Plan and unless it was properly resourced it could become a complete shambles. “Today Senior Murray Darling Basin Officials are meeting in Canberra to discuss the future of the Murray Darling Basin Authority, […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) said the future of the Nations’ food bowl was resting on the implementation of Murray Darling Basin Plan and unless it was properly resourced it could become a complete shambles. “Today the MDB Ministers are meeting in Canberra to discuss the finer details of the Intergovernmental Agreement, including funding,” NIC […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council said the river doesn’t care how water is recovered and capping water buy – backs in legislation will go a long way to delivering a better basin plan. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson today welcomed the fact that some Members of Parliament are prepared to put their communities first. Mr Chesson said […] …


The Basin Plan has failed to legally protect communities from the ‘downsides’ of water back – backs, and communities will have to put their trust in the goodwill of politicians, the CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, (NIC) Tom Chesson said today. “NIC has repeatedly asked the Government to back up its own acknowledgement ‘you […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has sceptically welcomed today’s announcement of additional funding for infrastructure within the Murray Darling Basin. “The commitment to additional funding, and the achievement of water through infrastructure is welcome, but we are far from convinced that the government will be able to effectively remove the capacity constraints,” NIC CEO, Tom […] …


The latest modelling from the MDBA is a political con job that has no basis in reality and will be used as a pawn in a political game to appease the South Australian Government. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said the modelling released today is a political fix for a political […] …


The latest decision to cut funding for the Native Fish Strategy is just another odd decision in a long line of questionable calls, the CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Tom Chesson said today. Mr Chesson said that when it comes to decision making for the environmental health of the Murray Darling Basin, contradictory […] …


News that the MDBA wants to change the Benchmark modelling it has used to calculate the amount of water it will recover from Basin communities is creating concern throughout the Basin,the CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said today. “Changing the Benchmark modelling after the Basin Plan has been approved by the Parliament […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today said the latest incarnation of the proposed Basin Plan will leave many Basin Communities feeling they have been ignored again. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said whilst there were some welcomed inclusions in the latest version of the proposed Basin Plan, the crocodiles lurking in the details were making support […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council today welcomed the MDB Ministerial Council response to the proposed Basin Plan and said it may just be possible for a Balanced Basin Plan to be developed which does not destroy jobs, increase food prices and wipe out irrigation dependent communities. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said today’s Ministerial Council response could […] …

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News & Media from Member Organisations


The MDBA release the draft Determination for the SDLAM Reconcilation and has now opened consultation period until 1 November 2026. 

The Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) reconciliation is a statutory requirement under the Basin Plan (2012) (the Basin Plan). The MDBA are asking for feedback on the draft determination and the Authority’s proposed Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) adjustments. …


Wednesday, 30th September between 10-11am MDBA presenters will bring together evidence, stakeholder feedback and emerging policy directions across a range of topics being examined through the review, including:

  • environmental water management
  • climate adaptation
  • native fish recovery
  • water quality
  • northern Basin issues
  • sustainable diversion limits.
Speakers will outline areas where evidence suggests there may be opportunities to improve Basin water management and identify options that warrant further discussion and testing.  The rountable materials will be the basis for the webinar as a broad consultation opportunity following the Rountables in Sydney.  …


The MDBA have released consultation materials ahead of the upcoming Roundtable in Sydney - NIC will be attending.  

This purpose of this pack outlines the emerging policy directions for the Basin Plan Review. It is intended to support further engagement and does not represent settled positions or decisions. There will be six Rountable discussions  on:

  • Optimising outcomes from environmental water (including constraints)
  • Water resource planning and regulation
  • At-risk SDL assessments and potential responses
  • Northern Basin water management
  • Water quality and native fish
  • Climate risk and adaptive responses
…


Australian Water Association is calling for Abstracts for OzWater 2027.

You can submit an abstract, case study, video pitch, workshop or panel idea across 13 diverse sub-themes.

Whether you have new research to share, lessons from a project, an innovative approach or a conversation you think the sector needs to have, now is the time to get your submission in.

A great opportunity to showcase the wonder work of the industry, your programs and irrigation effeciency.  Reach out to Zara or Christine, if interested to discuss.  

Due 18 September 2026
…


Australia's food security strategy cannot ignore water as a critical input, according to irrigation industry leaders in Canberra attending the National Farmers Federation Summit today.

National Irrigators' Council, NSW Irrigators' Council, Ricegrowers' Association, Citrus Australia and Cotton Australia were united in their call that water policy belongs in Australia's food security conversation. [...] …


Cotton Australia is looking for a Water Policy Officer to join their team. The role works closely with the General Manager, the CEO and other members of the Policy Team to ensure the cotton industry’s interests are well represented across water policy, planning and regulatory processes — engaging with stakeholders including the National Farmers’ Federation Water Committee, National Irrigators Council, Queensland Farmers’ Federation Water and Energy Policy Committee, New South Wales Irrigators Council, valley-based irrigator groups and Cotton Grower Associations. …

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Upcoming Events

Past Member Events 

NIC Networking and Thank You Dinner

Hotel Kurrajong
Barton, Canberra

NIC Member AGM and General Meeting

-
Old Parliament House
Barton, Canberra

Water Act Review Submission Feedback session 2

Teams Meeting - RSVP for Link

Water Act Review Submission Feedback session 1

Online meeting - via teams, register for link

DCCEEW NIC info session on International Agreements and the Water Act

Teams Meeting - RSVP for Link

NIC General Meeting

The Pullman, O'Riordan St
Gweagal room, Mascot, Sydney, NSW


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