NEWS & EVENTS

Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industries.

NIC Media Releases

Filter by year:


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 […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Tom Chesson, said communities in the Murray Darling Basin were heartened by the attendance of the AWU’s NSW South West Organiser, Harry Goring, amidst the ranks of the 7000 people who attended the recent rally in Griffith to demand a balanced Basin Plan. “Mr Goring understands that AWU jobs are […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has welcomed the report released today by the House of Representatives into the proposed Murray – Darling Basin Plan. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said the fact that a cross – Party Committee with Members from the ALP, Liberals and The Nationals Parties plus an Independent Chair had made the recommendations […] …


The closure of the Cotton Catchment Communities Cooperative Research Centre (Cotton CRC) on Sunday 1st of July highlights the lack of Government investment into practical real world on – the – ground research in Australia. The National Irrigators’ Council, CEO Tom Chesson said the work of the Cotton CRC was legendary and had provided a […] …


Today’s meeting Murray – Darling Basin Ministerial Council has done little to allay irrigators concerns and has raised more questions than it has answered. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said he was surprised that the Ministers had agreed to another round of modelling for the proposed Basin Plan when the majority […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council said it was not surprised communities were again rallying in Griffith. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Tom Chesson said many communities right up and down the Murray Darling Basin felt they were being ignored and their anger was white hot. “It’s not just communities directly affected who should […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council will today tell the Regional Australia Parliamentary Inquiry that investing in environmental works and measures, infrastructure and efficiencies, in turn reducing the need for ‘held’ environmental water entitlement could break the current deadlock and see a Basin Plan delivered by the end of the year. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ […] …


House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia Inquiry into certain matters relating to the proposed Murray – Darling Basin plan Table of Contents 1.Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 2.IF CEWH Cannot Use the Water it Already Has Does it Need Any More?……………………………….. 53.Without Environmental Works and Measures Environmental Outcomes Will be Limited………… 6 3.1.Recommended Environmental works […] …


Five months ago the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) said the draft Basin Plan was unacceptable. Today’s release of the next stage of the proposed Basin Plan has done nothing to curtail that view. Chairman of the NIC, Gavin McMahon, said the proposed Basin Plan will cost thousands of jobs, put increased pressure on food prices,and […] …


It has been mentioned a number of times by some Politicians and commentators that the Murray Darling Basin Plan will ensure that the environment and communities in the Murray Darling Basin will become immune from the worst effects of drought if the Basin Plan is adopted. This is incorrect. Towns throughout western NSW from Orange […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the launch this week of the River Reach trial program of water trading. NIC CEO,Tom Chesson says that the trial provides an option for the acquisition of water without the economic damage that can be caused by indiscriminate purchases. “River Reach is a project that was designed by the […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today welcomed the Prime Minister’s comments that she believed Australia could be a food producing super power, however they cautioned there will have to be a fundamental shift in government policies if agricultural and food production is to fully benefit from the Asian century. The NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said […] …


The Chairman of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Stewart Ellis said his organisation, whilst willing to work with the Government, has rejected as unacceptable, the proposed Basin Plan. Mr Ellis said the NIC’s submission highlighted the major concerns irrigators had with the draft Basin Plan and said it was now up to the MDBA and […] …


An exit poll in Queensland after the recent state election, asked people who they voted for and why. Given the myriad of poorly run-and-administered taxpayer-funded programs, it was not surprising that ”delivery of state services” ran a close second to ”cost of living” as the key reason for people’s decisions. Having picked 2750 Gl as […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) is calling on the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to release the promised multiple benefit study being conducted by the CSIRO to provide stakeholders time to analyse its findings. NIC CEO, Tom Chesson, said the MDBA had rightly recognised that more work needed to be done on valuing the benefits […] …


The National Irrigators‟ Council today said today’s announcement of new water buy backs in the Southern Basin was neither, strategic or smart and had already been widely condemned as being unworkable. The NIC CEO, Tom Chesson said the Government was informed over twelve months ago that it would in all probability be illegal for private […] …

Show More

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/  …

Show More

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


Join Our Community

Find out more about our community, and join our mission advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry.

Our Community
 Our Community


Website Disclaimer |  Privacy Policy |  Terms & Conditions