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NIC Media Releases

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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 […] …


I recently obtained an explosive document which reveals that introduced fish species such as carp and trout have been a major cause of native fish extinctions in the Murray Darling Basin (MDB). The document is explosive because it makes it plain that the Government’s attempts to create ‘healthy working rivers’ in the MDB, of which […] …


1. Name and description of the key threatening process 1.1 Title of the process The introduction in Australian inland waters of native or non-native fish that are outside their natural geographic distribution. 1.2 Description of the process The introduction of non-native or native fish outside their natural ranges is one of the major conservation issues […] …


The National Irrigators‟ Council (NIC) today strongly backed calls by Gina Rinehart for Government Departments to be decentralised out of Canberra. The NIC‟s CEO, Tom Chesson said Gina Rinehart is spot on when she writes; “We need our government departments and government advisers exposed to more of Australia …,” “There are no practical reasons for […] …


Big environment groups are friendless and are being forced to pay people to work on community stalls it was revealed today. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said one of the big environmental corporations Environment Victoria is offering people $25 an hour to work on its community stalls in Melbourne. “Many of […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council said irrigators have lost a statesman with the sudden resignation of its inaugural Chairman, Stewart Ellis. Mr Ellis is an honest broker who has done what many thought impossible and has brought together for the first time since Federation irrigators from around the country and particularly across the Murray Darling Basin. […] …


The National Irrigators‟ Council (NIC) has obtained an explosive document which reveals introduced fish species such as carp and trout have been a major cause of native fish extinctions in the Murray Darling Basin (MDB). NIC‟s CEO, Tom Chesson said the Ministerial Advice from the Government‟s Threatened Species Scientific Committee calling on the Government to […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council today welcomed the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments announcement that environmental works at Lindsay Island in the Murray Sunset National Park will be investigated. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council said whilst today’s announcement was light on details, the NIC has long argued that the proposed works at Lindsay Island could […] …


The closure of the Heinz’s Girgarre tomato sauce factory with the loss of 146 jobs is a sign of what will come if the Government adopts the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) Draft Plan. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Tom Chesson said without a strong, viable, internationally competitive food processing sector many communities […] …


Peak agricultural industry groups from across the Murray-Darling Basin believe that the proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan, released this morning by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, has failed to achieve the promised balance between social, economic and environmental impacts. The collective industry bodies, including the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), National Irrigators Council, AgForce Queensland, Queensland Farmers’ Federation, […] …


The National Irrigators‟ Council (NIC) today said the draft Basin Plan in its current form is unacceptable. Chairman of the NIC, Stewart Ellis, said the draft basin plan will cost thousands of jobs, put pressure on food prices, and threaten family farms and regional communities. “If the draft Basin Plan is adopted in its current […] …


Irrigation communities in the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) are worried the Governments’ Basin Plan will be an expensive failure if the focus is solely on removing water from communities. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Mr Tom Chesson, said if the Basin Plan to have any chance of being supported by communities it has […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the decision of the Commonwealth Government to revert to previous conversion factors used to determine the reliability of water entitlements in the Murray Darling Basin. “NIC CEO Tom Chesson said the news that 20 week consultation period is due to begin on the 28th of November was welcomed, however, […] …


A chance discovery has left irrigation communities furious and the goodwill generated by MDBA Chairman, Craig Knowles, is evaporating, the CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Tom Chesson said today. “Without telling anyone, the Commonwealth Water Department has in the latest update of water purchases on its website, changed the way they work out the […] …


The Chairman of the National Irrigators’ Council, Stewart Ellis today announced the appointment of new CEO, Tom Chesson saying he was joining the organisation at a crucial time. “Tom Chesson is joining the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) at a time communities in the Murray Darling Basin are trying to recover from the worst drought on […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the settlement of a $1.2 billion funding agreement for Victoria’s Food Bowl stage 2 development as a win for all parties. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said the agreement signed today by Victoria and the Commonwealth was an investment in the future of irrigation regions and at last delivered on […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the National Water Commission’s progress report on water reform in Australia, agreeing that a new push is required to continue to implement reforms first agreed seven years ago. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said the National Water Initiative signed in 2004 remained the foundation of water policy in Australia but […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council said when it comes to water the only thing flowing out of Adelaide and Canberra was hypocrisy. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council(NIC), Tom Chesson said despite making plenty of noise about the need for reform in the Murray Darling Basin, neither Adelaide or Canberra were giving up one drop […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today expressed its disappointment and frustration over the continued downgrading of ‘practical’ agricultural research which is in direct contradiction to recommend ation 14 of the Windsor Inquiry The CEO of NIC, Tom Chesson said hopes of a last minute reprieve for the former CSIRO research station at Merbein have been […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council has continued its recent growth, with the Council welcoming two new members at its AGM in Canberra today. Southern Riverina Irrigators (NSW) and Sunraysia Citrus Growers (Vic) were both admitted as new members on top of the recent addition of Renmark Irrigation Trust (SA) and a further three corporate observer members. […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s announcement confirming its $1 billion commitment to the upgrade of northern Victoria’s irrigation infrastructure. NIC CEO, Danny O’Brien said investments of this type were critical to enabling a strong future for irrigation districts and would help in achieving the balance necessary in the proposed Murray Darling […] …


The revelation today that Australia now has a trade deficit in food and grocery manufacturing should be a warning sign to the Federal Government that it cannot afford to needlessly slash food production in the Murray Darling Basin. The National Irrigators’ Council said the release of the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s “State of the […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council says the path is now clear for a triple bottom line approach to the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan. Commenting on the release of government legal advice on the Water Act 2007,NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said it was now up to the MDBA or Water Minister Tony Burke to put some […] …


The Murray Darling Basin Authority has confirmed again today that it has no power to give equal consideration to the needs of the environment, food production and regional communities when setting new sustainable diversion limits. The National Irrigators’ Council said no further evidence was needed now that the Water Act is ill – equipped to […] …


Irrigators have welcomed the Federal Government’s change of tone on water recovery in the Murray Darling Basin, saying that engineering works and measures can help deliver a better environment while reducing the need to remove water from rural communities. Minister for Regional Australia, Simon Crean and Minister for Water, Tony Burke have both highlighted the […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the announcement of a Parliamentary inquiry into the social and economic impacts of the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan but says its terms of reference must allow it to examine the Water Act2007 and consider amendments. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said the inquiry announced today by Ministers Crean, Burke […] …


The Murray Darling Basin Authority must immediately release the scientific and economic modelling behind its “Guide to the Proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan” if it is truly committed to genuine consultation with basin communities. The National Irrigators’ Council said Water Minister Tony Burke needed to understand it is impossible for the community to engage in […] …


he National Irrigators’ Council has outlined the first 10 issues it believes the Murray Darling Basin Authority must urgently address with its Guide to the Proposed Basin Plan. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said while proposed cuts to water for productive use clearly failed to deliver balance between the needs of the environment and those of […] …


Drastic new limits on the amount of water that can be used for food and fibre production in the Murray Darling Basin will be an unmitigated disaster for all Australians and must be rejected by the Federal Government and Water Minister Tony Burke. The National Irrigators’ Council said the proposed new sustainable diversion limits (SDLs) […] …


Reports that the Murray Darling Basin Authority will release only an upper and lower “range” that new Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) may fit into will prolong the uncertainty surrounding the new Basin Plan, according to the National Irrigators’ Council. The reports, confirmed by sources tonight, add insult to the injury of the likely scale of […] …


The proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan to be released this week will fail the nation if it doesn’t adequately balance the needs of the environment, food and fibre production and regional communities. The National Irrigators’ Council is concerned that the Plan will focus too heavily on the environment to the detriment of all Australians. “Irrigators […] …


The new CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, Danny O’Brien, will visit Sunraysia next week. Mr O’Brien was recently appointed to the NIC, which is the peak national body for irrigators, and is travelling to Dareton for Western Murray Irrigation’s annual general meeting on Tuesday night. Prior to the meeting, he will meet with local […] …


Wakool (NSW) district irrigator Stewart Ellis has been elected the new chairman of the National Irrigators’ Council. Mr Ellis was elected at today’s NIC annual general meeting, with South Australian irrigator Ian Zadow re-elected as Deputy Chair. Mr Ellis grows cereal crops and beef cattle in the Murray region of NSW and was recently re-elected […] …

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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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