Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industries.
Media Release - Enough is enough, the NIC message from the Bush Summit
The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) sent a clear message at the National Bush Summit: ‘enough is enough’ of taking water away
from farmers.
“Communities are at tipping point right around the Basin,” said Zara Lowien, CEO of NIC, after 1 in 3 litres of water has been removed from
farming over more than 30 years of reform. [...]
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Joint Media Release - Water policy must be on the food security menu
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. [...]
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A lot is changing in water and water-related businesses and National Irrigators' Council is changing too.
We have introduced new membership options recognising that organisations are structured differently and may already contribute to NIC
through local or valley representation. Our structure also provides options for organisations with operations outside the
Murray–Darling Basin,
making direct national representation more accessible while recognising existing contributions.
Is now the time to explore our options?
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Media Release - Perfect score for Murray-Darling Basin levels of water use
A new report has found levels of water use across the Murray-Darling Basin are fully compliant with the Basin Plan’s Sustainable Diversion
Limits (SDLs), which irrigators say shows ‘the job is done’.
“Water use across the Basin is fully compliant with the Sustainable Diversion Limits set by the Basin Plan,” said Zara Lowien, CEO of the
National Irrigators’ Council (NIC).
“It’s very clear that over-extraction is no longer the issue for the Murray-Darling Basin.”
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Media Release -SunRice cuts show water recovery has gone beyond the tipping point
13 July 2026, Canberra ACT: Communities in the Murray-Darling Basin are calling on the Federal Government to stop, after
SunRice attributed major changes to Australian milling sites directly to slashed water for farming under the Basin Plan, putting hundreds of
jobs at risk.
“The industry has been warning the Federal Government of this exact risk for years, and now the worst-case scenario is unfolding,” said Zara
Lowien, CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC).
[continued]
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PCT2027 Leadership Program webinar
Every organisation has someone with the potential to lead through complexity, inspire others and make a lasting difference. Who
comes to mind for you?
The Peter Cullen Trust is looking for the next cohort of emerging and established leaders to join our 2027 Leadership Program.
A webinar is being held on 25 Aug 2026 12:30 PM to find out more.
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Water professionals from across New South Wales will come together in Wollongong to explore practical solutions, fresh thinking and the
partnerships needed to tackle today's biggest water challenges.
Under this year's theme, Squeezing Every Last Drop: From Survival to Strength: No Excuses, No Waste. Do More with Less,
the program brings together government, utilities, local councils and industry leaders to share real-world insights you can take back to
your organisation. 17 - 19 August 2026.
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DCCEEW are hosting an online webinar at 10:30am AEST on 28 July 2026 - you can register
here.
The webinar will provide information to support participation in the current review of The Water Act 2007 (Cth) with the
release of a Review Discussion Paper.
This webinar will be recorded and will be available on our website following the event.
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Applications soon close for the first cohort's of the ARLF and MDBA Murray-Darling Leadership Program (MDBLP). The program aims
to bring together people from across the Basin who are ready to work beyond their own interests and contribute to something shared —
including strengthening understanding of how the Basin’s water resources are managed and why they matter.
This is a leadership experience designed for people who care deeply about the future of the Basin and the communities, industries and water
dependent ecosystems it supports. To find our more - visit the webpage and lodge an expression of interest.
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New Basin Community Committee Members Wanted
The MDBA is seeking expression of interest applications for Basin Community Committee (BCC) Members that provide input to the MDBA on their activities.
New tenures and reappointments will begin in April 2027 for a 3-year term and nominations will undergo an extensive selection process
involving all Basin governments.
The Basin Community Committee, established under the Water Act 2007 (Cth), is chaired by Ms Rachel Kelly and includes
irrigation, environmental water and Indigenous water subcommittees.
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Integrating Basin-Scale and Onsite Water Systems Webinar
In One Basin CRC up-coming webinar series explores integrating Basin-scale and onsite water systems with a joint partnership with One Basin CRC and One Water Program at Texas A&M University in the United States. In response to increasing water scarcity, climate variability, and growing agricultural and municipal water demands, integrated “One Water” approaches are gaining global traction.Hear more at the Webinar Thursday, 21 May 2026, at 10:00am. Read More…
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.
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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/
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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).
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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.
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Irrigation Australia Media Release: Murray system reaches full allocation before spring making river operators and landholders ‘
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Teams Meeting - RSVP for Link |
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Online meeting - via teams, register for link |
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Teams Meeting - RSVP for Link |
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The Pullman, O'Riordan St
Gweagal room, Mascot, Sydney, NSW |
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Griffith, NSW
Yoogali Club, Card Room |
Find out more about our community, and join our mission advocating for the Australian irrigated
agriculture industry.