NEWS & EVENTS

Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industries.

NIC Media Releases

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Media Release - Perfect score for Murray-Darling Basin levels of water use
16 Jul

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.”

Read More…

Media Release -SunRice cuts show water recovery has gone beyond the tipping point
13 Jul

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).

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Basin projects withdrawn is a lose-lose for communities and the environment
2 Jul

Basin officials have confirmed 14 environmental projects will be withdrawn from formal recognition under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan placing Southern Basin communities at risk of losing up to a further 355 GL of water through no fault of their own.

“The environmental outcomes from these projects cannot be achieved by ‘just adding more water’,” said CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Zara Lowien, “in fact, these projects are essential to actually use all the water the Government has already recovered from farmers.Withdrawing these projects is a lose-lose situation for communities and the environment." [...] Read More…

MR - Broad agreement on the need to move forwards in MDB
24 Jun

Today's publication of the ‘What we Heard’ Report following public consultation on the Basin Plan Review shows a clear united message: priorities have shifted, move on from “just adding water”. “After three decades of reform focused on reducing diversions to rebalance towards the environment, it’s clear that priorities are now shifting to a broader range of issues that cannot be addressed by just adding water,” said National Irrigators’ Council CEO Zara Lowien [...] Read More…

Are Billions at Risk? Government water buybacks fail economic test
18 Jun

The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has warned the Federal Government’s continued pursuit of additional water buybacks under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan risks becoming one of Australia’s most expensive environmental program without demonstrating that it delivers value to the Australian economy.

A new NIC review has found the Government’s 450 GL additional environmental water program has moved well beyond its original budget and purpose, with taxpayers facing a potential multi-billion-dollar bill despite growing evidence that further water purchases are delivering diminishing environmental returns. Read More…

News & Media from Member Organisations

Churchill Fellowship information session for ag hort and food sectors - February 25
17 Feb '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). Read More…

Training opportunities with IAL
22 Jan '25

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. Read More…

Irrigation Australia Media Release: Murray system reaches full allocation before spring making river operators and landholders ‘
11 Aug '22

Kitler Rural Media Release: Kilter Rural CEO Cullen Gunn talks water returns on ausbiz
9 Aug '22