MEDIA RELEASES

7 Apr

The NIC recently provided DCCEEW with feedback into the Exposure Draft for Water Amendment (Water Markets Intermediaries Code and Trust Accounting Framework) Regulations 2025 as part of the ongoing consultations on the matter.  NIC acknowledges the commitment of the Water Market Reform team to consider the feedback throughout the multiphase engagement.  However, we offer the following as considerations for further clarity within the proposed regulations as well as recommendations regarding the timing of the regulations.  [...]

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1 Apr

The MDBA and Alluvium Consulting are conducting a review of the effectiveness of the Environmental Watering Plan (and targets in Sch 7 of the Basin Plan) - and a survey is now live to collect feedback (click icon for link). We encourage members to participate in the survey! The survey will close on 4^th April 2025.

We will provide some guidance for your consideration via email.

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28 Mar

National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) calls on all parties and independents to re-dress this week’s budget fails during the Federal Election campaign and commit to safeguarding Australia’s food and fibre future for the benefit of all Australian’s.  NIC CEO, Zara Lowien said, “During this week’s budgets both sides of government claimed they want to strengthen our economy and build Australia’s economic resilience, but neither provided any real plan to harness Australia’s world-leading water management systems and technologies to secure our nation’s future”. [...]

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27 Mar

The team will be monitoring election commitments on water and agriculture by the major parties and others, throughout the Federal Election.  Any announcements and insights will be available on our dedicated Members page. 

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26 Mar

Irrigators have joined the chorus of farming and small business groups calling out the mixed messaging and missed opportunities for agriculture, regional businesses and communities in this year’s budget. “This week’s budget is confusing to anyone wanting to buy locally grown, green, food and fibre”, said Zara Lowien, CEO of National Irrigators’ Council (NIC). [...]

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25 Mar

NIC Members agreed to a Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) Reconciliation Position Statement following the release of the MDBA's SDLAM Reconciliation Framework.

This position statement was prepared in conjunction with our Murray-Darling Basin Position Statement, our Constraints Management Position Statement and our guiding principles. 

Approved 20 March 2025.

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25 Mar

NIC Members agreed to an update to the Constraints Management Position Statement following the release of the MDBA's Constraints Roadmap.

This position statement was prepared in conjunction with our Murray-Darling Basin Position Statement and our guiding principles. 

Approved 20 March 2025.

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25 Mar

NIC Members prepared an updated Position Statement regarding key principles to be considered by Governments when finalising the Murray Darling Basin Plan. 

These were prepared in conjunction with our Guiding Policy Principles.

Approved 20 March 2025.

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13 Mar

NIC recently commenced a work program investigating compensation provisions in response to the unique opportunity to seek changes to the Risk Assignment Framework (RAF) in the NWI/NWA, and due to concerns from some members of the problems with how the RAF is being used (most notably, in NSW).  The NIC Board decided to establish a Sub-Committee to discuss and provide advice to contribute to informing the NIC approach given the complexities of the issues around different states and the pace at which negotiations may move with the NWA.  However, the work so far has uncovered a few larger issues that will take longer to explore..

The following information is now prepared for Members input

•         A larger paper titled “Compensable or Compromisable: A critical review of the adequacy of compensation arrangements for water access entitlements in Australian jurisdictions underpinning water property rights”.
•         A summary Briefing note for Members ‘Approaching concerns over the Risk Assignment Framework’ attached and available here.

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