NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASES

Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry

The NIC continues to monitor the Federal Government’s implementation of the additional Held Environmental Water (HEW) program under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and has released a second report, following our December 2025 analysis. 

The 450 GL program has fundamentally changed since it was first conceived. The original budget has been exhausted, expected costs have escalated significantly, the scope of the program has expanded, and new environmental evidence has emerged. Despite these material changes, there has been no transparent reassessment of whether continued expenditure represents the most effective, efficient and economical investment to achieve environmental outcomes and deliver benefits to the Australian economy [...]

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.

The Board would like to thank Members for their ongoing support to NIC, your support and our growth strategy, is ensuring we are a focused and sustainable organisation, providing a strong and united voice in key water policy debates.

The Board also wishes to inform Members of the  2026 -2027 fee structure. Increases have been managed closely to the March 2026 quarter Consumer Price Index, slight rounding was needed to keep the fee structure in whole dollars. This coming year, a new non-Murray Darling Basin fee option is now available for all Membership categories enabling a discounted rate, when the proposed applicant's water entitlement interests are located solely outside the Murray-Darling Basin. 

Here is a member briefing note for members on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which is a key focus of the review of the Water Act 2007 (Cth). We will present this to you at todays drop-in session, for those available to attend, and start discussions on our strategy. 

The Peter Cullen Trust has initiated a new Leadership Program for Executives - Confluence.

Confluence is designed for leaders who already operate at scale and want to amplify their impact. In a time of complexity and change, it offers a rare opportunity to step back from the day to day demands of leadership and focus on how to maintain and expand influence.

Confluence creates a space to reflect, connect and lead with purpose in complex times. A place where ideas, experience and perspectives converge to shape resilient futures.  Reach out to Lesley at PCT via office@petercullentrust.com.au

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. 

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. 

Please see our Meeting Event page for information on our upcoming October AGM and General Meeting.

Scheduled over two-half-days on Tuesday 13th October and Wednesday 14th October 2026, in Barton ACT.  This is a sitting week, so please book your travel early to save.

A Networking and Thank You Dinner will be held at Hotel Kurrajong on Tuesday, 13th October - a separate event with a trybooking link is available under Member events. 

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.

The MDBA together with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation are hosting a free webinar to hear more about their new leadership initiative - A leadership program for people ready to work across sectors, communities and perspectives to support the long term health of the Basin and the communities it sustains. For anyone interested in learning more about this opportunity, a webinar is being held on Wednesday 20th May 2026 | 4pm - 5pm.

Last night, the Treasurer presented the Government's 2026 Budget. Its contentious due to is reform agenda to the tax system, their assumptions and whether Labor have broken trust with Australian's over their proposals.  The bottom line is that we are projected for at least another 10-years to be in deficit and that will affect the Government's thinking when it comes to how they generate income and their likely spending priorities going forward.

Attached is a briefing note from NIC which is specific to the Water Portfolio items which are much less controversial but indicative that water isnt a major priority. For water and the MDB, the likely expenditure is again as clear as mud with references to not for publication subtlety hidden as notes to tables, with no clear line items to attribute what may or may not be the future budget. We have made some calculations here using what we have available, however it may not be the full picture. As with many portfolio areas, there is a lot of savings and not a lot of new expenditure.  These savings include another $104M from the National Water Grid with only $21.1M in new spending to top up existing programs. 

This submission is provided to the Productivity Commission’s (PC) fourth inquiry on governments’ progress under the National Water Initiative (NWI), as required by the Water Act 2007 (Cth). NIC notes that this inquiry comes at a time of significant review, and potential change, of water policy settings across Australia, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). The consultation burden affects stakeholders and Government.

This submission is provided to the review of the operation and management of the Menindee Lakes system. Many of our Members are critically linked into the frameworks and operations of Menindee Lakes via existing sharing arrangements through the Murray Darling Agreement or local sharing plans - above and below the Lakes. This submission therefore represents the views of irrigation entitlement holders and water users, and non-government water delivery networks, up and downstream of the Lakes.

Following a quick presentation from the PC and our Member Policy Discussion yesterday, please see the first draft of NIC's Submission into the Productivity Commissions Inquiry into National Water Reform.  This is due to be lodged tomorrow, however given the timeframes we can hold off until Monday for feedback and lodge Monday evening. 

We hope that little bit more time allows you time for feedback and review.  Please reach out for a word document if you want to provide tracked changes. 

Following feedback from Members and the discussion at the Member Policy Session yesterday, please see an updated version of the NIC Menindee Submission attached. This is due to be lodged tomorrow, so please review for final checks. 

Changes included adding clear statements on boundaries on what the vision for the Lakes must recognise, as well as including the final agreed principles as recommendations.  We included reference to the shepherding trial and clarity around the exiting multi jurisdictional arrangements now within the Water Act.

The draft NIC Submission for the Menindee Lakes Review is now available for member feedback. You will find the draft submission on our members area > policy & strategy > Menindee Lakes.

We will discuss the draft submission at next weeks Drop-In, which is an opportunity to provide feedback. 

Note: NIC received an extension to May 8th. 

Thank you to all our Members who have provided input prior to and during the 12-weeks of consultation.

Our submission has now been lodged. 

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