NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASES

Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry

Minister Plibersek tabled the Australia Audit Office's review of the 2023 Strategic Purchases for Bridging the Gap, which you may recall the Inspector General recently found flaws in governance and managing conflicts. 

The report identified steps were taken to address earlier deficiencies and that processes stacked up.  What was interesting to read in the detail were questions and recommendations about the purpose of these purchases towards the overall policy outcomes, which you will hear more from NIC about this area 

On Monday, Prime Minister Albanese announced the 2024 Annual Report on Closing the Gap and the 2025 workplan. 

We note, that for 2025 actions the priorities will be to develop a First Nations Water Strategy to inform Commonwealth actions under the proposed National Water Agreement. As well as, the Commonwealth continues to work with jurisdictions and a Coalition of Peaks to develop the inland waters target to measure progress towards securing First Nation peoples interest in inland water bodies. 

Under Objective 15 there are current targets for land and sea, but the inland target was not nationally agreed.

We hope to have a Member Policy update on this in the coming month.

We have received queries this week regarding the Federal Government Aboriginal Water Entitlements Program, which is now open for EOIs.

We will be discussing the program at one of our upcoming drop-ins, and are keen to hear member feedback (anytime). To inform that discussion, key resources can be found here.

Note, this program is in addition to water recovery programs under the Basin Plan. The volumes and entitlement types sought in each valley are outlined in the Strategic Purchasing Framework. The areas with the largest volume sought are the Lachlan (8.5 GL GS) and Murrumbidgee (7.5 GL HS/GS) - see page 14 for all water sources. DCCEWW says entitlements will remain within the consumptive pool, with 'First Nations Water Holding Arrangements' under development. The entitlements are to be used to align with the principle:  ‘connectivity underpinned by wealth generation’. 

Separately, DCCEEW are also working on a program 'supporting cultural flows planning for cultural economies in the Murray-Darling Basin'. Applications for funding through the grants program are expected to open in early 2025.

[Note: this is not an endorsement, rather, for member information to inform our discussions and the NIC approach]. 

Water Markets Reform

A reminder to IIOs regarding an information request from DCCEEW. 

DCCEEW are seeking information from IIOs on:

  • the maximum dollar value of an individual trade (for which intermediary services had been provided), for each of the last few years
  • the total dollar value of all trades for which intermediary services have been provided, for each of the last 3 financial/water years (i.e. the sum of the value of the trades).


If you are happy/willing to provide this information, please do so directly to DCCEEW at your earliest convenience, on: Water.Markets@dcceew.gov.au

A reminder to check our member-only page for the latest updates on the NWA.

This includes key resources, such as our latest (January 2025) briefing pack to members to inform your engagements, and our latest submission on the new draft NWA. 

We have just added an update and slides following consultation by the NSW Government. 

IIO Sub Committee Meeting

This week our IIO Sub-Committee met with DCCEEW to discuss key issues as part of the ongoing water markets reforms. 

Focus was on: (i) tiered insurance for IIOs who provide intermediary services for smaller value trades, and (ii) complaints handling processes.

We also discussed the uncertainty of what will happen to this process when the Federal Election is called, and caretaker mode commences (which impacts the departments' ability to consult with stakeholders). 

Meeting minutes have been circulated to the Sub-Committee. Please contact us if you did not receive a copy. 

New statutory trust accounting obligations for eligible water markets intermediaries have been legislated as part of the wider Murray–Darling Basin water markets reforms.  These obligations will commence on 1 July 2025.

Intermediaries will be required to maintain a trust account in circumstances when they receive money on behalf of another person in the course of providing water markets intermediary services.

Further information is available on the DCCEEW website. 

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. 

Member delegates, alternate delegates and representatives have access granted to the Member Area of the website. This section contains organisational material, meeting information and specific policy updates for members use. To access this area, you must be listed as one of the above for your Member organisation and established a password for your email address.  

Click the link below and refresh your password to sign in, once signed in you can access all documentation within the Members Area.

Following member feedback and a meeting with DCCEEW, we finalised our submission on the updated draft of the National Water Agreement. We engaged with NFF to make this a joint submission, so that a united industry position could be put forward. 

We also wrote to First Ministers outlining the progress and remaining concerns on the NWA and attached the submission. 

Thank you to all the Members who have provided feedback into our follow-up submission with DCCEEW on the new National Water Agreement.  We will be sending this off to the Department in early January 2025 as a comprehensive assessment of our areas of concern from industry with NFF also looking into our draft.  As a result, if you come across any more areas of concern, send them through to Zara before 3rd January 2025.

More information on our update is available on the Members - National Water Agreement policy and strategy page. 

Christmas closure period 2024

The staff wish our Members, Partners and stakeholders a very merry and safe Christmas and New Year.  

Our office and key communications will shut down from COB Friday 20th December 2024 and will reopen Monday 6th January 2025. 

We look forward to working with you in 2025!

NIC has welcomed the refreshed approach proposed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) to relax delivery constraints in the Murray-Darling Basin to value add environmental benefits for rivers and floodplains but warns that firm commitments from Basin governments are critical to ensure the program’s momentum is not lost.

“The MDBA has delivered an honest account of the challenges the constraints relaxation program has faced” said Zara Lowien, CEO of NIC. “We support their efforts, but the refreshed process will only succeed if Basin governments reach agreement and commit to a new approach.” [...]

The MDBA released the Constraints Roadmap today which outlines the new framework for cross-border delivery of the Basin Constraints program for another 10-years. The MDBA stating that “The Roadmap provides a guide for governments and communities in navigating the complex reforms required to relax constraints. The findings reflect the MDBA’s view on how to move forward. We hope that they are embraced by governments. Governments are the ultimate decision-makers on moving forward in relaxing constraints.” […]

NIC today lodged their submission to DCCEEW on the Water Market reform - Intermediaries Code and Statutory Trust Account Policy Position paper with an overarching concern that the regulatory burden of this reform, particularly given its scale and pace. We are also concerned that the reform is going too far, and is becoming disproportionate to the problem at hand, and the size and extent of water markets. While market integrity, transparency and good governance are important – there is enormous risk of not striking the right balance for a proportionate policy response […]

Following recent drop in sessions and the completion of our mapping of the updated version of the NWA against the original NWI, we have prepared the following draft position, strategy and key messages document for Members on the National Water Agreement.  We are seeking feedback on this prior to writing to the Department and engaging with Basin States.  Given we have had a couple of drop in sessions, feedback is due 18th December 2024 for the final Member Drop in for the year.  

We have set up a new dedicated National Water Agreement page, for Members to track key updates and access all the current documentation.  You will need your email sign in and password to access it. 

National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) expressed its sincere gratitude to Sir Angus Houston, who has led the MDBA since 2020. Under Sir Angus' leadership, significant progress has been made in fostering better relationships with communities across the Basin, prioritising transparency, and restoring trust in the management of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
"Sir Angus Houston's dedication to listening to Basin communities and his focus on repairing relationships and trust have been crucial during a period of significant uncertainty and challenge," said Zara Lowien, CEO of NIC.[...]

The Inspector General this week released their 2022-2023 Murray Darling Basin Compliance Report.  The report states that "this compliance performance report provides a sample of common compliance activities metrics for each Basin State which will be incorporated into progressively broader reporting under a Basin-wide compliance performance reporting scheme. It is also anticipated that future reporting on compliance activities will be at the water resource plan level."  
The report provides an overview of the different approaches and outcomes to compliance in each of the Basin States. NSW reported licence holder numbers not metered percentage  (with a target of 95% underway), SA reported 98.2% of take was metered, Queensland report 74% of take was metered, in Victoria 98% was metered (and 76% telemetered), no details for ACT.  Victoria has the largest number of statutory officers, despite have the highest percentage of telemetered meters.  Victoria also had the highest number of investigations open and closed and warnings, whereas SA had the highest number and greatest value of fines.

Last week the Federal Government  quietly published an updated draft National Water Agreement (NWA). This is not the ‘final’ agreement, as DCCEEW says that will be finalised with jurisdictions. We have provided this preliminary assessment on the new agreement, and invite members to a special Member Drop In on the NWA on Friday, 13th December 12pm-1pm.

Overall, the Department has made many of the recommendations that we and our partners provided having received loud and clear, consistent messaging. Some more work is still required and we look forward to discussing this with you.  

The announcement of $160 million for Southern NSW communities targeted by Government water buybacks for an additional 450 GL, is welcomed by the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) but they warn, it will not make up for the damage.  “Removing water from agriculture has enormous flow-on impacts throughout communities, which cannot simply be patched up with one-off handouts,” said NIC CEO, Zara Lowien. [...]

The NIC has prepared a DRAFT response to the Water Markets Intermediaries Code and Statutory Trust Accounts Policy Position Paper as part of the Water Reform Roadmap - these provisions will apply to businesses who act as intermediaries and therefore, any Members who act as water market intermediaries should review the final position paper and our submission and provide feedback. 

Feedback welcome by Friday 13th December 2024 to Zara.  

Attached for Members, is an overview and assessment of the Wentworth Group of Concerned scientists most recent indicators for assessing the Murray Darling Basin Plan - this isnt their first attempt.  We have also included the detailed media release, which was directly provided to selected journalists which has a few additional facts and figures.  

This information can be used to inform your boards or Members. However, we ask for caution in engaging with the media, as we are not trying to encourage extending this story any more than its current bubble. 

Our key strategic response to this, will be our own Murray Darling Basin vision document (still searching for a name) as part of our response to the MDBA's early insights. It is great to have their view of the Basin world, to incorporate and address in our own document.

Check out our final submission into the Inspector General of Water Compliance Inquiry into the Northern Basin Toolkit. 

The Toolkit was a multi-pronged solution developed through the Northern Basin Review to recommit government to existing requirements (Bridging the Gap requirements), fund a series of investments over-and-above the Murray Darling Basin Plan assumptions and existing levers of just adding water, enhance environmental outcomes and minimise socio-economic impacts.  The Toolkit was the Government's initial investment into complementary measures. 

As with many of the Murray Darling Basin Plan elements, it has lacked transparency and accountability, which should be improved in future program development.  The Toolkit highlights a number of great outcomes when investment is provided to optimising environmental water delivery and environmental outcomes. 

Take a look at our final submission on both the: 

Overall, NIC is increasingly concerned by the regulatory burden of this reform, and that it's going too far - disproportionate to the problem at hand, and the size and extent of water markets.

We are developing a strategic plan for how we approach this ongoing issue, which has a number of steps still to be implemented - stay tuned. 

This weeks Meltwater report highlights there was little in water this week, main issues were around constraints adn the appointment of Danny O'Brien to leader of the Nationals in Victoria.  Some of you may remember, Danny as our first full-time CEO. 

NIC was mentioned 19 times this week in the media.  We did not produce a Media Release this week. 

To download the report and links to key articles, via https://app.meltwater.com/report/public/jPY6VGk83B6qFrznkFe9bPhE Password: Irrigators2024

The Australian Government is hosting a webinar to provide an update on our progress in implementing the Basin Plan.

The online public webinar will be held on Wednesday 11 December 2024 at 12:00pm (AEDT). The webinar will run for 60 minutes.

The panel will include representatives from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Submit your questions in advance

We welcome your questions and encourage you to submit them in advance. Please email your questions to water.engagement@dcceew.gov.au.

The Inspector General Water Compliance has recently called for submissions into an Inquiry into the Northern Basin Toolkit, as part of their remit to oversee and monitor governments in their role to implement the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

The Northern Basin Toolkit is an example of how Governments can opt to seek offsets to purchasing water for enhanced environmental outcomes and as such, is a test of the types and benefits that the investment in complementary measures can have.  

The following is a draft submission for member feedback into the Inquiry, with any feedback due back by Thursday 28th November to be included in the submission due 29th November.

We encourage northern members to consider even a brief submission of any local benefits, and  support for this type of investment to the IGWC (support for the concept doesn't have to be northern specific). 

Please see our updated Draft Submission on the Water Markets Reforms for member review (feedback by Wednesday, 27 Nov, would be appreciated). 

This submission combines the public consultation on water market decisions and pre-trade data, including feedback from the webinars, meeting with the Department and a discussion with the Australian Water Brokers Association. 

Thank you to those who have attended the meetings with DCCEEW this week, as well as those who have provided input/feedback. 

NIC is preparing for the 2026 Basin Plan Review, and is getting on the front-foot by starting to prepare a publishable report, which will form the centrepiece document of an upcoming campaign.

We are currently seeking member input.

Click here to find out more, see this weeks PowerPoint slides, or read the MDBA Early Insights Report.  

The AICD’s Regional Not-for-Profit Scholarship offers leaders in rural, regional, and remote areas the chance to strengthen their governance skills through fully funded courses. Applications are open from 19 November to 20 December 2024. This initiative supports up to 150 leaders in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia.

Two courses are available. Care Governance: Achieving Quality Outcomes is a one-day course offered in Queensland and New South Wales. It focuses on improving care governance structures and fostering a safe, enriching culture. It’s ideal for those working in aged care, childcare, or disability services. Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors is a one-and-a-half-day program available in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia. This course introduces the fundamentals of governance, risk management, financial performance, and strategy for leaders in the not-for-profit sector.

Weekly media reporting highlights ongoing media engagement with previous media releases with the key topics around the Federal Water Ministers buyback announcements and the appointment of chair, Jenny McLeod.   Water pricing is becoming a key issue in both NSW and QLD with recent pricing proposals under-security due to price increase proposals and the costs of internal system upgrades. Reporting with National Ag Day is expected to increase traction on agriculture. 

The Power Point is provided in the link, for the online report visit the Meltwater report using password: Irrigators2024

Did you know?

Today is a great day to celebrate that 93% of Australia's fruit, nuts and grapes together with 83% of our vegetables are all grown by irrigation.

Every day, is  great day to support Aussie Farmers and buy Australian grown fruit, nuts and vegetables. 

#AgDayAU celebrating that Aussie farmers grow more crop per drop

15 November is National Ag Day, a day to celebrate the amazing work our farmers and the broader agricultural industry do for Australia.  Australian irrigators are recognised as the most water efficient in the world, growing more crop per drop than many of our international counterparts.

100% of Australia's rice is irrigated, and is world leading using 50% less than the global average [DAFF]. 

85% of Australia's cotton crop on average is irrigated, the cotton industry has increased its water use efficiency by 240% since the first crop in the 1970's [DAFF]


DCCEEW recently released their progress assessment of the water market reforms.  This document outlines the steps taken to implement the ACCC recommendations and highlights the significant change still to navigate through water market reforms as required by the Restoring Our Rivers 2023 amendment. Unfortunately, the progress update provides no assessment of the costs and benefits of these reforms, rather forges ahead.  Current consultation include Water Market Decisions, Water Market Pre-Trade data and the final policy position for the Intermediaries Code via the Department’s website.

Irrigators’ have called out Minister Plibersek’s announcement of having ‘1000 willing sellers towards’ the Commonwealth’s tender to buy water for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, as a political stunt on the day of Senate Estimates.
“The last time Minister Plibersek announced a buyback tender round had been over-subscribed, the Government later rejected 72% of the offers contracting only a small proportion of the reported offers (26 GL out of 90 GL), mostly due to value for money concerns,” said Zara Lowien, CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council. [...]

Following ongoing discussions with DCCEEW about accountability and transparency of progress on the Murray Darling Basin Plan, our attention was drawn to this new resource to track the progress.  Whilst it doesn't go all the way with providing the much-needed transparency, it does provide a visual examples of the progress, and remaining effort.  Its worth a look. 

The weekly media monitoring report is available in the power point presentation below or can be accessed via this link with the password, Irrigators.

Monitoring revealed the hot topics this week was pricing and buybacks, as they snuck in on Friday with the Minister's announcement of interested in the 70GL tender.  IT was a slower week for socials and radio, with news and TV reporting on water issues the highest platforms. 

Today, Federal Senate Estimates for the Environment and Communications portfolio held their hearings on matters relating to the Murray Darling Basin Plan, water market reforms and the National Water Agreement renewal. The hearings are available via the Australian Parliament YouTube channel. 

Some key outcomes from today's discussion confirmed that an updated version of the National Water Agreement is due "soon" and that many of the stakeholder concerns, including those from the Productivity Commission were being addressed.  The Department indicated a living entity is not a legal entity and that there is no intention for Free, Informed and Prior Consent, to provide authority over water decisions. 

Questioning regarding buybacks revealed that 26GL out of the 90GL of 'overwhelming offers' last year for Bridging the Gap were contracted with 72% rejected due to value for money concerns. 

We are currently seeking member feedback on our draft NIC Submission to the Federal Government consultation on developing regulations for the announcement of water market decisions (requirements in the new Part 5A of the Water Act 2007, following the Restoring our Rivers Bill last year). Thank you to those who attended our drop-in session this week, for preliminary discussions to inform this work. 

You can read the DCCEEW Discussion Paper here: Water Markets Decisions Regulations Discussion Paper 

DCCEEW will also be holding a webinar on Thursday 14 November 2024 from 11am–12pm (AEST), register here : Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams

Submissions close on 29 November 2024. Please provide feedback to NIC as early as possible, as we may be providing this submission early. 

NIC provided an overview of the current discussion paper on Water Market data and notification proposals by DCCEEW as part of the water market reforms and received initial feedback from members on the key discussion questions. Key to the discussion was for greater clarity to be provided on the purpose, timing and value of the proposal.  NIC will also be looking into the inequity of some water owners and users, having very different market responsibilities than others and if this is consistent with National Water Initiative market principles. 

The power point slides are attached here. 

More information on the reform and to register for the public webinar visis the Department website.

Water entitlements as a property right is a key component of our organisation's Objects and Mission.  Recently, as part of our regular drop in sessions, Zara and Christine provided a presentation of the current social and legal representation of water property rights and discussed opportunities within the current negotiations to strengthen our position. The paper and presentation is available via the Members Area of the website and is considered sensitive material and not for distribution.  If you would like your board or committee to be updated, please reach out to Zara to discuss an opportunity. . 

National Irrigators' Council CEO, Zara Lowien writes "after decades of difficult reforms implementing Australia's best-practice water management blueprint - the National Water Initiative (NWI) - the federal government is negotiating to water it down, in the National Water Agreement (NWA).

If the NWI is the architecturally designed blueprint, the NWA is the flatpack version with unclear instructions and a few missing pieces"...

Briefing note to Members: A new draft NWA is expected to be published next week as part of the ‘what we heard report’.  States are expected to agree thereafter. DCCEEW continues to insist it is not a binding document and are downplaying the significance. We are concerned that States are falling for this and may like the discretionary and non-binding approach as it enables them to opt out as they like and reduces their ‘signing’ risk.  However, this ignores the future expectation risk of stakeholders and the potential for Government to later enforce the agreement.[...]

Click link to see more (you will need to set up a password) or download the document.

25 October Report - highlighted a slower week on media this week for water which was focussed on the visit of the King and Queen and the Queensland State Election. You can use this link to view the report via our monitoring service with the password Irrigators, or download the powerpoint. 

National Irrigators' Council  is concerned that these proposed listings are being rushed prior to the Federal election (reminiscent of a previous disallowed attempt prior to the 2013 election) and that little additional work since 2013 has been provided to support the nomination despite significant improvements and other measures being taken since that previous attempt (namely the implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan and evolution of environmental water management in these specific regions). [...]

The National Irrigators’ Council proudly announces the election of a new leadership team at its Annual General Meeting in Canberra last week. This transition includes the appointment of Ms Jenny McLeod as the first female chair and Ms Rosalie Auricht as vice-chair, alongside two new board members, Ms Jenna Bell and Mr Ben Fessey. [...]

he Federal Government continue their pre-election rush, with a flawed buyback tender process designed to over-estimate irrigator interest in selling water to the Government as part of the Government’s relentless pursuit of buybacks to achieve the additional 450 GL of water under the Basin Plan. This is despite Minister Plibersek’s assurances that all other options, other than buybacks, were on the table. [...]

The Federal Government is again being called out for rushing through risky and untested reforms that seek to gain more power for themselves, prior to the upcoming election.  Consultation soon closes on their recent grab, to list two new areas as “endangered” under national environment law, replicating a controversial and subsequently, disallowed move by the former Labor Government in 2013. [...]

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