NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL
Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry
The National Irrigators’ Council said today it was not concerned by a further delay to the release of the draft Murray Darling Basin Plan if it meant a better balanced outcome was the result. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said much was made of the need for certainty but this had to be weighed against the […]
A social and economic impact study released today by the Murray Darling Basin Authority highlights the significant damage that will be wrought on local communities and Australia’s food and fibre production base by an unbalanced Basin Plan. The National Irrigators’ Council said the report clearly indicated that a Plan that favours the environment without regard […]
Irrigators have welcomed acknowledgement by a Senate committee that the Water Act 2007 is fundamentally flawed and needs amendment. The National Irrigators’ Council said the report of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee highlights the lack of balance in the Act and calls on the Government to release all legal advice relating to the […]
Irrigators will judge Murray Darling Basin reform on environmental outcomes and balance with social and economic impacts, not a simplistic focus on numbers and volume that ignore the complexity of river management. These views are among issues listed in a position paper released today by the National Irrigators’ Council titled “A Balanced Plan for the […]
The short-listing of Melbourne’s Yarra River for the International Riverprize, billed as the “world’s most prestigious environmental prize”, just goes to highlight how farcical the debate over river health has become. The National Irrigators’ Council said while the Yarra is being lauded as among the world’s best, the Murray-Darling Basin –which has more water available […]
Recommendations from the Regional Australia committee on the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan have been welcomed by irrigators but will mean nothing unless acted upon by Government. The National Irrigators’ Council has congratulated Chair Tony Windsor and the members of the committee across party lines for their recognition that a healthy Basin can be delivered […]
The National Irrigators’ Council is pleased that today’s Ministerial Council meeting Adelaide has made progress on Murray Darling Basin reform but remains frustrated at the slow pace of infrastructure roll-out. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said funding for feasibility studies on environmental works and measures was a positive step in the right direction and recognition that […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said today it was right for Tony Windsor’s Regional Australia committee to delay its final report on the Murray-Darling basin Plan to ensure it finds the right balance, a fact that seems to have eluded the Wentworth Group. “We expect that the best available science –environmental,economic and social –will be used […]
The National Irrigators’ Council says the appointment of a new CEO at the Murray Darling Basin Authority is an opportunity for the Authority to deliver on its promises of a balanced Basin Plan. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien welcomed Dr Rhondda Dickson to the job. “Both the Chair and CEO that were responsible for the Guide […]
Irrigators from across the country have called on governments to treat all water users fairly in water planning decisions and deliver on commitments made on interception activities in the National Water Initiative. The National Irrigators’ Council has adopted a policy position that all water use, including interception activities such as farm dams, forestry plantations and […]
The National Irrigators’ Council is encouraged by the Communiqué issued by Murray Darling Basin Water Ministers after their meeting today but says it’s time their words were translated into action. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said an increased focus on getting water use efficiency money out the door and on the ground was welcome, but now […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said when it comes to water the only thing flowing out of Adelaide and Canberra was hypocrisy. The CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council(NIC), Tom Chesson said despite making plenty of noise about the need for reform in the Murray Darling Basin, neither Adelaide or Canberra were giving up one drop […]
Murray Darling Basin Authority Chairman Craig Knowles will be the keynote speaker at a meeting of irrigators from across the country in Moree, NSW, next week. The National Irrigators’ Council will hold its March meeting in Moree on Tuesday, following a local tour of irrigation sites in the region on Monday. The visit is part […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said the Commonwealth has taken a good step in delivering on its promise of balanced water reform with tax changes and other initiatives announced today. NIC CEO, Danny O’Brien, said Water Minister Tony Burke was making progress with the announcement of changes that will help limit the impact of Murray Darling […]
The House of Representatives Regional Australia committee is on the right track with the interim findings handed down today on the impacts of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. The National Irrigators’ Council said it was pleased that the Committee had listened to some of the key problems outlined by Basin communities and had provided early […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the decision of the Senate to instigate an inquiry into the Water Act 2007 and its capacity to deliver a Murray Darling Basin Plan that balances environmental, economic and social factors. The NIC has long voiced its concerns about the Water Act and the inquiry by the Senate Legal […]
The National irrigators’ Council has welcomed the appointment of Craig Knowles to the position of Chair of the Murray Darling Basin Authority and urged him to do everything in his powers to develop a Basin Plan that delivers a triple bottom lineoutcome. NIC CEO, Danny O’Brien, said Mr Knowles was known in water circles for […]
The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) today expressed its disappointment and frustration over the continued downgrading of ‘practical’ agricultural research which is in direct contradiction to recommend ation 14 of the Windsor Inquiry The CEO of NIC, Tom Chesson said hopes of a last minute reprieve for the former CSIRO research station at Merbein have been […]
Parliamentary inquiries into the management of the Murray Darling Basin can help governments to deliver water to the environment by helping to identify innovative engineering works and measures. The National Irrigators’ Council has lodged its submissions to the House of Representatives and Senate committees, highlighting the fact that engineering solutions to provide more efficient environmental […]
Significant flaws and a lack of certainty in the science and data used by the Murray Darling Basin Authority highlight the need for elected politicians to take control of the Basin Plan process. The National Irrigators Council has lodged its submission to the MDBA’s “Guide to the proposed Basin Plan” which outlines the problem of […]
The National Irrigators’ Council said the resignation of Murray Darling Basin Authority Chair, Mike Taylor, provides an opportunity for the Federal Government to fully address widespread community concern about the proposed Basin Plan and its capacity to considersocial and economic impacts. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said irrigators had always been concerned that the Water Act […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has continued its recent growth, with the Council welcoming two new members at its AGM in Canberra today. Southern Riverina Irrigators (NSW) and Sunraysia Citrus Growers (Vic) were both admitted as new members on top of the recent addition of Renmark Irrigation Trust (SA) and a further three corporate observer members. […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s announcement confirming its $1 billion commitment to the upgrade of northern Victoria’s irrigation infrastructure. NIC CEO, Danny O’Brien said investments of this type were critical to enabling a strong future for irrigation districts and would help in achieving the balance necessary in the proposed Murray Darling […]
The revelation today that Australia now has a trade deficit in food and grocery manufacturing should be a warning sign to the Federal Government that it cannot afford to needlessly slash food production in the Murray Darling Basin. The National Irrigators’ Council said the release of the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s “State of the […]
The National Irrigators’ Council says the path is now clear for a triple bottom line approach to the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan. Commenting on the release of government legal advice on the Water Act 2007,NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said it was now up to the MDBA or Water Minister Tony Burke to put some […]
The Murray Darling Basin Authority has confirmed again today that it has no power to give equal consideration to the needs of the environment, food production and regional communities when setting new sustainable diversion limits. The National Irrigators’ Council said no further evidence was needed now that the Water Act is ill – equipped to […]
Irrigators have welcomed the Federal Government’s change of tone on water recovery in the Murray Darling Basin, saying that engineering works and measures can help deliver a better environment while reducing the need to remove water from rural communities. Minister for Regional Australia, Simon Crean and Minister for Water, Tony Burke have both highlighted the […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the announcement of a Parliamentary inquiry into the social and economic impacts of the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan but says its terms of reference must allow it to examine the Water Act2007 and consider amendments. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said the inquiry announced today by Ministers Crean, Burke […]
The Murray Darling Basin Authority must immediately release the scientific and economic modelling behind its “Guide to the Proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan” if it is truly committed to genuine consultation with basin communities. The National Irrigators’ Council said Water Minister Tony Burke needed to understand it is impossible for the community to engage in […]
he National Irrigators’ Council has outlined the first 10 issues it believes the Murray Darling Basin Authority must urgently address with its Guide to the Proposed Basin Plan. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said while proposed cuts to water for productive use clearly failed to deliver balance between the needs of the environment and those of […]
Drastic new limits on the amount of water that can be used for food and fibre production in the Murray Darling Basin will be an unmitigated disaster for all Australians and must be rejected by the Federal Government and Water Minister Tony Burke. The National Irrigators’ Council said the proposed new sustainable diversion limits (SDLs) […]
Reports that the Murray Darling Basin Authority will release only an upper and lower “range” that new Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) may fit into will prolong the uncertainty surrounding the new Basin Plan, according to the National Irrigators’ Council. The reports, confirmed by sources tonight, add insult to the injury of the likely scale of […]
The proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan to be released this week will fail the nation if it doesn’t adequately balance the needs of the environment, food and fibre production and regional communities. The National Irrigators’ Council is concerned that the Plan will focus too heavily on the environment to the detriment of all Australians. “Irrigators […]
Frustration is building among irrigators and communities in the Murray Darling Basin as delays to the release of the Basin Plan continue. The National Irrigators’ Council said the ongoing delays were causing anxiety and uncertainty in communities throughout the basin and the lack of communication from the Murray Darling Basin Authority is only worsening the […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the Coalition’s commitment to fully assess the social and economic impacts of the proposed Murray Darling Basin Plan through a review by the Productivity Commission and ABARE. The NIC said the commitment was consistent with the Council’s pre – election policy platform and would ensure a thorough, independent understanding […]
Irrigators have welcomed an ALP commitment to “recover the gap” between current diversions in the Murray Darling Basin and proposed new “sustainable diversion limits” (SDLs) but warned this should not be seen as acceptance of any recommendations contained in the forthcoming Basin Plan. The National Irrigators’ Council said the position of the ALP to buy […]
A new report released today highlights the fact that all Australians could suffer under proposals contained in the forthcoming Murray Darling Basin Plan. The Judith Stubbs and Associates report clearly demonstrates that the Murray Darling Basin Authority must strike the right balance between the needs of the environment and productive use of water when formulating […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has called on the major political parties to outline their policies for irrigators and rural communities as the election campaign reaches its half way point. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said neither side of politics had yet given any indication that they have a clear plan to allow irrigators to continue producing […]
The Murray Darling Basin Authority’s decision to defer the release of a guide to the Basin Plan until after the Federal Election is a political decision that subverts the natural democratic process. The National Irrigators’ Council said it was angry the MDBA was further delaying the release of the guide to suit political sensitivities, a […]
The national peak body for the citrus industry, Citrus Australia, is the latest group to join the National Irrigators’ Council. Based in Mildura in Victoria, Citrus Australia represents the interests of some 2,000 citrus growers across the country and the largest fruit export industry with annual exports valued at $190 million. Three quarters of citrus […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has called on the Murray Darling Basin Authority to release the guide to the proposed Basin Plan as soon as possible to relieve the uncertainty that is building in basin communities. Meeting in Renmark today, the NIC passed a resolution calling on the Authority and the Government to ensure the guide […]
Irrigators from across the country will converge on the Riverland in South Australia next week as the National Irrigators’ Council holds its July meeting in Renmark. The NIC is visiting the Riverland on Monday and Tuesday at the invitation of South Australian Murray Irrigators, an NIC member. NIC CEO, Danny O’Brien, said the visit will […]
A Productivity Commission review of the impacts of the draft Murray Darling Basin Plan heads the list of policies sought by irrigators from political parties contesting the upcoming Federal Election. The National Irrigators’ Council today released its 2010 Federal Election Policy Platform which has been provided to all major political parties. NIC CEO, Danny O’Brien, […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has called on the Murray Darling Basin Authority to ensure it balances the needs of the environment with those of food and fibre producers and regional communities as it finalises a new Basin Plan. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said balance was the key to a successful outcome and was unlikely to […]
The Australian Conservation Foundation is misleading Australians with its current “Just Add Water” campaign on the Murray Darling Basin with the use of incorrect and unsourced “facts”. The National Irrigators’ Council said the ACF’s website and an advertisement placed in The Age last week claimed that “more than 75 per cent of the Murray’s water […]
Murray Valley Winegrowers’ Incorporated is the latest group to join the National Irrigators’ Council. Based in Sunraysia in Victoria and covering the area from Mildura to Swan Hill in Victoria and the Wentworth, Balranald and Wakool shires in NSW, Murray Valley Winegrowers’ represents the interests of about 700 winegrowers. National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Danny O’Brien, […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the announcement of infrastructure funding for irrigation upgrades in Queensland and NSW which will help irrigators become more efficient in the face of anticipated water reductions in future. Minister for Water, Penny Wong,today announced $36 million for the first phase of the on-farm program in Queensland and $162 million […]
The Productivity Commission has highlighted the costs of returning water to the environment without balancing the economic and social needs of rural communities and the national economy in a report released today. The National Irrigators’ Council welcomed the Commission’s final report Market Mechanisms for Recovering Water in the Murray Darling Basin, saying it was an […]
The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) welcomed two new members to the fold at its meeting this week, including its first direct representative group from Victoria. Northern Victorian Irrigators’ Inc and Macquarie River Food and Fibre from NSW are the latest organisations to join the NIC, Australia’s peak national body for irrigators. The NIC was formed […]
The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed the long – awaited announcement of the first round of funding for the Commonwealth Government’s $300 million On – Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program. Minister for Water, Penny Wong, today announced the first $100 million worth of projects, comprising six delivery partners and 556 projects on farm in the southern […]
The major parties have turned their backs on South Australian irrigators in the lead – up to the election this weekend according to the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC). With just five days to go before polling day, neither the Liberal nor Labor parties have provided any commitment that they will recognise irrigator rights and legislate […]
A statement by a group of scientists outlining what they want from a new Murray Darling Basin Plan completely ignores the social and economic impact of taking water from irrigation communities. The National Irrigators’ Council said while the statement made some useful points, it was disappointing that the scientists made no reference to people, food […]
The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) said today that ongoing reform in water management made the success of the newly formed South Australian Irrigators’ Council critical. NIC CEO Danny O’Brien said the new council would provide a voice for irrigators in state water management and urged all South Australian irrigators to throw their support behind it […]
Irrigators in South Australia are seeking a better deal from political parties ahead of the state election, calling for changes to legislation to allow for compensation in the event they lose access to water. Unlike some other states, South Australia’s risk assignment framework provides no compensation for irrigators in the event that government decisions permanently […]
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