NEWS & EVENTS

NIC membership continues to grow
16 Nov '10

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. […] Read More…

Irrigators welcome Victorian food bowl funds
6 Nov '10

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 […] Read More…

Basin Plan won’t help with food trade deficit
27 Oct '10

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 […] Read More…

Path clear now to consider the impacts on people
25 Oct '10

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 […] Read More…

MDBA confirms it again – people don’t count under the Water Act
19 Oct '10

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 […] Read More…

Focus on environmental efficiency welcomed
17 Oct '10

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 […] Read More…

Irrigators welcome Parliamentary review of Basin Plan impacts
14 Oct '10

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 […] Read More…

Consultation without information killing the process
13 Oct '10

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 […] Read More…

10 missing pieces the MDBA must address
10 Oct '10

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 […] Read More…

Deliberate policy to depopulate inland Australia
8 Oct '10

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) […] Read More…

Ambitious women urged to join ag leadership program
21 Feb

Women with leadership ambitions are urged to apply to the popular Diversity in Agriculture Leadership Program (DiALP).  The initiative is run by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and is now entering its eighth year. Twelve women will be selected for the 2025 program.  Applications open Monday, 24 February and will remain open for one month. 

For more information visit https://nff.org.au/programs/diversity-in-agriculture-leadership/  Read More…

Churchill Fellowship information session for ag hort and food sectors - February 25
17 Feb

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

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…