Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industries.
NIC welcomes David Littleproud to water portfolio
National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has welcomed the appointment of the member for Maranoa, David Littleproud to take on the role of Water Minister as part of the important Agriculture & Water Resources portfolio. NIC CEO Steve Whan said Mr Littleproud was taking over the portfolio at an important time during the implementation of the Murray […] Read More…
Basin setback from Ministerial meeting
National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan, says today’s ministerial council meeting is a serious set back for a cooperative Murray Darling Basin plan. Steve Whan said “we called on Ministers to keep the plan on track by indicating unanimous support for the steps to which all Governments agreed in 2012. That meant providing support for […] Read More…
Ministers can put basin plan back on track
National Irrigators’ Council(NIC) has urged ministers to take a balanced and constructive approach to the basin water ministers meeting in Albury tomorrow (Tuesday 19 December). NIC CEO, Steve Whan,says “recent media coverage on the basin has tended to focus on an overly negative view of progress. It is a view not supported by the evidence […] Read More…
5 Year Review’s ‘stay the course’ message sensible
The Murray Darling Basin Authority’s first five year review of the Basin Plan has provided a sensible and realistic assessment of the plan and should provide a strong signal to all involved of the need to stay the course and implement the steps of the plan as envisaged in 2012. National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve […] Read More…
Hanson-Young’s basin strategy equals shut down of Barossa & Renmark Irrigation
National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan, has described a media release by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young proposing to move disallowance of Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Measures (SDLAM), as a baffling misunderstanding of the basin plan. Steve Whan said,”no one is surprised that the Greens would move disallowance of anything to do with the Murray Darling […] Read More…
Avoid headline seeking and Wentworth report could be useful
National Irrigators Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan says the release of the Wentworth Group’s report into the Murray Darling basin plan is a relevant,though not ‘independent’, contribution to the implementation of the plan. Steve Whan said “as I said on the first two occasions the Group released findings, they have a legitimate role in advocating […] Read More…
Fix compliance dont punish communities
The National Irrigators Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan, says the review of compliance by the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) and an independent panel, forms a basis for building an effective and trusted compliance system. “However,” Steve Whan said, “working through the detail, and implementing the basin plan, will be made much harder if hysterical […] Read More…
The National Irrigators Council (NIC) has joined celebrations of the first National Ag Day by highlighting the contribution Australian Irrigators make to our national economy and by welcoming an announcement of a grant under the ‘Leadership in Agricultural Industries Fund.” NIC CEO, Steve Whan, says “the first National Ag Day is a great initiative from […] Read More…
Irrigators urge Parliament to support Northern Basin Review recommendations
The National Irrigators Council (NIC) has urged Parliament to adopt Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) recommendations from of the Northern Basin Review (NBR) which have been presented to the Minister. NIC CEO Steve Whan said “the Northern Basin Review was a thorough process, it proceeded as agreed when the plan received bipartisan support in 2012. […] Read More…
ABS stats show irrigators produce 78 per cent of our vegies
Australian’s need irrigators if they are to have fresh vegetables, nuts and fruit and wine – that’s the clear message from recent ABS statistics, says National Irrigators Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan. The recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Gross Value of Irrigated Agricultural Production 2015 – 16 figures show that on dollar values 78% […] Read More…
Wentworth Group headline seeking unhelpful
National Irrigators Council CEO Steve Whan says headline seeking comments from the Wentworth group are unhelpful to the task of achieving the basin plan, and dealing with the very difficult issue of removing constraints. Steve Whan said “the Wentworth Group has a legitimate role in advocating the environmental health of the Murray Darling Basin, but […] Read More…
Decision on electricity supply welcome
National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) says the announcement of a new Federal energy policy including the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) is positive but says that the nation needs a bipartisan agreement on energy policy if the crisis is going to be relieved in the long term. NIC CEO, Steve Whan said “the Government’s policy, including the […] Read More…
Still a long way to go to get affordable power
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) preliminary report on retail electricity pricing is a good start, and reveals the enormity of the task of restoring Australia to the position it should have; power as a competitive advantage – not disadvantage, says the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC). NIC CEO Steve Whan said “Australia’s power prices […] Read More…
Optimism on Basin Plan SDL adjustment assessment
National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan, has expressed cautious optimism about the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) assessment of Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) adjustment measures. SDL adjustment measures are designed to produce equal or better environmental outcomes without reducing reliability of supply to Murray Darling Basin water users. They are a key component of the […] Read More…
Water Reform Journey Producing Results
Hard work by irrigators and irrigation communities is reflected in the achievements of the National water reform agenda highlighted in the Productivity Commission’s draft report delivered today. CEO of the National Irrigators Council, Steve Whan says “the Commission’s draft progress report on National water reform makes it very clear that a huge transformation has taken […] Read More…
NIC confirms commitment to compliance
The National Irrigators Council (NIC) has broadly endorsed the NSW Matthews’ report principles around compliance and greater transparency. CEO, Steve Whan said “at the time allegations on compliance in the Northern Basin were raised, I made it very clear that it was critical that everyone have confidence that water was going where it was intended. […] Read More…
The drive toward even more efficient irrigation water use and world’s best metering standards will be enhanced by an MOU, signed this week, between Australia’s two leading irrigation industry bodies Irrigation Australia Ltd (IAL) and the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC). Australia’s irrigation sector is world leading when it comes to using the least possible water […] Read More…
Irrigators Respond to Lateline Accusations
ABC Lateline attempts to portray Murray Darling Basin environmental water programs as a failure are unjustified says National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan. The program made claims about the entire basin plan based on one single property and an allegation of an illegal structure. Steve Whan said “What the program did not make clear was […] Read More…
Irrigators Support Need for Climate Modelling
The National Irrigators’ Council says that projected shortages of climate modellers raised last week by the Australian Academy of Science are a concern. NIC CEO, Steve Whan said “irrigators, like all Australian primary producers, are at the mercy of our variable climate and our industry benefits if we are able to get quality projections. “Australia’s […] Read More…
Agriculture tells ACCC – electricity market doesn’t work
Agricultural groups say independent research that shows failure of regulation and monitoring is resulting in electricity prices ‘exceeding efficient supply costs’; confirms that the electricity market – at every level – is failing to work in the interests of consumers and the nation. Steve Whan, CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, says “Australia’s energy price […] Read More…
Wentworth Group Unduly Pessimistic
CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Steve Whan, says the Wentworth Group’s report on progress of the Basin Planis unduly pessimistic. Steve Whan said “the Wentworth Group raises some reasonable points in their brief report, but at the same time a number of their conclusions are hard to justify. “It is difficult to understand […] Read More…
Irrigators’ Welcome Government Action on Electricity
The National Irrigators’ Council says an announcement, by the Prime Minister and Minister for the Environment and Energy, of Federal Government action that may help bring energy prices down will be welcome news to all people interested in seeing Australia produce competitively priced food and fibre. NIC CEO, Steve Whan said “irrigators have been making […] Read More…
Basin Ministers in Agreement – Good for Community & Environment
Basin Ministers emerged from their meeting today smiling and in agreement, sending a very positive signal to Basin communities that it is now possible to deliver the basin plan with no more buybacks in the Southern basin and a reduced recovery target in the Northern Basin. National Irrigators’ Council, CEO Steve Whan said “Basin water […] Read More…
Friday Should See Crucial Next Step on Basin Plan ?
Friday’s meeting of Murray Darling Basin Ministers should see a crucial next step toward implementation of the Basin Plan says National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan. Steve Whan said “the Basin Plan obviously has contentious elements and there is now substantial evidence to show that water buybacks have had very negative impacts on Basin […] Read More…
Lower Power Prices & Certainty – too much to ask post Finkel?
The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) says Friday’s Finkel report must set the stage for a return to certainty and lower electricity prices otherwise Australia risks pricing itself out of international markets. NIC CEO Steve Whan said “Government and the Australian people see agriculture, and particularly irrigated agriculture, as supplying fresh food for Asia, driving export […] Read More…
Terms of Reference for Community Impact Study Welcome
The National Irrigators Council (NIC) says, meeting the promise that there would be no negative community impact is critical, if the so called ‘up – water’ component of the Basin Plan is to be delivered, and that makes Friday’s release by the Deputy Prime Minister of terms of reference for an independent study, an important […] Read More…
NIC 2017 Commonwealth budget summary
It would be fair to say that, for irrigators, the budget continues to deliver expected programs and previously committed funding for Commonwealth State infrastructure, particularly as it relates to the Murray Darling Basin and National Water agendas. Some of the key decisions on resourcing for the agencies involved in water were announced in the Mid […] Read More…
NIC Welcomes Government’s Water Commitments
CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Steve Whan, says the organisation welcomes the Turnbull/Joyce Government’s ongoing commitment to the contribution irrigated agricultural production can make to Australia’s economic prosperity. Steve Whan said “the 2017 budget has met the commitments the Government has made with funding for water related programs, including resourcing for Commonwealth agencies […] Read More…
The National and NSW Irrigators’ Councils have welcomed an Agriculture Industries Energy Taskforce submission to the House of Representatives Inquiry into “Modernising the electricity grid”, saying it highlights irrigators’ fears about “modernisation” being another excuse for exorbitant network costs. NIC CEO, Steve Whan, said “it is a blight on our system that Irrigators don’t feel […] Read More…
National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) submission to the Productivity Commission’s triennial review of the National Water Initiative (NWI) says objectives can be achieved without reducing agricultural productivity, and in a way that more fairly allocates cost and risks NIC CEO Steve Whan said “irrigated agriculture is a vital contributor to providing the food and fibre enjoyed […] Read More…
Parliamentary Inquiry asked to ‘Recognise Irrigators’ Contribution’
Australia will not achieve its goal of being a food bowl for Asia without a healthy, efficient and growing, irrigated agriculture sector the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has told a Parliamentary Inquiry. The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources is holding an inquiry into water use efficiency in Australian agriculture. NIC’s […] Read More…
Cautious Optimism Welcomed from Basin Water Ministers’ Meeting
National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan, says he welcomes the cautious optimism Basin Water Ministers seem to be expressing following their meeting in Mildura on Friday. Steve Whan said “with some rapidly approaching deadlines, irrigators and Basin communities still have a long way to go before they can feel secure about their futures, however […] Read More…
Basin Ministers must focus on outcomes from Mildura Ministerial Council
Socio economic data from the Northern basin review should be seen as a gamechanger by Basin State Water Ministers, as they head into Friday’s Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting in Mildura, says National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan. Steve Whan said “Ministers need to focus on outcomes for river health and the community […] Read More…
7:30 Report Nails Impact of Electricity on Regional Business
CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Steve Whan, says the ABC’s 7:30 Report has nailed the dangers for rural communities of skyrocketing energy prices with rural reporter Lucy Barbour’s story last night. The ABC 7:30 Report story highlighted a tripling of electricity prices and the likely loss of jobs in Bundaberg. Steve Whan said […] Read More…
ANU Professor’s Criticism of Irrigators Not Justified
Headline seeking commentary by ANU Water Economics Professor Grafton claiming ‘little to show’ for the money spent on the Murray Darling Basin (MDB) plan is selective and misleading says Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan. Steve Whan said “last week Professor Grafton gained a few headlines attacking hard working irrigators and basin communities. He claims irrigators […] Read More…
Irrigation Australia Media Release: Murray system reaches full allocation before spring making river operators and landholders ‘
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bayer and Dirranbandi Cotton Growers invite you to the Australian Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day at Clyde in Dirranbandi, Western Queensland.
Find out more about our community, and join our mission advocating for the Australian irrigated
agriculture industry.
