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Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industries.

NIC Media Releases

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The need to agree a genuine test of socio-economic neutrality for efficiency programs is one of the big challenges of this Friday’s Murray Darling Basin Ministers’ meeting (in Melbourne), says Steve Whan, CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC). Steve Whan said “Basin Ministers’ meetings are always important because the Basin Plan will not succeed […] …


ABC AUDIENCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION REPORT Background Briefing 3-part series Best laid plans: The Murray-Darling Basin in crisis 29 April, 6 May and 11 May 2018 ABC News Facebook Return Flows video post 26 April 2018 Complaints and scope of review Audience and Consumer Affairs received a total of five editorial complaints regarding Background […] …


The status quo just won’t do – that’s the message from irrigators to the Australian Energy Council (AEC) as they seek to justify cosy regulatory arrangements that see their industry rake in monopoly profits. National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Steve Whan said “a couple of weeks ago we released a report from Sapere Research group which […] …


National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Steve Whan says a ruling by the ABC’s Audience and Consumer Affairs unit upholding a complaint about coverage of the Murray Darling Basin plan by ABC’s Background Briefing is welcome and reinforces the need for balance in coverage. Steve Whan said, “NIC among others made complaints about a Background Briefing story […] …


Our energy network owners must be living in a parallel universe if they think Australia’s job generating agricultural sector should be pleased to be paying unjustified profits says National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Steve Whan. Steve Whan said “last week NIC on behalf of the Agricultural Industries Energy Taskforce released a report that showed the energy […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) on behalf of the Agricultural Industries Energy Taskforce (the Taskforce) has released a damning independent report showing that profits made by electricity networks are more than $2.6 billion higher than they should be – meaning electricity bills are much higher than is justified, just with network costs. The independent report […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council has welcomed strong action by Government to give regulators more teeth to crack down on excessive profits by electricity companies and ensure a genuine competitive market. CEO Steve Whan said, “the announcement by the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Energy Minister is a very welcome commitment to a strong follow-up on the […] …


The National Irrigators’ Council says its members support Government exploring all options to assist irrigators and other farmers affected by drought – within the current water rules. NIC CEO Steve Whan said “many irrigators are on zero allocations and that is very tough, we certainly appreciate local MPs and the Deputy Prime Minister being strong […] …


The Productivity Commission’s draft report following itsfive-year review of the Murray Darling Basin Plan provides a wake up call on some of the challenges regardingthe practical implementation of the Basin Plan, says National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Steve Whan. Steve Whan said “it would be hard to argue with the draft report’s statement that the next […] …


National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan, says the appointment of former AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty as the Murray Darling Basin “Northern Basin Commissioner”,is welcome. Steve Whan said “creating this oversight position was an important part of the agreement between the Government and the Opposition, that put the Basin Plan back on track, earlier this year. […] …


Locally grown, fresh and brought to you by an Australian irrigator – that’s the story of most fresh vegetables, fruit and nuts in your local market says National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Steve Whan. “In fact” says Steve Whan “more than 84% of Australian vegetables (by $ value) are grown by irrigators, 84% of fruit and […] …


Argument and blame shifting must come to an end when energy Ministers meet this Friday to discuss the design of the National Energy Guarantee (NEG). National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Steve Whan said “Friday’s meeting must mark the end of years of bickering over energy policy, which is undermining the nation’s agricultural competitiveness and putting at […] …


Jerilderie farmer, Louis Kelly, has sold his entire stock of 7,000 large bales of hay since May and he isn’t the only one if the huge number of trucks heading north from the Riverina and Murray are any indication. Louis Kelly’s fodder has gone to graziers in the Tamworth and Armidale areas. But Kelly is […] …


An independent report has confirmed that our food and fibre producers are paying up to $6,000 a year more than the real cost of supplying them power. The report, by Sapere research group, was commissioned by the Agriculture Industries Energy Taskforce with funding from Energy Consumers Australia. It is based on a survey of irrigators […] …


We callit “a failed market”, the ACCC calls it “largely broken”, either way today’s ACCC report into electricity prices makes it very clear that, if firm action is not taken, Australians will have less jobs, more expensive food and fibre and a loss of international competitiveness. That’s the view of National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, […] …


The National Irrigators Council (NIC) has welcomed the signing back into law of the Basin Plan’s Northern Basin amendment, with CEO, Steve Whan, saying it was a positive outcome of good work between Government and Opposition, to deliver for communities and the environment. Steve Whan said “the Northern Basin amendment is important for a couple […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan, says a Senate vote to approve an amendment to the Water Act was a strong show of bi-partisan political support for delivering the Basin Plan in full. Steve Whan said “thelegislation approved this week by the Senate enables the Minister to reintroduce amendments to the Basin Plan to […] …


A NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Fresh Food Pricing has been told that that skyrocketing electricity prices and Government charges for irrigation water have a direct impact on the cost and availability of fresh food for NSW people. The National and NSW Irrigators’ Councils have made a joint submission to the inquiry. National Irrigators’ Council CEO, […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan, says Basin Ministers have listened to their communities in reaching a positive outcome from their meeting in Canberra. Steve Whan said “this week NIC and the National Farmers Federation wrote to Ministers calling on them to develop better socio-economic impact criteria for efficiency programs, and saying that there […] …


The Productivity Commission’s final report on progress of water reform (not to be confused with their review of the Murray Darling Basin Plan) has provided strong endorsement of some key policy priorities put forward by irrigators, along with some challenges for the sector, particularly outside the Murray Darling Basin. The report, dated December 2017, but […] …


One serve per day for 30 million people, for a full year,is what ABS figures (released this week) tell us Australia’s rice growers produced in 2016-17. ABS figures pointed to a year with more water availability and that meant production of annual crops, like cotton and rice, increased. Steve Whan said “one of the reasons […] …


Labor’s decision to vote to keep the Basin Plan going is a sensible move that enables everyone to get on with the tough job of implementation, says National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan. Steve Whan said “the Basin Plan was introduced with bipartisan support in 2012 and it is a credit to Minister Littleproud and […] …


National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan says it should be crystal clear that people advocating a “pause” or “hold” on the Basin Plan, by voting down amendments in the Senate next week, are actually advocating ‘stop’ and no Plan. Steve Whan said “if the Senate votes down the amendments implementing the 605GL worth of projects […] …


Irrigators and irrigation communities bear 100% of the risk if the 36 Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) Adjustment Projects(soon to be voted on by Parliament) are not successfully implemented, that’s the message the National Irrigators Council has given the Productivity Commission’s review of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. NIC CEO, Steve Whan said “these 36 projects […] …


ABC AUDIENCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION REPORT Background Briefing 3-part series Best laid plans: The Murray-Darling Basin in crisis 29 April, 6 May and 11 May 2018 ABC News Facebook Return Flows video post 26 April 2018 Complaints and scope of review Audience and Consumer Affairs received a total of five editorial complaints regarding Background […] …


“There are very few winners when an irrigator is forced by high electricity network charges to install a diesel generator and go off grid” said National Irrigators Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan today in welcoming the Grattan Institute’s report ‘Down to the Wire: A sustainable electricity network for Australia.’ Steve Whan said “the Grattan Institute […] …


National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) CEO, Steve Whan today welcomed the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) decision to make the Regional Engagement Officer network a permanent feature. NIC has long advocated for the placement of regional engagement officers in Basin communities to ensure that water related agencies are better equipped to provide a local presence with […] …


Steve Whan, CEO of the National Irrigators Council says he “welcomes action taken by NSW to take accusations of water theft against two Northern Basin irrigators to court. “Irrigators have zero tolerance for water theft, water theft rips off other irrigators as well as the environment, and it destroys community confidence. If these accusations are […] …


The failure of the Australian Greens to turn up for Senate Estimates Committee hearings into the Murray Darling Basin plan raises serious questions about the motivation for the party’s often incorrect and misleading media commentary. National Irrigators Council CEO, Steve Whan, said “Senate estimates met for four hours today grilling Commonwealth officials on the Basin […] …


The National Irrigators Council says the decision by a majority of Senators to disallow the Basin Plan amendment relating to the northern basin is a huge blow to better environmental outcomes and now threatens the whole basin plan. NIC CEO, Steve Whan said,”Senators have dealt a huge blow to small Northern Basin communities who have […] …


The National Irrigators Council (NIC) is holding its council meeting in Dubbo this week, with members discussing the current Basin Plan issues, longer term planning for making the plan work and critical electricity and energy price problems. NIC CEO, Steve Whan said “our members represent customer owned infrastructure operators, not for profit community based irrigators […] …


A vote in the Senate tomorrow to back Greens political point scoring and disallow basin plan amendments will blow up years of effort to restore the health of the Murray Darling. National Irrigators’ Council CEO, Steve Whan, says,” today NSW and Victoria have put their frustration on the table. They have worked with their communities […] …


A statement to the Senate today from the Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young that ‘ environmental flows are lower than previously ‘ reveals the lengths of deceit the Greens will go to, to destroy the Basin Plan for their own political ends. CEO of the National Irrigators council Steve Whan said “Senator Hanson-Young’s statement can be […] …

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News & Media from Member Organisations


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/  …


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).  …


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.  …

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Upcoming Events

NIC Networking Dinner

NIC General Meeting - July

Australian Rice Conference

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Cotton Collective

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Murray Darling Association 81st Conference

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Past Member Events 

NIC General Meeting

Sydney, NSW

Member Networking Dinner

Sydney, NSW

IIO Committee Meeting - March

Cotton Australia Board room

Member Drop - in - National Water Agreement

Online

Member Drop in - Basin Plan Insights and Northern Toolkit

Online meeting

Member Drop In - Water Markets

Online meeting


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