NATIONAL IRRIGATORS’ COUNCIL

MEDIA RELEASES

Advocating for the Australian irrigated agriculture industry

13 July 2026, Canberra ACT: Communities in the Murray-Darling Basin are calling on the Federal Government to stop, after SunRice attributed major changes to Australian milling sites directly to slashed water for farming under the Basin Plan, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

“The industry has been warning the Federal Government of this exact risk for years, and now the worst-case scenario is unfolding,” said Zara Lowien, CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC).

[continued]

Basin officials have confirmed 14 environmental projects will be withdrawn from formal recognition under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan placing Southern Basin communities at risk of losing up to a further 355 GL of water through no fault of their own.

“The environmental outcomes from these projects cannot be achieved by ‘just adding more water’,” said CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council (NIC), Zara Lowien, “in fact, these projects are essential to actually use all the water the Government has already recovered from farmers.Withdrawing these projects is a lose-lose situation for communities and the environment." [...]

Please see our first draft on the issue paper “Strong Voices, Healthy Waters: upholding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ water rights through the review of the Water Act 2007” where the NIC has decided to make a number of corrections and clear points of clarification needed for the Water Act Review. 

Feedback on this draft submission is welcome, preferably through tracked changes or comments within the document to Christine by Wednesday, 8th July. 

Today's publication of the ‘What we Heard’ Report following public consultation on the Basin Plan Review shows a clear united message: priorities have shifted, move on from “just adding water”. “After three decades of reform focused on reducing diversions to rebalance towards the environment, it’s clear that priorities are now shifting to a broader range of issues that cannot be addressed by just adding water,” said National Irrigators’ Council CEO Zara Lowien [...]

The NIC continues to monitor the Federal Government’s implementation of the additional Held Environmental Water (HEW) program under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and has released a second report, following our December 2025 analysis. 

The 450 GL program has fundamentally changed since it was first conceived. The original budget has been exhausted, expected costs have escalated significantly, the scope of the program has expanded, and new environmental evidence has emerged. Despite these material changes, there has been no transparent reassessment of whether continued expenditure represents the most effective, efficient and economical investment to achieve environmental outcomes and deliver benefits to the Australian economy [...]

The National Irrigators’ Council (NIC) has warned the Federal Government’s continued pursuit of additional water buybacks under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan risks becoming one of Australia’s most expensive environmental program without demonstrating that it delivers value to the Australian economy. 

A new NIC review has found the Government’s 450 GL additional environmental water program has moved well beyond its original budget and purpose, with taxpayers facing a potential multi-billion-dollar bill despite growing evidence that further water purchases are delivering diminishing environmental returns.

The Board would like to thank Members for their ongoing support to NIC, your support and our growth strategy, is ensuring we are a focused and sustainable organisation, providing a strong and united voice in key water policy debates.

The Board also wishes to inform Members of the  2026 -2027 fee structure. Increases have been managed closely to the March 2026 quarter Consumer Price Index, slight rounding was needed to keep the fee structure in whole dollars. This coming year, a new non-Murray Darling Basin fee option is now available for all Membership categories enabling a discounted rate, when the proposed applicant's water entitlement interests are located solely outside the Murray-Darling Basin. 

Here is a member briefing note for members on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which is a key focus of the review of the Water Act 2007 (Cth). We will present this to you at todays drop-in session, for those available to attend, and start discussions on our strategy. 

The Peter Cullen Trust has initiated a new Leadership Program for Executives - Confluence.

Confluence is designed for leaders who already operate at scale and want to amplify their impact. In a time of complexity and change, it offers a rare opportunity to step back from the day to day demands of leadership and focus on how to maintain and expand influence.

Confluence creates a space to reflect, connect and lead with purpose in complex times. A place where ideas, experience and perspectives converge to shape resilient futures.  Reach out to Lesley at PCT via office@petercullentrust.com.au

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