It includes 78 redundancies, with the vast majority being Deniliquin based.
Another 14 have been able to be redeployed within the company.
In a media statement, SunRice said the decision followed a consultation process with employees and unions, with industry leaders warning the cuts highlight the growing impact of water shortages and government water recovery policies on regional communities.
SunRice announced the operational changes in July, citing low crop volumes and revised shift structures driven by reduced rice production.
Chief executive Paul Serra described the outcome as difficult for both employees and local communities.
“This has been a difficult period for our people, and for the communities of Deniliquin and Leeton, and we don’t take these decisions lightly,” Mr Serra said.
“Throughout the consultation process, our focus has been on retaining as many employees as possible, including through redeployment opportunities where feasible, while supporting employees whose roles have been impacted with care, transparency, and respect.
“We recognise the significance of this outcome for our workforce and the wider Riverina community. SunRice continues to advocate to government on the adverse impacts of water policy settings on the Riverina rice industry, while closely monitoring seasonal conditions and crop outlook.
“We remain hopeful the government will identify meaningful opportunities through the Sustainable Communities Fund to further support the rice industry and communities of the Riverina.”
The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) said the job losses were an unfortunate but predictable consequence of declining water availability and ongoing government water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin.
RGA president Peter Herrmann said the cuts reflected broader pressures facing the industry after years of water reform.
“Our industry has survived for more than 75 years, but the cumulative impact of decades of water reform and ongoing buybacks is now being felt right across our communities,” he said.
The association argued the effects extend beyond farms, impacting mill workers, transport operators, contractors and local businesses that depend on rice production.
• Full story in Friday’s Pastoral Times.
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