The National Irrigators’ Council, which met in Sydney last week to finalise its response, said decades of reform had already delivered major changes in water sharing across the basin.
“The balance has been struck when it comes to sharing water, with three decades of reforms shrinking the share for farmers by one‑third,” council chief executive Zara Lowien said.
Ms Lowien said the Federal Government’s reporting showed further reductions were not needed.
“The government’s own science says there’s no need to further reduce water from farming, showing 92 per cent of environmental indicators across the basin’s rivers would not change,” Ms Lowien said.
The council is encouraging a stronger focus on practical river health measures rather than water recovery alone.
“Protecting river health is more than just adding water,” Ms Lowien said.
“If the government is serious about genuine environmental outcomes, it’s time to take practical action such as tackling invasive species, restoring habitat and improving fish passage.”
With rising input costs and ongoing reform creating pressure for producers, the council said certainty was critical.
“We are not a problem to solve, but a vital part of the solution to a healthy basin,” Ms Lowien said.
She added that irrigation and food production “can and must coexist”.
Submissions to the review close at 5pm on Friday, May 1.
