Moulamein rice grower named new chair of National Irrigators’ Council

“Gavin has been NIC chair for eight years and under his leadership the organisation has built a reputation for making a constructive and positive contribution to very difficult policy debates around water and energy,” the council's chief executive Steve Whan said.

Mr Morton is a board member of SunRice and a former chairman of the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia.

“It is an honour to represent the interests of our members, and to work with all stakeholders, to ensure we can maximise the opportunities from the use of our limited access to Australia's water resources,” Mr Morton said.

“Australian irrigation farmers grow much of the food we enjoy and clothes we wear every day, in every sense, irrigation is an essential industry.

“We are heavily invested in ensuring that the management of water enhances the natural, modified and productive environment.

“It is my dream that the controversy in this highly contested space can become a thing of the past - I look forward to the challenge.”