The Queensland Government’s announcement to extend the 15 per cent rural irrigation price discount for another two years is a long-awaited and welcome move—and I reckon most of the farmers I know would say it’s about time.
This is a common-sense decision and one we’ve been calling for loud and clear.
It’s great to see the Crisafulli Government listening to what the agriculture sector has been saying and acting on it. For irrigators like us—especially in high-cost regions such as the Burdekin where I farm—this decision brings a bit of much-needed relief. Water and electricity costs are already through the roof, and they just keep climbing. Having this discount locked in will give growers some breathing room and help us keep water flowing onto crops instead of letting fields dry out because it’s too expensive to pump.
Many farmers have already made significant investments in more efficient irrigation systems to manage rising input costs. But when the price of water keeps going up, even the best systems won’t save a crop if growers can’t afford to use them.
In some areas, people are using less water just to save money, which then hits productivity hard. That’s not good for the farm, the industry, or our regional communities.
More than half of Queensland’s cane crop depends on irrigation, so getting the price settings right isn’t just important—it’s essential. This discount follows the Queensland Competition Authority’s advice and will be available across all 35 irrigation schemes in the state, which is good to see.
From 2025–26, farmers will need to apply to access the discount. It’ll only be available to certified owner-operated irrigating farm businesses, with the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) handling the applications. If you’re not sure what you need to qualify, check the Business Queensland website. The scheme kicks off in September 2025, and if you’ve got questions, shoot an email to irrigationpricing@rdmw.qld.gov.au.
Let’s keep the water flowing and our farms growing.
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