Mr Morrison and agriculture minister David Littleproud met with representatives from the Speak Up action group including chairwoman Shelley Scoullar, deputy chairman Lachlan Marshall and Murray Regional Strategy Group chairman Alan Mathers in Canberra during budget week with the delegation asking for an immediate resumption of water allocations to ensure winter crops weren't wiped out again.

"It's insanity and doesn't give hope to people for a bright future," Mrs Scoullar said.

"There needs to be some compromise, but we're doing all the heavy lifting and fancy the Murray River at minor flood level for spring and majority of summer and we're sitting on zero water allocations.

"We don't have to be the collateral damage and a pause in the plan would be great to take a breath.

"Dairy farmers need water to produce feed for their cows and the rest of us need it for a start to winter cereal crops and some security.

"But also our communities need it so they can employ people.

"We've got the largest rice mill in the southern hemisphere in Deniliquin and if we go another year on zero allocation that is going to have serious impacts on this community.

"The people who work there put kids in our schools and their partners work in other jobs in the town."

SunRice, which operates the mill, has been forced to axe up to 100 jobs, mostly in Deniliquin, with the 2019 crop shaping to be one of the smallest since the millennium drought ended.

Mrs Scoullar said she felt the prime minister understood the unfolding crisis, but with an election about to be held the government was largely powerless to make major changes immediately.

"He listened intently and showed genuine interest in finding out more about some of the information we provided," she said.

"There is no doubt he was not aware of the severity of the impact being felt in our region due to flaws in the basin plan."

She said the recent NSW election result where the National Party lost the southern NSW seat of Murray to Shooters, Farmers and Fishers Party candidate, Helen Dalton had resonated in Canberra.

Farrer MP Sussan Ley, who also sat in on the talks with Mr Morrison and Mr Littleproud, said the water issues were firmly on the prime minister's radar.

"For the PM to give us a meeting for the best part of an hour, I think was a clear indication of Scott's commitment in seeking a solution," she said.

"From our government's perspective there are three key steps we need to pursue from here.

"To bring the new NSW Water minister (Melinda Pavey) to our region as soon as possible.

"Initiate my plan for an independent assessment of environmental allocations and water entitlements, and a change to the rules on how losses are shared, so we are not paying for water going to downstream irrigators."

Meanwhile, the Southern Riverina Irrigators chaired by Chris Brooks will bring the water issues to the "capital of Farrer" on Tuesday with a rally to be held in QEII Square in Albury.

Mr Brooks, who is also behind the Voices for Farrer group supporting independent candidate Kevin Mack, said pausing the plan was the objective despite the government's reluctance to do so.

He was also incensed with recent comments made by Labor shadow water minister Tony Burke about his party's intentions, if elected next month, including removing a cap which prevents the government from buying more water from irrigators in the Murray-Darling Basin.

"If he wants a fight we're up for it because we're in the fight of our lives already so it's do or die now," Mr Brooks said.

"Another zero allocation and I would say a good 30 to 50 per cent of farmers would fold up."

Ms Ley has been invited to speak at the rally.

"I was made aware of the gathering yesterday and I expect, as the local MP in Albury and the local member for most of NSW's irrigated agriculture regions, that I will have an opportunity to speak should the rally go ahead as planned," she said.

"Our meeting with the prime minister this week gave Farrer's irrigation communities a chance to impress upon the PM and water minister the dire situation we are facing in the southern basin.

"Most farmers I talk with understand that a Coalition government, with their local MP, at the table is the best way to ward off the damage of Labor's water policy."