Coming from right across the Murray-Darling Basin, they want action to either fix the failing Murray-Darling Basin Plan or 'Can The Plan' altogether.

Rally co-organiser Shelley Scoullar, chair of the community-based Speak Up Campaign, said the Basin Plan had "failed on every level".

However the National Irrigators Council (NIC) says that while it understands the hardship driving the anger of irrigators protesting in Canberra this week, its members feel that the problems would be made worse by ditching, rather than fixing, the Basin Plan.

Representing irrigators across the Basin states, members want to see problems addressed, but do not support ditching the Basin Plan or halting implementation.

NIC CEO, Steve Whan said "the strong view of NIC members is that the flaws and challenges that remain in implementing the Basin Plan are best addressed by acting on the recommendations of this year's Productivity Commission review.

Member for Murray Helen Dalton said the conversation from the government leading up to the rally so far has been anything but positive, especially the "accusation" from Water Minister David Littleproud that farmers are not using their water allocations.

Mr Littleproud's release said farmers can be reassured their entire water allocation is there to be used, "after a recent Murray-Darling Basin Authority communique clarified the matter".

"... Large volumes of water are being left idle and there is a growing trend of farmers not using all the water available to them," Mr Littleproud said.

"Right now every drop of water counts so it's puzzling to see it left unused."

Mrs Dalton said Mr Littleproud "completely distorted" the way state water allocations work and the way farms operate.

"The fact is, Murray farmers have been begging government to be able to use water in the full rivers flowing past them. However, in the past, allocations were granted far too late in the season for confidence in summer planning".

"This was a disgraceful attempt to blame the victims of government mismanagement".

Concerns have also been raised in the lead up to the rally by Murray Darling Basin Inspector General Mick Keelty about the behaviour of farmers during the debate, outlining the threats made to politicians visiting the basin.

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"That some ministers have had to engage police protection, and some departments have directed staff not to visit certain parts of the basin for fear of physical violence, is not acceptable," he said.

Mrs Dalton also took aim at the comments, saying farmers have been "remarkably patient and polite while their livelihoods are being destroyed".

Mrs Dalton will be addressing the Convoy to Canberra rally on Monday at around 3.30pm.

Rally organisers have scheduled meetings with federal Water Minister David Littleproud, Environment Minister Sussan Ley and NSW Nationals Senator Perin Davey to discuss their concerns and present their solutions.

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