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AUKUS questions
Mute on nuke subs
The voice of Territorians in Canberra is barely a whisper: just four NT pollies are in the national Parliament. Only one of them, Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, is on the Government front bench. We asked her for an interview on June 2 or 3 about Territorians likely to have a very specific take on the $368b AUKUS fiasco.
Sports infrastructure - Broken Hill
A century of racing under threat: the fight to save Broken Hill’s greyhound track
Greyhound racing has been part of Broken Hill for more than a century. On 30 June 2026, Greyhound Racing NSW intends to end it. The decision to close the Broken Hill Greyhounds Club was made earlier this year as part of a broader restructure recommended by an independent Deloitte report, which advised GRNSW to reduce the state's racing footprint to a sustainable number of tracks.
Exhibition - Casino
From the Louvre to Casino – Yuin artist part of new exhibition
Therese Schier. There’s a new exhibition coming to the Casino Art Gallery featuring internationally acclaimed Yuin artist Lloyd Gawura Hornsby from Glenn Innes and Galibul Elder Noel Caldwell (Uncle Charlie). The Celebrating NAIDOC exhibition opens on Saturday June 13 with artworks by local and regional First Nations artists.
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Brumbies
NSW Government’s new brumby estimates don’t pass the pub test
Colleen Krestensen. New estimates of brumby numbers in Kosciuszko National Park imply a dramatic and biologically impossible increase of up to 315 per cent over a 12 month period ... The concern for the community is the government is accepting this alleged increase without question as a basis to resume aerial culling of brumbies, commencing in the coming days.
Koalas
Indigenous-led conservation confirms return of guraban (koala) across Wadbilliga National Park: Firesticks
On the far South Coast of New South Wales, Gadhu Bagan, the Southern-Yuin Firesticks team, is celebrating the persistent presence of Guraban (koala) across multiple locations in Wadbilliga National Park, following on-Country survey and monitoring work undertaken in partnership with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
New scientific review confirms native forestry can deliver wood, biodiversity and environmental outcomes: FWCA
Forest and Wood Communities Australia has welcomed the publication of a major peer-reviewed scientific review that concludes Australia's native forests can be sustainably managed for timber production while protecting biodiversity, carbon values, water resources and other environmental outcomes.
Farm life
Hospitality
McNamaras make their mark
Blake Lee. Justin McNamara never thought he'd own a pub. On Saturday, he and his husband Jayden will reopen the Watchem Hotel after a three-year closure ... the venue will launch as the first-ever permanent Driver Reviver site.
Innovation
Compost invention
It seems that compost is a subject that is exercising the minds of many across the shire, and Maldon resident Oliver Messenger is one of them. He has invented a composting system that has been granted an Australian patent with an international patent in the works.
Cash mandate
Cash mandate exemption requests piling up at regulator
Supermarkets and fuel retailers are trying to get out of obligations to accept cash payments under new industry codes introduced by the Federal Government, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has confirmed. The commission (ACCC) says “multiple” applications for exceptional circumstances exemptions have been received from retailers in both regional and metropolitan areas, but none have yet been accepted or rejected.
Data, water and energy
How much water and power will AI data centres use in Australia? Ironically, we don’t have the data to know
Michael Vardon. Australia’s data centre rush now rivals the mining boom. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman last week said Australia could become a “data centre capital of the world”. This would come at an environmental cost ... Before committing fully, we need granular detail on how much water and energy these centres use.
Water - Narrandera
Housing and occupancy - WA
Regional health - Vic
Disaster management
Testing Australia’s national disaster response and resilience capabilities: McBain
Key government and private sector organisations have come together to test how they respond to crisis scenarios, such as natural disasters, health and biosecurity incidents, supply chain shortages and disruptions to critical infrastructure.
Wage increase
Wage decision hits hard: NSW Farmers
NSW Farmers says today's Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review decision will place significant additional pressure on farm employers, with some horticulture operations facing the full 6 per cent increase to their wages bill.
Power prices
Power bill fear for single mum
For Naracoorte single mother Michaela Dalton, every power bill brings the same fear - that one day she won't be able to keep the lights on for her daughter. With bills piling up and electricity prices set to rise, the 24-year-old says she feels like she's drowning.
Food security
Export success hides domestic pain for growers – food security needs action: QFVG
Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) is warning against complacency on Australia's food security following the release of the ABARES June 2026 Agricultural Commodities Report, which shows export growth is increasingly obscuring challenges facing domestic fruit and vegetable production.
Drought preparation
Negative forecast for the season
"It's quite negative out there," were the opening remarks of NSW Drought Co-ordinator, Ray Willis when he spoke at the landholder support day at Booroorban last week. "I'm hearing people who say they cannot do it again. They don't want to go through what they did in 2019."
Regional GP
Kevin’s lasting legacy of care
Sebastian Calderon. Riverland families are set to farewell one of the region's longest-serving doctors, who is retiring after almost 38 years of caring and supporting local patients ... Dr Kevin Stanton said being a true country GP meant far more than clinic consultations, with doctors heavily involved in hospital care, emergency treatment and palliative support throughout the region.
Charity
Nhill community raises $4,319 for Cancer Council
The Nhill and district community has raised $4,319 for the Cancer Council through four days of fundraising organised by the Nhill Cancer Group. The group thanked everyone who supported the effort, which included a raffle, donations and the sale of Cancer Council merchandise at Nhill IGA over three days.
Indigenous education
Acknowledging 20 years of service in the education of our children
Uncle Sunno, a proud Paakantji man, has been working tirelessly for 20 years, to support the learning of children and young people in Wilcannia ... His deep knowledge of Paakantji culture supports the school staff to develop the cultural competence required to be effective educators.
Indigenous police officer
Honouring Australia’s first First Nations police officer this Reconciliation Week
Dr Colin Dillon AM, APM, a proud Kombumerri man of the Yugambeh Nation, made history when he joined the Queensland Police Service (QPS) at just 20 years old in 1965. As Australia marked National Reconciliation Week (which ran from the 27th of May to Wednesday of this week, the 3rd of June), the QPS acknowledged the contributions and legacy of the nation’s first, First Nations police officer, Dr Colin Dillon AM, APM.
Indigenous language
Three generations helping to recover Nharangga language
For decades, much of Nharangga warra Narungga language existed in fragments. Today, those fragments are being put back together. Across three generations of the Wanganeen family, the language is being recovered, taught and spoken once again, with a growing focus on returning it to everyday life.
Word Fest - Chinchilla
Enjoy cosy, bookish vibes this June as Words Out West returns
The local festival, which has gained immense popularity over recent years, continues to celebrate creativity, community, and connection through the love of words. Shifting the event to June invites bibliophiles to indulge in the cosy winter pastime: stay indoors, keep warm with a cuppa, and be inspired by some of their favourite authors.
Exhibition
World Press Photo
The Art Gallery of Ballarat brings World Press Photo to regional Victoria for the first time this August. Each year, the contest highlights the outstanding work of photojournalists and documentary photographers from across the globe.
Street piano
A piano transformed by art and Joy(ce) will be in the street for everyone to play
It has been more than a labour of love – artist Sally Joyce has transformed an upright piano into a work of art … “I wanted this piano to be a gift of unexpected beauty and a work beyond what was expected of me,” Sally said.
Tourism
Dark skies shine through the clouds at the 2026 Dark Sky Festival
Danielle Nicolson, Amy Reed and Tim Burke. Despite some 'less than ideal' weather conditions, the 2026 Lord Howe Island Dark Sky Festival proved once again that a little cloud cover is no match for great company, fun events and a shared passion for the wonders of the night.
Retiree tourism
Retirees on the River to boost Echuca Moama’s shoulder season
A new and exciting tourism initiative, Retirees on the River – Seniors' Celebrations Echuca Moama, will bring a vibrant 12-day program of offers and activities to the Echuca Moama region from Monday 7 to Friday 18 September 2026.
Rural property analysis
DAS (Digital Agriculture Services) first quarterly report into regional land values
Agri-fintech company DAS (Digital Agriculture Services) has developed a Rural Sales Dashboard, an interactive tool for interrogating the data behind rural property sales across Australia's mainland states and the NT. DAS has now released its first quarterly report using findings from the dashboard. "Australian farmland remains one of the country's most important asset classes, but we're seeing greater variation in performance between regions": Sarah Gormon, DAS cofounder.
Dingoes - Vic
Rare earths - NT
$1.6 billion Nolans Project declared NT’s first Significant Project: Finocchiaro
The nation-building Arafura Rare Earths Nolans Project has been declared the first Significant Project under the Territory Coordinator Act, supporting the coordinated delivery of the $1.6 billion development. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the project highlighted the critical role the Northern Territory is playing in supporting Australia's economy and national security.
Critical minerals - Vic
Design of the Mining and Rehabilitation Demonstration Pit: Gippsland Critical Minerals
Michelle Wood. The Mining and Rehabilitation Demonstration Pit is designed to test GCM’s approach to mining and measure impacts across a number of key areas including how land can be rehabilitated. It enables evidence to be gathered in-situ and to gather data that informs better design for the broader project.
Paraquat
When journalism picks a side
One of the more interesting developments in modern journalism is that reporters increasingly seem to know the answer before they begin asking the questions ... The problem with Ros Thomas's recent Weekend Australian feature on paraquat and Parkinson's disease is that by the time you reach the end, you are left with the feeling that the destination was already known before the journey began.
Paraquat
The use of paraquat use in Australian agriculture – industry responses
In light of the pending decision on paraquat by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and recent media drawing a connection between paraquat and Parkinson's disease, Australian Rural & Regional News has sought responses from industry bodies.
Arts administration
New GM no stranger to local arts scene
Patricia Gill. Denmark Arts' new general manager Annette Drenth has worked with the organisation for the past eight months in a ‘passion project' as a mentor ... "I have also engaged with Denmark Arts and its programs for more than two decades, as a visitor regularly holidaying in Denmark with my small family," Annette said.
Safe hands in tough times for the arts
Patricia Gill. Abbie Pedersen hands over the directorship of Denmark Arts to Annette Drenth confident in the future of the organisation.
Anglican church
Bishop Venables visits St David’s Allora
A special confirmation service was held at St David’s Anglican Church on Sunday with Bishop Cam Venables attending. Fifteen people were confirmed with the Bishop believing this may be very close to a record in the Anglican Church Southern Queensland Diocese!
Rugby Union
Festival of Rugby showcases community sport
Round 7 of the Central Coast Rugby Union season delivered one of the most memorable weekends in recent memory, with the inaugural Festival of Rugby taking centre stage at Tuggerah Sports Complex on May 30. Despite wet weather causing widespread sporting disruptions across the region, CCRU stood alone as the only major sporting competition on the Central Coast to complete its full schedule.
Eventing
Currency Creek Horse Trials raises the bar with expanded course
The Currency Creek Horse Trials has delivered another chapter in the event’s growing reputation for excellence on the South Australian eventing calendar. With 94 horse and rider combinations competing across eight classes, the May 30-31 event offered something for every level of combination...
The Cup
The people’s Cup hits the road again – Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour reveals 37 destinations for 2026 journey
The 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour is back with one of its most exciting journeys yet, with 37 destinations across Australia and the world revealed today at an official launch event at Flemington Racecourse.
Triathlete
Pixie earns spot at World Championships
Islander and 7th generation Pinetree's kid, Pixie Hanson, just had her first international race.
Pedal power
Yanchep to host WA Pedal Prix Perth events
The Splendid Park criterium track will transform into a fast-paced arena of pedal-powered prowess on Saturday, June 13 as the WA Pedal Prix series moves to the start of the Perth based events. Students, riders, teams, and spectators will come together for one of Western Australia’s most exhilarating human-powered vehicle events.
Tell your network about Australian Rural & Regional News
If you like a story on Australian Rural & Regional News, if you think this is a news platform worth a look, worth keeping in touch with, share it with your network.
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History & heritage
Nhill’s pliable plastic factory
John Williams. At the Nhill Plastic Factory, staff once found themselves unable to unclasp their own fingers no matter how hard they tried, while another employee slept upright in a chair for half an hour - wide awake inside her head but unable to move a muscle. No, it wasn’t a typical Monday morning. Hypnotist Bud Flanagan Junior was in town, using the factory workers to promote his 1949 show.
Exhibition - Whyalla
Murray-Darling
Native fish habitat trial goes swimmingly: Watt, Moriarty, Jackson
...the trial of the $26.2 m bubble plume project is already making a positive difference by creating warmer temperatures throughout the Severn River’s Pindari Dam storage ... “This project aims to re-establish more natural water temperatures below dams for native fish breeding and growth. The project also ensures that water temperatures from environmental flow releases enhance the health of the river downstream”: Tara Moriarty.
Health research
Murray-Darling - water market
VFF warns government water buybacks are creating an unfair corporate water market
“It’s no longer a level playing field. Farmers trying to secure water to grow food and sustain communities are competing against taxpayer-funded buybacks and major investment entities with access to massive amounts of capital”: VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy.
Murray-Darling - new release
Caught out thanks to Caught in the Current
The launch of Caught in the Current, The Dire Consequences of Politics Driving the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Barham, celebrated a long-awaited, community-driven historical and factual resource on Australian Water Policy ... The book is explicitly designed as a factual counter-narrative and practical tool for inquiries, libraries, and policy debate.
Disaster communications
Renewables - Vic
The Nationals to scrap net zero and VNI West
The Nationals will fight to stop the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) by scrapping Labor's net zero agenda, which has driven the reckless renewables rollout across regional Australia. Speaking after a Farmers' Forum in St Arnaud last week, Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said farmers and the local community had made clear the disastrous impact Labor's net zero agenda was having on regional Victoria.
Renewables - Vic
Cutting power bills with $11 billion in renewables: Kilkenny
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has recently approved a further $2.4 billion in projects through the Development Facilitation Program (DFP).
Batteries - Mallee
Bowen’s battery blather as Coalition reveals rollout cost blowout: Webster
Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster has taken Energy Minister Chris Bowen to task for his spin on Mallee battery rollout numbers, as the cost of the Government’s home battery scheme blows out. “I had to call out the Minister’s nonsense claiming Mallee has a home battery rollout ‘6 times Melbourne’ – which is very sneaky semantics...
Farmers in Canberra
The few funding the fight
I’ve just returned from a two-day National Farmers’ Federation members meeting in Canberra and the mood is dark. It is increasingly clear this Government has little affection for the productive capitalist class and is hunting for revenue, regulation and control from wherever it can extract it.
Land use - Foreign owner
There’s no social licence for Rushy’s sale: TasFarmers
The peak body for Tasmanian farmers has released its Rushy Lagoon Land Use North-East Community Impact Survey. TasFarmers said it had received concerns from numerous members regarding the proposed sale of Rushy Lagoon, and federal government support allowing a foreign-owned entity to purchase the property and convert it to a pine plantation.
Consultation breakdown
Fertiliser security
Mossman prospects
A plan for Queensland’s future – Crisafulli Government delivering new opportunities for Mossman farmers: Perrett
The Crisafulli Government is delivering $300,000 to support two local agronomy projects, helping shore up the future of agriculture in Far North Queensland after the local collapse of sugar cane when the Mossman Mill closed in 2024.
State significant?
MidCoast Council lodges submission on Sanderling Avenue State Significant Development
Council has now lodged its submission with the Department of Planning on the State Significant Development application for a proposed residential flat building development at Sanderling Avenue, Hawks Nest. The proposal involves the construction of three residential flat buildings up to four storeys, strata subdivision, and upgrades to the golf club parking area ... Council’s submission does not support the proposal in its current form.
Maiden speech
Call for return to Christian values
Chantelle Thomas invoked the Bible, calling for a return to Christian values, and an end to abortions and "woke ideology" in her maiden speech as the Member for Narungga last week. Speaking in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, May 20, Mrs Thomas said Australia was built on strong Christian values of faith, family, respect, personal responsibility and helping neighbours.
National Trust SA
Moonta heritage shutdown fallout tops $100k
Michelle Daw. Moonta Mines heritage volunteers say about $100,000 has been lost since National Trust of South Australia shut local sites in February, as they continue to fight the closure on multiple fronts.
Strategic fleet
ANL Kokoda to be first in Australia’s strategic fleet: King
Today, the Albanese Government announced it has secured the first vessel in its Maritime Strategic Fleet, the ANL Kokoda. The ANL Kokoda, a large cargo ship, will be the first to participate in the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program.
Citizen science
Aussie Bird Count: Magpies on top after Australia counted a record-breaking 5 million birds in one week
The results of BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count are in with a record breaking 5 million birds counted during the week-long national bird counting frenzy held in October last year. 64,000 Australians took part in the Count in the 12th year running ... Galahs came in at number 6...
Public art
Painted water tower project shines spotlight on Ivanhoe
The Ivanhoe painted water tower project has been completed and it is already capturing the imagination of local residents and visitors to the region. The artist, Krimsone, has been working hard over several weeks to successfully create the stand-out project.
Worker housing - WA
News media bargaining
News bargaining incentive legislation vital but it needs some tweaks
The introduction of the news bargaining incentive is vital to address information ecosystem disruption but the proposed legislation needs some tweaks, according to publishers’ groups and organisations such as Democracy Counts and the Public Interest Journalism Initiative.
Wind - Flinders
Texas energy giants to fuel Flinders Shire Council’s renewable boom
Flinders Shire Council is taking a leaf out of the Texas playbook to supercharge its economic future, welcoming a high-profile delegation of USA wind energy experts to the region this week as part of a tour of the state. The strategic visit aims to showcase how Flinders Shire is championing a pragmatic, economically driven approach to renewable energy development...
Groundwater - Qld
Sports infrastructure - Bass Coast
First new mountain bike jump park opens at Sunset Strip
Bass Coast Shire Council has officially opened the Sunset Strip Bike Jump Park delivering an exciting new space for riders of all ages and abilities on Phillip Island. The track was officially opened today, with local students, Councillors, members of the Bass Coast Mountain Bike Association, contractors and Council staff coming together to celebrate the milestone...
Health - NT
Biggest diphtheria outbreak: Feds help NT hotspot
The biggest diphtheria outbreak since national record keeping began now (21 May) stands at 230 cases this year, affecting mainly Aboriginal people and believed to have caused the death one person. Around 60 per cent of the cases are in the Northern Territory, with further outbreaks in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
Regional air
Australian Government delivering $4.8 million in relief to regional and remote airports: King
The Albanese Government has provided critical financial relief to 34 regional and remote airports through the Regional and Remote Airport Support Program. These relief payments will help airports, largely run by local councils, to manage any debts linked to the voluntary administration of Rex Airlines, and maintain the essential aviation services they provide for their communities.
Innovation
New machine set to revolutionise Australian cropping
The Seedbed Conditioner creates the perfect seedbed and root zone for crops at a fraction of the current power (HP/KW) requirement and cost of seeding. Over 15 years of paddock-scale research this machine always produced large yield increase, which averaged 25 per cent with a range of 10–40 per cent.
Lego
Brick by Brick exhibition celebrates local heritage landmarks
The Living Arts Space is delighted to present Brick by Brick: 10 Years of Building Bendigo, a new exhibition celebrating a decade of creativity from the Bendigo LEGO® User Group. Founded in 2014, the Bendigo LEGO® User Group has grown to more than 100 members across central Victoria.
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