Contributor, ARR.News

Regional families and farmers are bearing the brunt of the Allan Labor Government’s Emergency Services Tax, with local councils forced to rip millions more from communities already struggling under the weight of rising living costs ... “In Benalla, ratepayers are now set to fork out 81 per cent more under this new tax. In Strathbogie, it’s even worse – a staggering 91 per cent increase,” Ms Cleeland said.

Under the current outlook the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is confident that system demands will be met across the 2025-26 water year, despite a dry start to the season. The MDBA has released its Annual Operating Outlook for 2025–26, which outlines how the River Murray System might be managed under different water availability scenarios for the year ahead.

The Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) has welcomed the Council of Financial Regulators’ (CFR) report on small and medium-sized banks as positive first step in a broader reform journey. “We welcome the Government’s statement of intent on improving the regulatory framework, and the greater consideration of how future policy changes will impact customer-owned banks,” COBA CEO Michael Lawrence said.

NBN Co and Amazon have announced an agreement to deliver high-speed, wholesale fixed broadband to customers in parts of regional, rural and remote Australia via Project Kuiper’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology. ARR.News had some questions for NBN Co and Amazon.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed the release of the Victorian Government's Victorian Freight Plan 2025-30, describing it as a positive step toward strengthening the freight network and delivering improved outcomes for Victorian agriculture.

With interest in unique tourism experiences on the rise, agritourism is a growing opportunity for Australian growers to diversify income, maximise farm assets, and build stronger connections with their local communities.

This year’s Spanish mackerel stock assessment found the population was now likely to have doubled since the 2021 review. Based on this, the Department Primary Industries has proposed raising Spanish mackerel catch limits for both commercial and recreational fishing.

In a misty regional Queensland valley dotted with hot air balloons, Tamyka Bell had one of those moments that defines why she keeps returning to the Scenic Rim Ultra year after year. "It was a beautiful, cold, misty morning ... The thing that gets people to the finish line is loving what they're doing. If it's a beautiful course that inspires you, you will get to the finish line because you want to see the next bit."

Yilgarn Agricultural Society Gates open at 10pm with Main Street Parade Rides are free Free entry for kids under 13 Local crafts, cooking, woodwork, wool etc in the...