Contributor, ARR.News

Grain handlers at Graincorp sites across NSW will vote on whether to take industrial action after negotiations broke down with the company, said the union which represents the workers. The 200 workers may decide to refuse to load or unload grain trucks and trains after an application was made to the Fair Work Commission to hold a ‘protected action ballot’ application on Tuesday.

The Independent Education Union – Queensland and Northern Territory Branch (IEU-QNT) supports the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) as it calls on government for an urgent increase to the Basic Boarding Allowance to cover 55 per cent of boarding costs, as originally intended. IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said the increase was essential to ensuring equitable access to education for all children in rural and remote Australia.

Following the passage of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures) Bill 2023 through the House of Representatives, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is once again warning Parliamentarians of the Bill’s consequences on thousands of family farms and small businesses.  

An international airline has entered an enforceable undertaking with the Australian Government after it failed to declare two dogs’ arrival to the country, breaching Australian biosecurity measures. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which has regulatory powers for Australia’s biosecurity as part of the Biosecurity Act 2015, found United Airlines had breached its reporting requirements twice...

In an effort to raise much needed funds, the Guy Fawkes Heritage Association is opening its doors at the Ebor Sports and Recreation Grounds for their 20th anniversary on Saturday 12 October ... The Open Day will commence at 10am and see activities such as camp oven cooking by Ranger Nick, who will also facilitate a hands-on damper making workshop for the kids. There will be market stalls, whip cracking, Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Challenge and conclude with a concert, featuring country music singer James Blundell.

Virtual reality is set to revolutionise Australia’s $24 billion forestry industry by training workers risk-free, remotely, and much faster. A VR immersive training tool developed by the University of South Australia with the support of the Green Triangle Forest Industry Hub is also expected to save the industry millions of dollars in the long term.

Following the adoption of the Central Goldfields Food Systems Roadmap in September, the Central Goldfields Food Network will reconvene to lead its implementation.

Thousands of grain producers  will be put under unnecessary pressure to rethink  sustainable farming practices that benefit  the environment if proposed changes to the use of two key herbicides are approved. This is according to Grain Producers Australia Southern Region Director Mark Schilling,  who is just one of thousands of grain producers who rely  on timed applications of paraquat and diquat  in their programs to ensure a strong harvest result.

Victoria's once-thriving business events sector is in crisis, with recent data from Tourism Research Australia showing a dramatic drop in market share from 36 per cent in 2014 to just 21 per cent in 2024. Victoria was once the leader in business events, far ahead of New South Wales (27 per cent) and Queensland (15 per cent) in 2014.

The vehicles are part of a fleet of 29 ultra heavy tankers rolling out across regional Victoria ... The new tankers will provide a valuable boost to the capability of the brigades ahead of the upcoming fire season. Valued at $440,000 each, the ultra heavy tankers have a 10,000-litre water tank, improving the ability to fight fires in rural areas with open grasslands…