Contributor, ARR.News

The complete decentralisation of State Government departments to cities like Townsville and Cairns, or a North Queensland Parliamentary Council that would allow NQ-based MPs only to vote on issues and projects in the region, have been floated as “self-governance” options by Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) MPs. The KAP MPs, in Cairns this week for the Queensland Parliament’s once-a-term regional sitting, said steps towards self-governance were reasonable as the region continues its quest towards statehood.

The Budget forecasts a small budget surplus in 2022‑23, ahead of most major advanced economies, and lower deficits and debt over each year of the forward estimates compared with the October Budget ... Gross debt as a share of the economy is now expected to peak lower at 36.5  per  cent of GDP in 2025‑26, where it will be $154  billion lower than projected in the Coalition’s March 2022‑23 Budget.

The global avocado trade will continue to grow in the next few years, but the market will be more competitive, forcing operators to be not only more efficient, but also increasingly sustainable, according to a new report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank. In the report Global Avocado Growth Far From Over, Rabobank says world avocado production expanded by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately seven per cent over the past decade.

Developing the  Regional Investment Framework  - outlined in the 2023-24 Budget - puts regions and the people who live in them, at the heart of decision making. The Framework will establish a new regional development forum for Australian Government agencies, with regular engagement to better inform Commonwealth decisions ... The Framework identifies four key priority areas to support regional development – investing in services, people, places and industry.

NSW Farmers’ Association is disappointed the federal government has missed key opportunities in the federal budget to strengthen Australian agriculture and rural communities. President of NSW Farmers Xavier Martin said the federal budget has “fallen short” of expectations, particularly around the significant biosecurity threats Australian farmers face.

Tonight’s ‘cost of living’ budget is a missed opportunity to address food price inflation, according to Australia’s peak farm body. National Farmers’ Federation President, Fiona Simson, said the budget does nothing to get to the heart of rampant food price inflation – which NFF polling shows is weighing on the minds of 8 in 10 Australians.

The federal budget has delivered a mixed result for rural Australia, with GrainGrowers expressing disappointment and calling for additional work in a number of areas ... While welcoming the steadfast commitment to maintaining Fuel Tax Credits and the extra attention to childcare, GrainGrowers said the government had missed a range of valuable investment opportunities for grain growers.

From May 17th to the 21st, the world’s top riders will converge in Cairns, Australia, for five days of action-packed racing, fierce competition, and a whole lot of “shoeys” in the tropical rainforest. You can catch it all live on  Red Bull TV.