$4m increase queried
Health Minister Chris Picton has defended the increase in budget allocation of $4million to the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) last financial year ... “The fee-for-service expenditure for the Limestone Coast Local Health Network last financial year was $28,164,000, an increase of $4million from 2023. Can the minister explain exactly what fee-for-service relates to and whether that is the amount spent on employing locum doctors?” asked Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride.
Seven hundred thousand
Two salaried doctors in the region, employed by the Limestone Coast Local Health Network, are paid yearly salaries of around $700,000 each. But why, Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride questioned Health Minister Chris Picton in the House of Assembly last month. Mr McBride quizzed the minister about what these roles were that were paying that amount and where they were based.
Tchum Lake Aquatic Club: New leadership
The Tchum Lake Aquatic Club has ushered in a new era of leadership, with Alex Noonan taking the helm as president following Andrew Lee’s dedicated eight-year tenure ... One of the first challenges facing the new executive team is tackling the lake’s significant weed problem.
Energy Breakthrough this weekend: “Stand by for a start!”
Excitement was palpable at Donald High School last week as members of the Energy Breakthrough (EBT) team gathered alongside sponsors and family to unveil their new vehicle and receive their official team gear. The event marked the final preparations ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated challenge in Maryborough, Victoria.
New sea container strategy to boost biosecurity in the Pacific: DAFF
A workshop in Fiji this month will seek to strengthen biosecurity in the Pacific by developing a new strategy to manage risks associated with sea container movements. The strategy aims to reduce the global spread of hitchhiker pests across the Pacific region via the sea container pathway.
Rail sale: Council and VicTrack respond
A property leased by the Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) is being sold by the Victorian Government, raising questions about zoning and community consultation around the sale of a heritage asset that has been a green buffer around Maldon Station since the gold rush era. The Tarrangower Times ... requested information from Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) to ask about the zoning for 14 Reef Street, which was understood to have been changed to make way for the sale ...
Holiday levy from January: Stress for BnBs
The Victorian State Parliament has passed the contentious ‘AirBnB Tax’ law to impose a 7.5 per cent levy on short-stay accommodation platforms ... Michele Waddington, owner of Fairbank House holiday home rental, believes the levy will have an impact on local accommodation providers and beyond: "The legislation, which taken with other recent taxes, has significantly impacted Maldon’s economic recovery."
Leadership opportunities at Maldon Inc.
The local traders association Maldon Inc. held its annual general meeting (AGM) ... but has yet to attract a new president or secretary. Barry Robinson has served as president of the organisation since 2022 and Lindsay Calloway from Warral Maldon has been serving as secretary ... Barry acknowledged that there is reduced enthusiasm for joining committees in 2024 but said the organisation is considering the creation of an advisory board, so people can contribute to certain topics or on certain projects in which they specialise.
Growth opportunities for Australian beef exports into South-East Asian markets – Rabobank
Australia has the opportunity to cement itself as one of the key beef suppliers into South- East Asian markets – as the appetite for beef continues to grow among the region’s consumers, according to agribusiness specialist Rabobank.
Fire training boosted on land and in the air
The CFA is enhancing its driver training capability across Victoria thanks to 10 new driver training trucks along with additional driving educators. Deputy Chief Officer Operational Doctrine and Training, Rohan Luke, said the new custom designed driver training trucks will be delivered to CFA training grounds across the state ... The CFA has also created a world-first mixed reality fire aviation simulator ...
Brolgas return to Towong
The last of four largescale artwork pieces was installed at Towong ... as part of Stage 2 of the Great River Road touring route project. The newest sculpture depicts two brolgas in a Brolgas return to Towong courtship dance on the Towong Walking Trail.
Brown wins Supercars Championship
Toowoomba’s Will Brown has taken out the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship with a win at the Adelaide 500. Brown said he couldn’t have been happier to finish off the year with a win. "I was pretty stoked to finish off the year with a win to be honest," Brown said.
Summer congestion: Beach parking challenge
Patricia Gill. Parking will be at a premium at Ocean Beach and Prawn Rock Channel with the area expected to be congested with beachgoers over summer. Ocean Beach near the Denmark Surf Life Saving Club is expected to remain closed to the public until October next year as work continues on the refurbished clubrooms … The Ocean Beach car park will remain closed while contractors use the area as a laydown space…
‘Rabbit’s’ PodVan visits Narrandera
In the late 1990s, Dave ‘Rabbit’ Rabbetts was a household name throughout the MIA as the original breakfast radio host on Griffith’s edgy new youth station, FM99.7. More than two decades later, he has taken his show on the road, doing what he does best from a mobile podcasting studio dubbed The PodVan, delivering "a celebration of the lighter side of life".
Scale of big renewables laid bare
The Federal Government’s push to go ‘green’ appears to be spiralling out of control, with new costs estimated that the transition will take $1.3 to $1.5 trillion … What do we get for our money? Cheap, reliable, centralised power generation, with technology that will last for more than half a century? Or expensive, decentralised, precious metal intensive, unreliable, short-lived technology that will carve across some of Australia’s most precious landscape?
GrainGrowers seed report calls for government support for genetics access
GrainGrowers has called on the federal government to work with industry to ensure Australian growers can tap into biotechnology developments and deliver timely access to innovative crop genetics.
End of an era at Japps
It was the end of an era ... when Hay’s pharmacist of close to 70 years finally passed on the baton. "The time has come," Allan Japp told The Riverine Grazier after signing over his share of Japp’s Pharmacy to Mina Malek who had been working with him for the past two-and-a-half years.
Berri to Bute
Hugh Schuitemaker. An unused train previously sitting on a Riverland property has been relocated to its historical home on the Yorke Peninsula. The 406 Red Hen train that had previously been located near the Big Orange, between Berri and Renmark was on Monday re-located to Bute, as part of the ‘Get the 406 to Bute’ community project.
We should have a say in how the surplus is spent
Here’s an idea for you: Australia has around 15 million taxpayers, but only 50 per cent are net contributors, meaning they actually pay more than they receive back in rebates and deductions ... Now, with the government forecasting a surplus ... wouldn't it be nice if those of us contributing more than our fair share had a say in how that surplus is spent—or, dare I say, saved?
Clarence Valley community share feedback after Albanese Government announce plans to ban under-16s from social media
After the Albanese Government recently announced a proposal to introduce new laws to prohibit youths aged 16 and under from accessing and using social media, citing the changes are aimed at mitigating the harm social media is inflicting on Australian children, the Clarence Valley Independent decided to conduct a street survey.
Government confirms liquidity trap for farmers and small business under new ‘Super Tax’: NFF, COSBOA
Farming families and small business owners across the country have been left speechless by the Agriculture and Small Business Minister Julie Collins’ response in question time ... regarding proposed changes to superannuation. When asked whether the changes would result in a tax bill on unrealised gains even in years with zero or negative income, the Minister confirmed farmers would have to find the cash – potentially forcing the sale of family farms.
Singapore Sling – Government backs distillers’ Southeast Asian vision: Szakacs
Six South Australian businesses will take part in the delegation led by the industry’s peak body, Distillers SA, and will showcase their award-winning gin, whisky, brandy, vermouth and liqueurs for Singaporean importers and consumers at targeted business meetings, tasting events and site visits...
