Business

Michelle Daw. The worst of winter ills is yet to come, along with further pain in our hospitals as staff struggle to cope. That’s the warning from groups representing doctors and nurses, as the Code Yellow crisis in public hospitals drags on.

South Australian-sourced timber will form the backbone of two of the state’s new technical colleges – simultaneously reducing the carbon impact of the construction work and supporting the state’s $3 billion forestry industry ... new technical colleges at Tonsley and Mount Gambier will both be constructed with timber sourced from Timberlink Australia’s new $70 million NeXTimber manufacturing facility at Tarpeena in the state’s south east.

Australia’s avocado industry is grappling with another year of increased production and low prices, according to a new report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank. However, the world’s growing appetite for the popular nutrient-packed green fruit is offering growers some relief, with increasing export demand for Australia’s produce, the report says.

The NAB Rural Commodities Index* has continued its upwards momentum, increasing 1.4 per cent month-on-month in May, driven by rising prices for wheat, barley, canola and lamb. The Index is now around levels last seen in February 2023, according to NAB’s June Rural Commodities Wrap released today.

The Albanese Government will strengthen the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, accepting all recommendations of a recent independent review into the Code as part of a wide‑ranging cost‑of‑living crackdown on anti‑competitive behaviour in the food and grocery sector ... The Review found that the current voluntary Code is failing to address the imbalance of bargaining power between supermarkets and their suppliers, including farmers.

The Cook Government has signed a collaborative agreement with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC). Through the agreement, an industry support program will deliver financial and non-financial support for local businesses, to enhance their participation in wind energy supply chains.

More than two years ago Mike Schill and Karen Johnson opened a  rustic looking shop  on their property at Drake ... For the tourists in search of gold, the store sells gold pans, portable, foldable spades, glass vials to put all the gold you find and other gold panning equipment.

169 probationary officers graduate from the Goulburn Police Academy on Friday, June 21. The graduates include 122 men and 47 women. Out of the 169, two will be based in the Richmond Police District, four in the Coffs Clarence Police District and two in the Tweed Byron region.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli’s call to the Queensland Government for a lifeline following Bonza Airline’s closure has been met with a positive step forward ... The Fund will support direct Jetstar flights from Sunshine Coast Airport to Auckland all year round, starting in December.

PhD student Evan Curtis has reached a turning point in research investigating the use of drones, simulation studies and artificial intelligence (AI) to sustainably manage the kangaroo industry in NSW. Evan, a student at the University of Sydney, is mid-way through his project,  Determining optimal management strategies for four large macropods in NSW ...

A move from fossil fuels to renewables is a significant long-term challenge for Australian agriculture, balancing economic viability and practicality of emerging technologies in the push for a greener more secure energy future. A GrainGrowers report, Fuels, Inputs of the Future, examines possible fuels for farm machinery and equipment in the future...

Affected CFA Brigades have united in a call for industrial action to achieve demands with respect to the future of their role as firefighters, in view of the Victorian State Government proposed reckless renewables expansion. We consider untenable the risks to lives and property, and irreparable damage imposed by proposed installations of High Voltage Transmission Lines and Renewable Energy Infrastructure.

I hear a train a coming, its rolling round the bend” sang the late great Johnny Cash, and might have been a song that came to mind as the Vinelander rolled into Donald on Friday, June 6, on its way to Mildura as part of the Slow Rail Journey put together by 707 operations based out of the Newport Rail yards in Hobsons’ Bay.

Well-known Allora artists, Malcolm and Kerry Nicholson of the Nicholson Art company have spent a few weeks in Condamine turning a big tin shed into a showpiece. Businessman Eric Liljegren of Condamine Seeds and Tyres organised Malcolm and Kerry to paint a mural based on his business but also to reflect on the rural community and district of Condamine.

A prominent feature of the CBD streetscape is being refreshed, but heritage buffs can rest assured that it will be a respectful rejuvenation. Starting in April and continuing in stages, the façade of the shop built in 1859 as Dabb and Co Merchants and which now houses the IGA supermarket, is being painted in familiar shades of cream, brown and green.

Australians bought 69.8 million new books in 2023, 70.9 million in 2022, and 65.4 million in 2021. In a world where there is so much competition for our attention, Australians continue to read, and we continue to read books written by Australians. Now, you can access the books you want to read through the new ARR.News Bookstore.

Ellen and Graeme Allen first spoke to Mark Collins in March and delivery of their Tiny Home was made to Geitz Road last week. Built strictly to Council regulations and for Australian Conditions the home was 95 per cent complete before delivery with Bellinghams of Warwick responsible for the move to the site.

House of Representatives. The Australian Parliament’s  Agriculture Committee  has presented its advisory report for its inquiry into the  Export Control Amendment (Ending Live Sheep Exports by Sea) Bill 2024, which will end the live sheep export trade by sea by 1 May 2028 ... Committee Chair,  Ms Meryl Swanson MP, said: ‘The bill fulfils the Albanese Government’s election promise to end the live export of sheep by sea while providing time and money for the orderly transition of industry to new avenues of production and trade.’

Preserving Robe’s historic landmark and popular tourist attraction, the Obelisk, in its current location is “not a responsible use of ratepayer funds” ... “While we recognise its profound historical significance, various factors such as cost, environmental impact, practicality, and community opinion present significant challenges”: Mayor Lisa Ruffell.

“At the pivotal point of Pfizer's vaccine approval in December 2020, there was a gross misrepresentation in what was presented publicly. Instead of the six deaths publicly disclosed, four placebo, two vaccinated, suggesting a benefit of vaccination, there were in fact 11 deaths, with more deaths in the vaccinated arm, six. We found undisclosed deaths, especially in the vaccinated arm of this clinical trial, in contravention to legal and ethical obligations of trial sponsors": Dr Jeyanthi Kunadhasan.