Australian agriculture passes vote of no confidence in the Albanese Government: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation’s Members Council, comprising Australia’s state and commodity agricultural organisations, has today carried three motions: 1. That the NFF no longer has confidence in the Albanese Government to act in the interests of Australian agriculture ... “Farmers, fishers and foresters feel they are being treated with contempt as this Government pursues its single-minded policy agenda": David Jochinke.
BCCM says Fonterra sale another blow for Australian dairy farmers
Melina Morrison. "The announcement by Fonterra that it intends to sell its Australian dairy processing assets is yet another blow to dairy farmers and a reminder about the precarious nature of our food security when staples like milk are passed around like commodities. This move, if it results in greater concentration of ownership of Australian dairy assets, will impact not only farmers but also consumers at the supermarket checkout."
Coalition legacy delivers for Bordertown
Charlotte Edmunds. Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP has joined the Tatiara District Council to officially open the new worker accommodation at Bordertown. The $680,000 project has built two, four-unit accommodation blocks at the Bordertown Caravan Park to help address the need to accommodate the local workforce.
Chuffed with J’s return home!
The excitement was getting a little too much at times. Not only for the team at Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) but also for locomotive J549 (J) ... And last Saturday at 12.30pm, an excited driver Paul McDonald brought J home to Maldon, with around 90 passengers equally excited to be part of the ‘chuff-chuff, woo-wooo’ journey.
Local maternity service makes history
Dhelkaya Health has made history by welcoming the very first baby born via a planned caesarean through their midwifery group practice model. Eloise and Peter welcomed their daughter Asta Nicole Batten into the world via planned caesarean on 16 April.
Frack free NT brings Water of Life tour to Peko Park
Peko Park was lively as Mudburra musician Ray Dimaakarri Dixon and Jingili musician Stuart Joel Nugget, along with other musicians, performed at the Tennant Creek stop of the Water of Life Tour ... In addition to the music, there were discussions about the effects of fracking in the Barkly region and how the community can collaborate to prevent it.
The race for the Two Cups is set to start!
Andrew O’Toole. The annual "Two Cups" Race Day at Hagan Park in Tennant Creek on Saturday is always a fixture to look forward to, being the only meeting held in the town of just over 3,000 people and 500km north of Alice Springs. Six races have been assembled for the meeting, and a total of 33 horses will do battle around the sand course in the Barkly.
TCV’s new approach to Land Access Payments
Transmission Company Victoria. Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) has actioned stakeholder feedback on Land Access Agreement (LAA) payments, increasing the payment to landholders who provide larger areas for survey areas. Landholders can discuss land access agreements for VNI West, which start at $10,000 to a maximum $50,000, with their dedicated landholder liaison officers. TCV spokesperson, Claire Cass, said the change in the LAA payment reflects the project’s ongoing engagement with landholders who communicated the potential impost of survey access on their time.
Thousands expected at Paradise Lagoons Campdraft
Riders and spectators from around Australia will converge on the Region this weekend for the 22nd annual Paradise Lagoons Campdraft. The Paradise Lagoons Campdraft Association received $10,000 towards the event during round two of Council’s 2023/24 Community Assistance Program (CAP).
Murray Watt is a wounded Minister
Yesterday in Canberra, the WAFarmers and the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) joined a walk out of the federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt during the budget breakfast, with industry leaders wearing a ‘Keep the Sheep’ tee shirt. The Minister was not impressed ... The farmers might be irrelevant to the ALP, but the voting public are suspicious of governments that are seen to sell out the farmers that grow the grain used to breed the geese that feed the workers that mine the gold that the government uses to buy votes.
Investment to deliver a future made in Australia: King, McBain, Brown, Chisholm
The Albanese Government’s reforms to the Infrastructure Investment Program, to make it more sustainable, mean we can invest in new projects around the nation. This Budget provides $16.5 billion for new and existing projects across Australia over ten years to improve productivity, liveability, and sustainability.
Securing Australia’s critical minerals, exploration and processing industries: King
The 2024-25 Budget supports the further development of Australia’s rich endowment in critical minerals, while investing in programs for downstream processing and manufacturing technologies needed to help the world lower emissions ... A Future Made in Australia needs critical minerals. The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring we can capitalise on the great opportunity provided by critical minerals and the global clean energy transition.
Corporal Randall has a Hawkei
Former Cohuna lad, Corporal Adam Randall has been featured by the Australian Army as one of their most experienced soldiers working on the Army’s newest light protected mobility vehicle, the Hawkei. Corporal Randall has more than 10 years’ experience in the Army ... the Hawkei, made by Thales in Bendigo, is a highly protected and deployable light vehicle ...
Graziers take the bull by the horns
A group of local beef producers has banded together to re-open Corryong’s butcher shop, with a focus on sourcing meat from local farms. Upper Murray Beef (UMB) is a community-driven initiative that was born from the Upper Murray 2030 Plan with an emphaisis on ‘value adding’ to local production.
Darling Downs Zoo off the market
After making the difficult decision last year to put the zoo they founded on the market, Steve and Stephanie Robinson have had a change of heart, deciding to retain ownership of the Darling Downs Zoo at Pilton ... Mr Robinson said he wanted to ensure the zoo remains as a breeding facility for rare and endangered animals, as well as a family and educational facility that attracts visits from many local schools.
History made on $1.2 billion new Bundaberg Hospital project: Miles, Dick, Grace, Fentiman
The Miles Government has made a landmark investment of $1.2 billion towards a new Bundaberg Hospital which will transform healthcare for patients, carers and staff for generations to come ... The new hospital will have more than 400 beds, including 320 overnight beds, expanded emergency department, additional operating theatres and a wider range of outpatient and diagnostic services.
What’s happening at the gallery
What's happening rather soon is the gallery’s bi-annual Clay Works Exhibition; expect to find all things clay related ... If you are walking past the G check out Max the Crocodile in the window, I think perhaps Sir Max may be more appropriate.
Final crossing – as future for Ulmarra to Southgate ferry service sinks
When asked if there was any community consultation undertaken by Transport for NSW prior to the announcement on May 10, Ms Kearney and Mr Pickering revealed there was none and said if there was any targeted consultation carried out it was not done locally. Describing himself as devastated and disappointed when he learned of the fate of the ferry, Mr Pickering said the Ulmarra and Southgate communities are in turmoil ...
2024-25 Budget analysis: Waterfind
On 14 May 2024, the Treasurer delivered the Federal Budget. The key themes of the Budget were addressing cost of living pressures and a ‘future made in Australia.’ ... Waterfind has analysed the May 2024 Budget, and has provided commentary from a ‘water’ perspective on the key initiatives, funding and changes from previous budgets.
Mighty magnesium
In a major boost to Latrobe Valley industry and jobs, Latrobe Magnesium has paved the way for its plant in Morwell to use the company’s own patented technology to eventually produce magnesium for the international market from the Valley’s brown coal fly ash. The company, in a release to the ASX on Monday, announced the completion of commissioning for the first phase of its 1000 tonnes per annum, Stage 1 demonstration plant.
Trust is something that is hard to win but easy to lose
If there was ever a time to take a close look at the relationship Australia’s major banks have with the word “trust” it is now. After more than a year of hearings nationwide and an unprecedented 600-plus submissions, the Federal Senate Inquiry into Regional Bank Closures concludes and the committee will table its final report on May 24 (postponed from May 16. No reasons given).
2024-2025 Federal Budget – What it means for regional and agribusiness: NAB
Overnight, NAB’s team of leading economists has analysed the 2024-2025 Federal Budget, looking at what it means for regional Australia and agribusiness. The government is allocating $519.1 million from the Future Drought Fund over the next eight years from 2024-25...
