Business

Students from across Wellington Shire have taken a hands-on step into the world of aviation, experiencing firsthand the career opportunities available right on their doorstep through an Aviation Taster Tour hosted by Wellington Shire Council. Sixteen secondary school students from three Wellington schools took part in the tour on Tuesday 17 March, travelling between West Sale Airport and the Longford Heliport.

Global investment in data centres is accelerating – and Australia is well-placed to lead – but this must happen on terms that benefit the community and deliver for the national interest. The Albanese Government’s National AI Plan, released in December 2025, sets out our ambition: to harness the benefits of AI while ensuring all Australian’s shares the benefits.

The Albanese Government is helping Australia’s trucking industry manage the impacts of the war in the Middle East, ensuring truckies and transport operators are better protected from fuel price rises. With global uncertainty leading to significant impacts on our transport industry, our Government is taking practical action to support the truckies and transport operators who keep the Australian economy moving.

The National Farmers’ Federation welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to commission a National Food Supply Chain Assessment as part of the National Food Security Strategy, but has reiterated its calls for an immediate plan of action for the sector.

Energy Estate and Queensland Cane Agriculture and Renewables have formalised a strategic affiliation to advance the BioNQ Project in North Queensland, positioning sugarcane as a critical solution to Australia’s fuel security challenge while delivering long-term regional economic benefits. ARR.News asked a few further questions of Simon Currie, Energy Estate's Chief Project Officer.

The proposed $2.3 billion Eva Copper mine has been declared a “large resource project” under the Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act 2017, ensuring the Cloncurry and Mount Isa communities benefit directly from its development and operation. The declaration means, if approved, the project will ensure local employment, local procurement and long term social and economic benefits for the Mt Isa and Cloncurry communities.

TasFarmers has warned the Federal Government must immediately quarantine fuel for agriculture or risk disrupting national food production as supply uncertainty deepens across Australia ... “We’ve been clear for weeks, no fuel will mean no food,” Mr Sauer said.

Professor Bhattacharya from Monash University says advancing domestic refining and feedstock technologies is critical to improving long-term fuel security. Monash engineers have developed a pyrolysis technology that converts end-of-life tyres and plastics into high-value liquid hydrocarbons, creating a new, circular source of refinery-ready feedstocks.

The Darling Downs Heavy Horse Festival was a real treat for locals and visitors to Allora last weekend. The annual Festival of these magnificent Gentle Giants proved very popular again this year with an added inclusion being Equestrian with Disabilities events.

Thousands of music fans have had their Easter plans thrown into chaos after Australia’s most awarded music festival Bluesfest announced the 2026 event at the Byron Events Farm at Tyagarah won’t go ahead, just three weeks out from its scheduled start.

Now in its ninth year, River Daze has demonstrated what an inspired community with great leadership can achieve. The 2026 extended River Daze included FriDAZE and SunDAZE to offer free entertainment, shopping, and food experiences across our stunning twin towns ... "The main aim of extending to the three days was, while we've got everyone in town, let's give them something more."

More than 200 riders and support crew hit the road last Friday on the annual Tour de Cure Signature Tour, a nine-day cycling event aiming to raise $2 million for cancer research, support programs and prevention projects Australia-wide.

The Darling Downs Zoo has welcomed four new baby baboons into its family in what is the country's first successful breeding program for the primate. The babies, ranging between 11 and 3 weeks old are still clinging tightly to mums.

Minister for the Central Coast, Member for Wyong David Harris has hit back at suggestions made by the State Liberal Party's Shadow Minister Jacqui Munro that there is something sinister about plans to allow some campgrounds in national parks to be set aside for private operators to manage.

Some of rural and regional Victoria's finest editors, photographers and journalists will be recognised at the Rural Press Club of Victoria's diamond anniversary celebrations later this month, and Donald's own Robin Letts is one of them.

Yet drive through Perth and the metropolitan fuel system appears to be operating normally. No ration notices. No capped pumps. No anxious motorists sneaking jerry-cans into the back of Hiluxes ... something more curious is emerging: selective rationing.

Continence Health Australia is once again on the hunt for Australia’s missing public toilets. The Great Dunny Hunt is back in 2026 to help uncover the hidden toilets and add them to the National Public Toilet Map.

Recent reports of fuel supply concerns and diesel shortages for trucks highlight a serious vulnerability in Australia’s transport system … This situation is a reminder that relying almost entirely on diesel-powered road transport is risky ... Regional railway lines could play an important role in strengthening supply chains.

There was also something about prioritising regional areas. What there was not was anything resembling a system to track where fuel shortages are actually occurring, or to require distributors to send fuel where it is most needed.

The Nationals WA Leader Shane Love MLA has blasted the Cook Labor Government as impotent in the face of Western Australia’s escalating diesel crisis, accusing it of failing to use the powers available to ensure fuel reaches the industries and communities that keep the State running.