Business

With the Latrobe Valley a possible site for a nuclear power station, the federal Opposition has upped the argument for nuclear as a possible way for the nation to lower greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining a reliable and cheaper energy supply.

About 40 salaried jobs at the Maryvale Mill will be gone by June as Opal moves to slash further positions across the company in a bid to stabilise its financial performance. The 40 are believed to be among about 220 salaried company-wide employees who will be made redundant, adding to the more than 300 workers who lost their jobs when Maryvale's white paper production plant was closed late last year.

Monique Dawson. Recent public commentary about the closure of VicForests has included numerous false and misleading claims.  VicForests knows there are individuals and organisations who are opposed to native timber harvesting who will be celebrating VicForests’ closure ... The most offensive category of false claims being made is the suggestion VicForests is “rogue” or a “cowboy agency”.

The Ermenegildo Zegna Group began sourcing Australian wool back in the early years of 1900. The inherent excellence and unique characteristics of this incredible natural fibre have allowed the Group to continue to perfect the beauty, the quality, and the performance of its products. In particular, Australian superfine wool has been, and continues to be, key to creating many of the Group’s most precious fabrics and exclusive garments.

Enthusiastic city-driven support for renewable energy infrastructure is in direct contrast to the majority feeling in the Allora district where a public meeting on Thursday night demonstrated strong opposition to any idea that a wind farm should be established in the Goomburra Valley area.

Today (Tuesday 19th) in parliament I tabled a question to the Energy Minister Mick de Brenni about what’s going on. What plans discussions has the state government had with Wind Prospects Pty Ltd about renewable energy projects in our back yard?

The Pacific Belles will perform at the Nhill Airshow on April 13. Swing to their dulcet tones as they sing these war-time classics. Their vintage repertoire includes songs like "Don't sit under the Apple Tree" and "We'll Meet Again." The Pacific Belles are Australia’s hottest retro-style singing trio, inspired by the music of the 1940‘s and have been referred to as "Melbourne's very own Andrew Sisters'.

Clarence Valley Council has taken the silver award in the Australian Street Art Awards in the Best Monument or Memorial category for the 2022 Flood Memorial Murals project. The 2022 Flood Memorial Murals project was one of thirty- four public art experiences recognised as the best in the country at the Australian Street Art Awards.

Sheila Smith recently spoke at Hay Plains Landcare’s Women of the Riverina Forum, as one of Hay’s own women leading the way forward ... Sheila’s story is one of career pursuit highlights, her own exploration of the creative realm and journeys across the globe, that ultimately returned her to restoring a historic home in Lachlan Street.

Hugo Bombora. Dear Senator  Varun Ghosh, Congratulations on your recent appointment to the Australian Senate. Nice to bump into you at a wedding last Saturday night. Thanks for the insightful questions. As acknowledged, it’s hard to put together one’s thoughts with Taylor Swift playing in the background. But as promised, here they are via email.

Meet newly appointed senator, the former barrister Varun Ghosh who recently took his place in the Senate after he was officially confirmed as Labor’s choice to replace the retiring Patrick Dodson. ... The bit in Ghosh's CV that talks about constitutional law is what every sheep farmer in WA should be interested in, as it hints that our new senator might actually understand the concept of States' rights and that any move to ban a trade that is almost exclusively out of one State may well impinge upon section 52 of the Constitution.

The Quambatook Tractor Pull will be back in the Home of Tractor Pulling on Easter Saturday, March 30. This will be its 46th time putting the pedal to the metal and strain on the chain in the Mallee town of Quambatook.

VicForests, the Victorian Government’s own forestry agency, is being treated deplorably as it braces for a June 30 shutdown ... Peter Walsh, Leader of The Nationals, said it seemed the government was intent on wiping VicForests from the history books.

Labor’s legislation on a new fresh food tax has been introduced in Parliament ... Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor’s biosecurity protection levy will charge farmers for the biosecurity costs of importers bringing their product to Australia ... Labor will set the tax rate as a proportion of an industry’s average gross value of production over a three-year period.

Premier Roger Cook has deserted farmers and shown his true intentions after admitting in Parliament last week to talks with Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to end the live sheep export industry. Deputy Nationals WA Leader and Member for Roe Peter Rundle MLA asked the Premier … to explain why the Minister for Agriculture had been in secret talks with Canberra around a transition package for farmers.

Some of Sunraysia’s most successful motorsport exports will take centre stage for the official launch of the Mildura Regional Motorsport Strategy this month ... featuring a panel of home-grown motorsport champions including, world ski race champion Chelsea Blight, V8 Supercars champion Rick Kelly, multiple Australian Top Fuel drag racing champion Phil Lamattina...

The National Farmers’ Federation is sending a message to politicians to do the right thing by Australian farmers as debate on the controversial Biosecurity Protection Levy kicks off in the House of Representatives ... NFF President David Jochinke said despite the mounting evidence the levy was poor policy and should be scrapped...

Let’s go solar. Across the world, in Australia and NSW, there is a push for alternative energy including wind and solar power ... IndyNR.com spoke to a resident ... She is opposed to the Richmond Valley Solar Farm. She has many reasons for her opposition including the fire risk of the proposed large BESS.

The CEO of a Cootamundra aged care facility has welcomed a move by TAFE NSW Cootamundra to reintroduce a critical healthcare course amid a deepening skills shortage in the industry. For the first time in almost a decade, a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance will be offered at TAFE NSW Cootamundra ...

City of Coffs Harbour is rolling ahead with a free bus travel plan to bolster community connection and to shine a light on the ease and benefits of public transport ... Council resolved to back an initiative by Mayor Paul Amos for a four-month trial of free bus travel on weekends in Coffs Harbour, stretching out to Bellingen and as far south as Macksville.  

In years to come Casino could be known not only for its beef industry but for its innovation and sustainability. Visitors may still come to tour the Casino Food Co-op abattoir and packaging centre but there is likely to be great interest in seeing the workings of the biohub next door that creates energy from the nutrient-rich waste at the Co-op site.