Climate, carbon, temperature, science and politics
Why do we have sacred topics? Ideas, theories or policies that appear to be off limits ... Three sacred topics of late have been Covid-19, climate and carbon. What happens when ‘misinformation’ actually is proven correct?
Tractors to be connected
Starlink is a low orbit satellite internet constellation operated by American aerospace company SpaceX ... John Deere will begin equipping new and existing machines across the United States and Brazil with Starlink to help connect farmers with high-speed internet so they can fully leverage precision agriculture technologies.
Allora Heritage Weekend has engines humming
Glyn Rees. One of the region’s premier events, the annual Allora Heritage Weekend, will see the Allora Showgrounds host a two-day feast of historical machinery displays and activity on Australia Day weekend, January 27th and 28th. Vintage vehicle and machinery enthusiasts from around the nation will again have the opportunity to take to the many roads leading to Allora and its picturesque showgrounds.
New release – Dryandra Forest – a silvicultural history
Roger Underwood. There was an unusual event in Dryandra Forest in Western Australia in November 2023: a commemoration of 100 years of forestry management. At a large gathering in the forest, beneath the shade of a 100-year-old brown mallet plantation, speeches were made, a plaque unveiled, and this book on the history of the forest was launched.
Medical students passionate about our little towns
The Local Health Medical Trust and the Barham community are excited to welcome two medical students for the next two weeks ... Having both come from the hustle and bustle of the biggest cities in Australia, Jake and Daniel relish the quieter way of living, with Barham already welcoming them with open arms.
The Big Banks’ “postcode discrimination” was the canary in the coal mine all along: Katter
Katter’s Australian Party Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter, said he is heartened by calls for the dilution of private corporate control over the provision of essential “public” services but that action could have been taken years ago had regional Queenslanders been listened to ... a “fifth pillar” in the banking sector was needed to curtail the market power of the so-called Big Four ...
Goschen sand mine development highlights broken EES process: VFF
The VFF says farming communities are being prevented from participating in the process for assessing the environmental risk of mining and energy projects leading to bad outcomes for food production. VFF President Emma Germano said concerns raised by farmers impacted by the Goschen Mineral Sands and Rare Earths Project near Swan Hill about public exposure of its Environmental Effects Statement occurring during the summer harvest exposed flaws in the system.
Local MPs call for Woolies boycott
Local MP’s have followed federal opposition leader Peter Dutton’s call for people to boycott supermarket giant Woolworths over its decision not to sell Australia Day merchandise. Both Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, and State Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson, have followed Mr Dutton’s lead, calling for people to boycott the supermarket...
Sharks “more aggressive around boats” – YP fisher
Michelle Daw. A southern Yorke Peninsula fisher is worried sharks are becoming more aggressive around boats — and believes shark tourism is partly to blame ... Mr Bishop fishes in Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf and said he’s seen more sharks come close to his boat recently than at any other time in his 21-year career.
Regional communities to receive additional paramedics revealed as first cohort begins induction: Park
It will see 125 additional paramedics arriving in regional, rural and remote communities by the middle of this year ... These new paramedics will join a cohort of more than 6,700 NSW Ambulance staff who share a commitment to excellence in serving their communities across NSW.
Grow ’em big and they will come – Giant Pumpkin Fest contenders vie for biggest yet
Fred Beck grew pumpkins in the 1920s on Mount Pleasant, Woodenbong. Mr Beck’s grandson, David Smith said when the pumpkins were ripe they were carted to the pigsty ...This year Lillian Cox ... has cracked the 300kg mark ...
Quarrels in a faraway land
In 1938, during the Munich Crisis, British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain expressed his distaste for making war preparations over "a quarrel in a faraway land between people of which we know nothing" ... Like Neville Chamberlain, our Prime Minister shows no interest in getting involved in a quarrel between people of whom he has no interest; yet anyone with the slightest awareness of international relations would know that there is no longer such a thing as a faraway land of which we can afford to have no interest ... Yemen is en route for the ships that take our grain and livestock to key markets such as Egypt and Israel.
2024 Parkes Elvis Festival comes to a close
Elvis has left the building! Around 25,000 Elvis fans donned their bejeweled jumpsuits, poodle skirts and pompadour wigs to shake rattle and roll the week away in Parkes, New South Wales, for the 2024 Parkes Elvis Festival.
Swap the grocery aisle for a farm in 2024 – here’s how and why!
Scenic Rim producer collective launches the Towri Growers Market – time to make farmers famous, and bring your family and your fur babies ... where a full monthly shop can be done direct from the farmers, on the farm at Towri Sheep Cheeses just outside Brisbane, near Beaudesert in the Scenic Rim on the first Saturday of each month, commencing February 3.
New climate reporting reforms for a stronger financial system: Chalmers
The draft legislation amends the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act 2001 and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to introduce standardised, internationally-aligned reporting requirements for businesses, to ensure they are making high quality climate-related financial disclosures ... Consultation for the draft legislation released today [12 January 2024] is now open and submissions will close 9 February 2024.
Farmers and families at mercy of retail giants: NSW Farmers
NSW Farmers is calling for an ACCC inquiry into the supermarket retail sector as fair prices for consumers and farmers remain nowhere in sight ... “It has become increasingly clear that margins are not being passed through the supply chain in a fair and equitable manner, and it is farmers and families who are footing the bill”: NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin.
Mayor seeks to invite royals
King Charles III and Queen Camilla as guests of this year’s Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers? That is the aim of Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald. The King and Queen have announced that they will be visiting Australia during the spring of 2024, in what will mark their first visit to our country since Charles became Monarch.
Accessible Abrolhos infrastructure opens new world of possibilities: DBCA
Join wheelchair user Chris Kerr as she samples new disability-friendly infrastructure and equipment at Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park. You can't help but delight in her wonder and excitement as she's able to don mask and snorkel and descend into a magical underwater world at the Abrolhos for the first time.
Parking, staff shortages make for holiday blues
Patricia Gill. A café proprietor says Denmark is having ‘growing pains’ and an acceptance is needed that the town is now ‘on the map’, particularly over peak holiday periods. Mrs Jones Café proprietor Sam Jackson is among other accommodation and food-provider businesses which have been under the pump over Christmas and New Year. “Things will change whether we like it or not,” Sam said.
Common-sense prevails in Federal Court decision on Regional Forest Agreements: Forestry Australia
Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman has today welcomed the Federal Court’s decision to uphold a Regional Forest Agreement in New South Wales ... “Forest managers, growers, scientists and workers will breathe a sigh of relief that the challenge by the North East Forest Alliance to the Regional Forest Agreement covering North Coast NSW native timber harvesting operations has been dismissed."
Appointment of Craig Emerson as Independent Reviewer of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct: Chalmers
The Albanese Government has appointed Dr Craig Emerson to lead the 2023–24 review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (the Code) to ensure that the supermarket sector is working as it should. The Food and Grocery code is prescribed under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. Aldi, Coles, Woolworths and Metcash are signatories to the Code and are bound by it.
Fruit and vegetable prices need urgent ACCC inquiry
Member for Maranoa, Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is calling for an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Inquiry into fruit and vegetables, to make supermarkets pay their fair share. "As families struggle to pay for their food amid a cost-of-living crisis, supermarkets are still making record profits, even though all they are doing is putting fruit and vegetables on the back of a truck and onto the supermarket shelves," Mr Littleproud said.

