Training more doctors in the bush to benefit more rural communities
A program that provides young doctors with the experience of training in a rural general practice or Aboriginal Medical Services and provides more medical care to regional, rural and remote communities is being extended by the Federal Coalition Government. Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said extending the Rural Junior Doctor Training Innovation Fund (RJDTIF) for another year will mean 60 fulltime-equivalent rurally based interns and postgraduate doctors can undertake training in country practices.
Prizemoney boost for SA provincial cups
Two of South Australia’s provincial cup meetings will be boosted by a significant prizemoney increase for their feature races. Racing SA has today announced both the Gawler Cup and Strathalbyn Cup will benefit from substantial prizemoney lifts, effective immediately. The increase will bring them into line with both the Murray Bridge and Balaklava Cups.
Strategy to increase angling participation in Tasmania
Tasmania’s lakes and waterways are enjoyed by thousands of recreational anglers and their families and friends and the Tasmanian Government wants to encourage more Tasmanians to take up angling. The Government has released its Strategy to Increase Participation in Tasmania's Inland Recreational Fishery 2021-28 on national Gone Fishing Day.
New era for Kimberley beef processing welcomed
The McGowan Government has welcomed the announcement of a new co-operative of northern pastoralists to own and operate northern Western Australia's only abattoir. The Kimberley Meat Co-operative (KMC) will acquire the beef processing facility 100km east of Broome, operating the facility on a contract based with its members and processing at least 40,000 head of cattle per year.
Fears about future of town’s only gym
News that Tennant Creek’s only gym is set to close at the end of the year has local fitness and wellbeing fans up in arms. Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation’s Sports and Recreation Centre announced it will shut its doors permanently on 24 December ... “Anyinginyi has been at the heart of sport and recreation in Tennant Creek for most of its 37-year history”: CEO Barb Shaw.
Birtinya-based business wins at Qld export awards
From their headquarters at Birtinya, Kilcoy Global Foods manages the production, distribution, and export of eight million cartons of premium beef annually to more than 35 global markets. KGF is also a major supplier to Australian supermarkets, food wholesalers, fine dining establishments and family restaurants including McDonalds.
BHP opens iron ore mine of the future
Premier Mark McGowan congratulated BHP on the official opening of its South Flank iron ore mine. The mine adds to BHP's existing mine operations in the Pilbara to create one of the largest operating iron ore hubs in the world, expected to produce 145 million tonnes of iron ore each year.
Naracoorte – a regional headquarters for rare earths
Chris Oldfield. Australian Rare Earths Limited (AREL) has established a regional headquarters in Naracoorte as part of its plan to develop a rare earths operation in the area ... The next phase of exploration at Koppamurra is set to commence in October and will consist of further exploration activities, “to expand upon the previous shallow drilling program and will progress to include various studies and technical work, to help determine a development concept”.
Wanderribby grazing property sells
The McKenna family behind Midfield Meat Group has acquired the Wanderribby feedlot and grazing and farming property in South Australia, four years after the vendors initially put the asset to the market with hopes of as much as $10 million. South Australia’s third-largest feedlot, the 2,311-hectare Wanderribby has been used as a custom feedyard, feeding for three main clients, including at times Coles and Woolworths supermarket contracts, and the yard utilised in the past as a live export depot.
Whether Australia’s regions rise, or fall, depends on the stories we tell
Professor Andrew Beer. Across Australia, one in five regions is struggling, but the one-dimensional solutions we commonly look for don’t work ... the future prosperity of regions lies with those who live there, rather than those who govern, especially when they do so from a distance. Mobilizing regions is a matter of empowering regional leaders – making sure they have the tools needed to bring about change while enabling them to both listen to others and be heard across communities.
MoU to grow agricultural trade between Pacific Island Countries and Australia
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and DT Global will grow agricultural trade between Pacific Island countries and Australia, through improved food security, better market access and biosecurity outcomes.
More support arrives for state’s farmers
Almost 500 foreign workers will be added to NSW's agricultural workforce, joining the more than 2,000 whose arrival the NSW Government has already aided, to provide additional support to industry through the COVID-exacerbated labour shortage. Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said while this would be welcome news for the state’s farmers, the NSW Government was constantly reviewing its support measures to give industry the best help it can, and that continued today.
Petition against mandatory vaccination
Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, this week has released a petition calling for the reversal of the vaccine mandate. “Mr Andrews has crossed an important line. Where the Victorian government should be encouraging vaccinations, he has begun coercing the public with an economic exclusion notice. “The premier needs to explain how this mandate is proportionate to the risk of COVID-19, especially given the pace of the voluntary roll-out in Victoria. One of the founding principles of our democracy is the freedom to choose. Although, some laws limit our right to choose, this is done based on risk, necessity and proportionality."
Tania Maxwell votes to support timber industry
Tania Maxwell MP has opposed legislation that would adversely affect the timber industry in Northern Victoria. The Forests Legislation Amendment (Compliance and Enforcement) Bill 2019 will increase opportunities for prosecution against VicForests contractors in a move Ms Maxwell said was unnecessary and excessive.
Bushfires and logging debate: Tasmanian Government statement
The Tasmanian Government is continually monitoring new scientific research to ensure the way we regulate forestry is contemporary and consistent with best practice. The Government takes bushfire management and mitigation incredibly seriously and is taking a number of important steps to manage future risk and keep our communities safe. The Government’s position, that actively managing our forests can markedly reduce fuel loads, is supported by a significant number of scientific publications.
Driving the future of car manufacturing in Geelong
The $13 million Next Generation Simulator project at Waurn Ponds will allow students, researchers and industry to do cost-effective prototype testing, engineering and commercial product design of driver and driverless cars.
Deal done to get timber off Kangaroo Island
Up to 60,000 tonnes of softwood logs will start to be shipped off Kangaroo Island to support South Australia’s forestry sector and booming housing construction industry, with applications to the Construction Softwood Transport Assistance Program (CSTAP) now open. The CSTAP is jointly funded by the Morrison Coalition Government and Marshall Liberal Government and provides assistance to freight bushfire-affected softwood logs salvaged from Kangaroo Island to the South Australian mainland and then to sawmills with immediate capacity to process structural timber.
Gateway to growth – Lakeland is Cape’s next boom town
Considered the Gateway to the Cape, the farming community of Lakeland is shaping as the gateway to growth in Cook Shire. Already the agricultural capital of the region, Lakeland’s potential to develop into a bustling township is being seriously considered by the council.
Tasmanian timber and functional art collide at London Craft Week
Tasmanian fine timber reclaimed from the depths of Lake Pieman and crafted into artistic furniture by London-based Tasmanian designer Brodie Neill, will be on display to around 115,000 people at London Craft Week.
Cleaner, reliable and affordable secure energy system by 2030
As part of the transition to affordable, reliable, cleaner and secure energy, the Territory Labor Government has released the Darwin-Katherine Electricity System Plan. The System Plan provides a comprehensive and credible pathway to generate 50% renewable energy by 2030 in the Darwin-Katherine Electricity System - cutting emissions in half.
Cape Flattery miner has expansion on the radar
The future of the Cape Flattery mine north of Hope Vale appears to be bright as silica miner Diatreme Resources eyes expansion near its Galalar Silica Project. The company is currently undertaking low-impact auger drilling at two target sites. These targets make up two of the five northern exploration targets which cover a total area of 50 square kilometres. Diatreme CEO Neil McIntyre said the exploration targets had significant potential.
Conquer the Corrugations tests
Sunburn and blisters were the order of the day for the dedicated walkers who braved the scorching heat at this year’s Conquer the Corrugations. Around 180 people walked the 42km between Archer River and the Coen biosecurity centre over Saturday and Sunday.
