Business

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has written to state MPs to vote down the contentious VicGrid Amendment Bill that would pave the way for police-backed powers to force entry onto farms and slap landholders with fines of up to $12,100. VFF President Brett Hosking is reiterating previous calls to halt the Bill ahead of it being debated in State Parliament this Thursday.

Country Racing Victoria held its 2024/2025 awards night at the Melbourne convention centre on Saturday, August 23, where the “Buloke Times” was honoured to be named winner of the Jack Styring Country Racing Media award.

The travels of former Donald resident, Mary Raynes, have so far also included meetings in Puebla with Heineken and Central Altiplano Maltería, Mexico ... Australia has been right in the brew of it, supplying on average 61 per cent, up to 85 per cent of Mexico's total malting barley imports.

The World Heritage bid for the Australian Cornish Mining Sites: Burra and Moonta is on track, with hopes of achieving recognition by July 2029. UK-based world heritage consultant Barry Gamble visited Moonta Mines last week and gave an update on the bid to National Trust of South Australia Moonta branch volunteers at the Moonta School of Mines.

I’ve had the annual White Cliffs Camel Cup and Bikehana in my calendar for many weeks, and as life got busier and busier, I found myself yearning to hit the road and head north ... as coffee brewed and bacon sizzled, we heard the unmistakeable buzz of the motorbikes, warming up, ready for the bikehana.

Rural Australians are missing out on $1,090.47 in healthcare funding per person every year, compared to city residents – a funding gap the National Rural Health Alliance warns is costing lives. "The Forgotten Health Spend: A Report on the Expenditure Deficit in Rural Australia" tells a story of how we starve our rural Australians of healthcare access," said Susi Tegen, NRHA Chief Executive.

Bendigo Bank has pulled out of fundraising partnerships with community groups that have been drumming up business for corporate branches since 2004 ... The bank told community groups however, that it had reviewed this part of its business and determined the contributions were “not sustainable” ... Bendigo Bank has announced a $514.6 million profit.

...The broadband towers are the first to be completed as part of Connecting Victoria’s Satellite to Fixed Wireless upgrades and provide the nbn Fixed Wireless service to more than 1700 premises. The new towers are also designed to allow for faster download speeds in future. 

Australia is tracking well to meet its 2030 climate pollution target, with new emissions data showing emissions fell by 1.4 per cent or 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in the year to March 2025 ... In that period, 440.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions were recorded, which is 28 per cent below 2005 levels...

Victoria’s High Country comes alive again this spring for the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria’s Annual Get Together. Held in Molyullah from October 17 to 19, 2025, this vibrant three-day festival is a spectacular celebration of heritage, horsemanship, and high country spirit.

The Mundi Mundi Plains were shaking today as 6,779 festival-goers lined up in formation for the final ever Nutbush Dance World Record Attempt at the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash – smashing the previous record - held by the event - of 6,594 dancers.

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan’s REAL productivity roundtable has delivered frank advice to lift Australia’s freefalling productivity rate. Senator Canavan convened the real productivity roundtable ... to discuss the real issues impacting Australians’ standard of living.

Peter Christen. The crispness of winter mornings has well and truly arrived at Panacea Estate ... It's during these tastings that I'm often reminded how confusing wine language can be—especially one of the most misunderstood words of all: dry...

The Wedderburn Historical Engine and Machinery Society is busy getting ready for its annual rally. The rally is held over two days and welcomes exhibitors from all over Victoria and Interstate.

Sharp’s Bakery in Birchip has once again claimed top honours at the prestigious Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph, held in Merbein on Saturday. The family-run bakery is no stranger to success, having now won the title six times since their first win in 2000.

Hundreds of farmers at Marnoo today are telling the Victorian Labor Government they do not want VNI West, they do not want WRL and they don't want their farmland made into renewable infrastructure," said Dr Anne Webster MP, Member for Mallee and Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government, Territories and Regional Communications.

One of Southern Downs most iconic scenic vistas has been elevated, with Carr's Lookout undergoing a major restoration that enhances accessibility, safety and the region's tourism charm. Perched just outside Killarney and offering sweeping views of Mt Superbus, the lookout has long been a go-to stop for both locals and visitors, and it's ready to impress again.

The Albanese Government is supporting the emerging offshore renewable industry to develop new technology and unlock the sector’s full potential. Today we are releasing new guidance to help developers, researchers, scientists and other interested parties apply for Research and Demonstration licences in declared offshore zones, establishing a home for offshore renewables research, as well as commercial generation projects.  

There’s something magical about the Bong Bong Picnic Race Day—a spirited blend of heritage, heart, and high-stakes fun that draws crowds from across the Highlands and beyond. This year, the beloved event is galloping into exciting new territory, with fresh features that promise to make Race Day 2025 the most memorable yet.

Australia’s grain fed beef sector continues its strong growth trajectory, with the number of cattle on feed reaching 1.58 million head and national feedlot capacity reaching a record 1.7 million head, according to the June 2025 quarterly feedlot survey released by the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).