Athol local Zane Hall to represent Queensland in PBR State of Origin Series
Maroons Out for revenge as Blues chase history in PBR Origin 2026. Zane Hall from Athol has been selected to represent the maroons ... "This means a lot to me personally. Pulling on the Queensland jersey for the fourth time straight. Seeing past origin rides represent their state, it's something every young bull rider dreams about."
‘We need more staff!’: regional employers are hiring, but we are closing the door to skilled migrant workers
Claire Higgins, Louise Olliff. Regional Australia has long struggled to attract skilled workers away from urban centres. In the years since the pandemic, however, the labour market in country areas has tightened even further. Unemployment across regional Australia is at historically low levels, meaning many job vacancies are going unfilled.
Albanese Labor Government helps secure more jet fuel and fertiliser: Albanese, Wong, Farrell, Bowen, King, Collins
After discussions between Australia and China, including between the Prime Minister and China’s Premier Li, the Albanese Labor Government has helped to secure three shipments of jet fuel, totaling more than 600,000 barrels or about 100 million litres.
“Frack off” – Limestone Coast erupts over fracking push
“Frack off” has been the resounding message coming out from the Limestone Coast following the premier’s announcement that the government plans to lift a 10-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the region, two years ahead of its 2028 expiry.
Welcome to Christine and Chris
The new store managers of our local Community Grocer - Outback store. When asked about restoring weekly deliveries, they said, "We're working on it at the moment. We have spoken to head office." ... They assure us that hot, take away meals are coming back.
Boy and Bear to headline The Reef Trail across two epic concerts: QMF
Turquoise waters, wide open skies and live music in unexpected locations define one of Queensland’s most striking regional music experiences as Qld Music Trails arrives in the Whitsundays with The Reef Trail.
Fingerboards mine proposal triggers nuclear action provisions: Mine Free Glenaladale
Robyn Grant from Mine Free Glenaladale said, “There was some disappointment in the community that the Minister did not reject this proposal outright, because of the serious environmental impacts it poses to Matters of National Environmental Significance in the region."
Further streamlining and strengthening the foreign investment framework: Chalmers
This second round of foreign investment reforms is all about making more improvements so the regime is much stronger where risks are high and much faster where risks are low ... These reforms will increase certainty for investors and will lead to faster and fewer approvals, reduced regulatory burden, and improved tools to address high-risk investment.
Northern Territory strengthens investment ties with Taiwan: Cahill
As part of the Finocchiaro CLP Government’s year of Growth, Certainty and Security, Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill is leading a targeted government delegation to Taiwan this week, advancing the Territory’s position as a trusted and competitive partner for one of our most important trading partners.
Queensland’s Fuel Security Plan – Crisafulli Government puts Queensland’s fuel security and energy plan on the global agenda: Last
The Crisafulli Government will detail its energy and fuel security plan to an international audience, with Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last travelling to Adelaide this week for the Australian Energy Producers Conference. The Australian Energy Producers Conference and Exhibition is one of the country’s premier energy forums...
Cook Labor Government delays Albany gas decommissioning: Sanderson, Whitby
Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has secured a delay to the decommissioning of the Albany Gas Distribution System, giving the community more time to navigate the transition. Provider ATCO has decided to exit the market in Albany, with the three-year decommissioning process originally set to begin in the second half of 2026.
YP IT business named Australia’s best
For Pit Stop Technologies founder Plato Lagoudakis, the win still feels a little surreal. "Starting a business in a country town comes with its share of pressures and doubts. Being recognised on a national stage tells us we got it right, by staying true to who we are and where we're from."
AI rewriting history – don’t get me started
Harry Gumboot. It was ANZAC Day when the algorithm suggested I watch an AI generated documentary on Australian troops in Vietnam. It concerned the way Diggers had a far better success rate in the jungle than the Yanks*, due to factors that included moving slowly, using hand signals rather than speech, and failing to use aftershave (sic). Pretty basic stuff if you want to avoid alerting the enemy. The thing that irked me was the diggers appeared to be wearing WWI vintage French helmets.
Good vibes at Mardigrass26
Michael Balderstone. There was a good vibe at MardiGrass everyone agreed, but what does that mean? People were smiling, there were no altercations, or very few, people were happy, and even the police agreed it was a "good vibe". The vibe of thousands of people getting high together, that's what it was.
If junior sport is a classroom for life, how should club presidents and junior coaches measure success?
Less than 1 per cent of junior athletes go on to play sport at the highest levels. So, what is the role of a junior sports club, and how should its success be measured? The most premiership trophies with the highest number of junior dropouts is failure in my book.
White Cliffs mining saved: Federal native title deal ends mining freeze
The Commonwealth Government has formally issued a Native Title Determination for the White Cliffs opal fields, bringing to an end a period of administrative gridlock that had threatened the economic viability of the historic mining outpost. The declaration of the White Cliffs Main Field as an "Approved Opal or Gem Mining Area" under Section 26C of the Native Title Act 1993 now provides a legal framework for the granting and renewal of mineral claims.
Harvesters ready to roll as growers brace for difficult season: Canegrowers
Queensland’s 2026 sugarcane crush will officially get underway this week, with harvesters rumbling into life across the state’s far north. Tableland crews will fire the starter gun on the 7 month harvest, with the first rakes of cane due to go through the rollers at MSF’s Arriga mill on 18 May.
Armidale medical student recognised for passion for rural healthcare
Seeing the healthcare barriers faced by rural families inspired Armidale medical student Fleur Steen to pursue medicine, and now a national grant is helping support that goal ... Now studying medicine at the University of New England in Armidale, Fleur said growing up in rural communities made her aware from an early age of the challenges many people face when trying to access healthcare.
This hemisphere’s biggest wind farm gets the green light: Kilkenny
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has signed off on the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Warracknabeal Energy Park – marking the most significant milestone in the state approvals process. Once complete, the 219-turbine wind farm would deliver more than 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy – enough to power up to 1.2 million homes.
Statement on EPBC determination: Gippsland Critical Minerals
Gippsland Critical Minerals welcomes today's determination by the Commonwealth on the Fingerboards Project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Commonwealth has confirmed four controlling provisions, with GCM’s environmental and technical studies already underway in response to each...
Critical minerals inquiry in Sydney and Dubbo
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries will hold public hearings in Sydney and Dubbo as part of its inquiry into factors shaping social licence and economic development outcomes for critical minerals projects across Australia.
Urban Solar Parks – unlocking rooftops, protecting farmland, and lowering energy costs: Cleeland
The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland MP, has announced a major shift in Victoria’s energy planning, with a proposal to roll out Urban Solar Parks across industrial and commercial precincts if elected to government in November. The policy would transform large rooftops on warehouses, factories, shopping centres and industrial estates into energy hubs...
