Epic Fury and Ukrainian farmers: Who will win?
Since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury in the Persian Gulf, the price of diesel fuel and gas for cars in Ukraine has increased by almost 30 per cent. The price of the cheapest gasoline has risen by almost 15 per cent ... What do farmers do? What is the Ukrainian government doing?
When ideology meets the fuel tank
In the 1930s, Winston Churchill warned that Europe was sleepwalking into danger. Across the chamber, Neville Chamberlain insisted all would be well. “Peace in our time,” he said—a comforting line, right up until Hitler crossed into Poland. We are seeing a modern version of that same delusion play out today.
ANZAC Day a good time to gauge Middle East crisis
Remembering people on Anzac Day who gave their lives defending their country is a noble custom in Australia. But the situation in the Middle East urges us to broaden our take on armed conflict ... Because the USA is providing arms that Israel is using to attack Iran, Iran is attacking American military bases in countries that host them. We are one of them: Pine Gap, 19km from Alice Springs...
“Price crunch” – societal implications of conflict
The economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East is and will continue to have wide ranging impacts on all facets of Australian society with costs increasing due to the nation’s reliance on trucks and diesel ... 71 years later, current owner Robert Blanchard said the industry is facing its toughest times in decades and his first diesel delivery since the Middle East crisis erupted was $68,000 more than in early March.
Henri to take on the world after nationals sailing victory
Patricia Gill. Henri Bellanger faces giant challenges this year to take part in two international youth sailing championships. Henri will have turned 18 when he and crew, Mia Waters, 16, from Esperance, face the competition in Portsmouth, England in July and the other event in Portugal in December.
New Australia-United Kingdom MOU to unlock more investment: Chalmers, Reeves
Today, Australia and the UK have signed an Investment Partnership to further unlock superannuation and pension capital investment between our countries. This new agreement will help to secure more two-way investment in jobs and industries and strong returns for investors from both countries.
Dinawan Solar Farm approved despite strong objections
Malaysian-owned Dinawan Solar Farm has received Development Application approval, despite strong objections from neighbouring landowners and opponents throughout the district, including Hay. Dinawan will be located 30km south of Coleambally and 30km north of Jerilderie, within the South West Renewable Energy Zone and the Murrumbidgee Local Government Area.
Italian for a day or for 145 years at New Italy celebrations
Jim Lagerstedt. Belissima! The descendants of the New Italy settlers couldn’t have asked for a better day to celebrate their 145th Anniversary at the New Italy Community Hall on Sunday, April 12.
International affair at Highland Gathering
It was a truly international affair at the Maclean Highland gathering with competitors travelling from as far as Scotland, Canada, and New Zealand for the 121st event. Rain showers on both Friday and Saturday added a touch of Scottish ambience, said Lower Clarence Scottish Association Secretary Alister Smith, as people travelled from as far as Melbourne to enjoy the annual spectacle.
German millions for mine near Alice
Germany is investing €50m ($58m) in a rare earth mine north of Alice Springs, near Aileron, in a bid to secure access to the crucial materials for German businesses, according to Economy Minister Katherina Reiche.
The virtue premium: How Australia locked itself out of fuel and fertiliser
Australia has just signed up to a free trade agreement with the European Union, which is being sold—predictably—as a great leap forward for the inner city consumer ... Out in the paddock, however, the mood is less celebratory. Because the small print tells a more familiar story. Australian once again, signed a deal where farmers pay the costs.
CSBP Fertilisers GM Ryan Lamp responds regarding supply
Ryan Lamp. CSBP Fertilisers has been part of Western Australian agriculture for more than 100 years. We’ve grown alongside the farmers and communities we serve, and we value those relationships deeply. We understand how critical reliable fertiliser supply is to growers, particularly leading into seeding.
War fuels anxiety
A survey conducted last week by market research agency Nature shows that 97 per cent of Australians are concerned about fuel supplies amidst current global tensions. In response to concerns about fuel shortages, the Victorian Farmers Federation is urging drivers and the government to make changes to commuting. Meanwhile, the State Government has introduced penalties for petrol price-gouging and the Opposition is saying the government is not doing enough...
Urea $1400 : Going… going… gone
Urea hit the equivalent of $2,800 a tonne in today’s dollars back in 1974. That’s not a typo—and it’s not ancient history either. To understand how that happens, you need to start with geography. Roughly a third of global fertiliser trade by sea—not production, trade—passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Right Royal encounter at Uluru
Terry Collins. When the Harris family of Avoca Beach headed to Uluru for a long weekend recently, they little suspected the trip would involve a royal encounter ... "The King and Queen went to some sort of news briefing and as they were coming back they came over to us," Owen said.
Australia–European Union Free Trade Agreement: Prime Minister’s announcement and responses from a disappointed agricultural industry
On 24 March 2026, Australia and the European Union agreed the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement. Prime Minister Albanese's optimistic announcement is at odds with the widespread criticism and disappointment evident in the responses from the Victorian Farmers' Federation, Canegrowers, the National Farmers' Federation, Queensland Farmers' Federation and the Australian Lot Feeder's Association
World desperate for Queensland resources, LNP Government still says no! : Robbie Katter
The LNP Government in Queensland is blindly holding sticking to their long-held woke position alongside Labor that Queensland’s rich uranium resources should be locked away underground, at a time when Europe is turning back to nuclear ... “Are we going to sit on our collective hands and watch yet another opportunity go by? At current prices alone, we’re talking about an industry worth tens of billions of dollars,” asks Leader of the Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) and state Member for Traeger Robbie Katter.
Fertiliser supply shocks are a wake-up call for Australian agriculture: Colin McGregor, Genesis Algae Innovation
Colin McGregor. Australia has an opportunity to think differently about how we support farm productivity. Instead of relying exclusively on imports, we can invest in locally produced biological and nutritional solutions that complement existing fertiliser systems and reduce pressure on global supply chains. At Genesis Algae Innovation, we have been working on one such approach using Australian-grown chlorella algae.
Lessons from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve
This article is a rerun of a piece I first published in these pages back in November 2023 ... Readers may recall the strategic fuel debate that ran hot a few years ago when the BP refinery in Perth was about to close and Australia suddenly realised it only had a couple of weeks of fuel reserves.
Fuel for regional Australia: Statements from Bowen
Statements from the Hon. Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, regarding releasing up to 20 per cent of the baseline Minimum Stockholding Obligation for petrol and diesel and temporarily amending Australia's fuel quality standards to allow higher sulfur levels for the next 60 days.
Choking on the price of urea
I’m continually amazed how many people can fly to Bali yet couldn’t point to it on a map. Ask them to name the countries that sit north of Indonesia and you’ll usually get a blank look. Yet geography still matters. In fact, it quietly dictates how the global economy works.
Immediate action needed to ensure fuel supply for our farmers: Chaffey
“There is fuel, but it is being kept for the city, a short-sighted approach that will have huge flow-on effects throughout regional areas and right back into the city. Planting is about to start across the electorate of Parkes and elsewhere but without diesel, it won’t happen. And how do farmers get their livestock to market?": Jamie Chaffey.
