Treasurer raises foreign investment fees
The federal government will add $455 million to its coffers after Treasurer Jim Chalmers moved swiftly to double foreign investment application fees. Labor’s election promise will become reality from this Friday. Foreign purchasers buying a residential property worth $1 million will be slugged an application fee of $13,200, up from $6,600. The same will apply to foreign buyers acquiring agricultural assets worth $2 million, and commercial assets worth $50 million ... “Australia welcomes foreign investment that is in Australia’s interests,” Chalmers said.
FMD timebomb ticking but Labor’s nowhere to be seen: Nicola Centofanti
The SA Opposition is calling for additional biosecurity officers to be stationed at Adelaide Airport as fears grow over foot and mouth disease (FMD) potentially getting into South Australia which would have devastating consequences for the economy, jobs and cost of living. An urgent biosecurity staffing boost would allow for the luggage of every traveller from Indonesia to be individually inspected, creating an extra ring of protection for SA’s livestock industry while Labor governments sluggishly roll out disinfectant mats.
What did the Winemaker drink OS?
Just back from three weeks overseas ... I thought I would write a few lines about booze overseas: quality, range and distribution ... Our first stop was the US ... We used to drink wine on our visits to the US ... Spent the first day in London walking the “Monopoly board”, stopping for a reviver or two in beautiful pubs.
New stronger biosecurity powers at international airports: Watt
The Commonwealth Government has established Biosecurity Response Zones at international airports, another strong measure in response to the Indonesian outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) ... “These zones strengthen and widen the powers of biosecurity officers to direct passengers to use foot mats and other biosecurity control measures such as the cleaning of shoes ... I also announced the deployment of sanitisation foot mats at all international airports as an additional layer of protection for returning travellers from Indonesia" : Minister Watt.
Fire & Climate 2022 – Kevin Tolhurst
Philip Hopkins. Bushfire policy needs to be driven by rigorous science underpinning politics if the landmark federal-state national bushfire management strategy is to be successful, according to one of the nation’s leading bushfire experts. Dr Kevin Tolhurst, AM, Associate Professor of Fire Ecology and Management at Melbourne University, said fire management was dominated by alternate paths based on politics and science.
Australian and Indonesian livestock sectors work together to limit disease spread: MLA
The Australian livestock industry will work with Indonesian feedlots to help protect their facilities from disease incursions and subsequent trade disruption via a biosecurity support project jointly funded by the Australian Government and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) ... MLA responded to a question from ARR.News about border closures.
FMD fragments detected shows system working, but highlights need to continue to strengthen system: Simson, NFF
The DAFF statement regarding the interception of items containing fragments of Foot and Mouth Disease brings home the urgent need to ramp up the resourcing of Australia's biosecurity systems and implement 100% screening of passengers returning from high-risk areas ... Fiona Simson responded to a question from ARR.News about border closures.
Belgium awaits young farmers
Kirstin Nicholson. Two of the region’s young farmers will represent Australia at the Young Breeders School in Battice, Belgium. Kaitlyn Wishart and Georgia Sieben are part of the team of five that will represent Australia on the world dairy youth competition stage next month.
Australia supports Indonesia’s response to Foot and Mouth outbreak: Wong and Watt
The Australian Government will provide $1.5 million to support Indonesia’s response to the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). The funding will provide at least 1 million FMD doses for Indonesia’s vaccination program, following a formal request for assistance from the Indonesian Government ... The Australian Government has also committed an initial $500,000 to Meat and Livestock Australia, responsible for coordinating support from Australian industry for the Indonesian feedlot sector’s emergency response to these diseases.
Celebrating our heritage
Chris Oldfield. Six pipers, a drummer and dancer recently stirred spirits and awakened the old stone walls and wooden floors of the Naracoorte Hotel – and its patrons. With music almost loud enough to reach the old cemetery, where our Scottish settlers rest, some talented pipers and a drummer had also travelled from Mount Gambier for a Toast to the Tartan.
Open trade key for food security: ABARES
Trade policy and reducing agricultural support have a strong role to play in guaranteeing international food security, according to the latest Insights report from ABARES ... “Trade plays an important role in helping improve the distribution of food and its affordability. Open trade helps move food to where it’s needed and can promote higher incomes, creating better access to food" : Executive Director of ABARES Dr Jared Greenville.
International container freight costs to soften for Australia’s ag sector, but no return to pre-pandemic lows on the horizon: Rabobank
Australia’s agricultural sector can expect to contend with elevated ocean container shipping costs and ongoing supply disruptions for at least another year before a ‘normalisation’ of the global ocean freight system, according to new research from Rabobank.
NSW Government and industry team up to spread the word about Foot and Mouth Disease
Key members of the rural sector joined the NSW Government at Sydney International Airport to send a message to travellers to do their bit to keep the highly contagious Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) out of Australia.
Foot and Mouth Disease – is the Government doing enough?
The Nationals Leader, Shadow Agriculture Minister and Member for Maranoa, the Hon David Littleproud MP has claimed the Federal Labor Government’s response last Thursday to foot and mouth disease (FMD) is inadequate and leaves Australia vulnerable. Following a brieï¬ng from the Department of Agriculture, Mr Littleproud said Labor’s new protocols to respond to the threat of FMD failed to go far enough to protect against a disease that could cost the nation almost as much as JobKeeper.
Fire & Climate 2022 – Greg Mullins
Part 2 of a three part series of reports from the conference by Philip Hopkins ... “It’s time for the fire management sector to band together and argue the case for a massive increase in the budget across fire research. Up to 97 per cent of spending is on response and rebuilding during and after events, and only three per cent on preparation and mitigation. That mismatch needs to be turned around but not at the expense of insufficient current operational budgets”: Climate Councillor, Greg Mullins.
AACCI and Global Victoria Trade Alliance Program: Greater Geelong, 20 July 2022
Promoting export opportunities across the Middle East and North Africa to regional Victoria. Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) is the proud partner of the Global Victoria Trade Alliance Program being delivered across five regional centres in Victoria.
International flights re-commence into Hobart in boost for tourism and Tasmania’s economy
"The return of direct international passenger flights is a very exciting milestone for Tasmania in a much needed boost for our tourism operators recovering from the impacts of Covid 19": Michael Ferguson.
Advocating for Commonwealth Games
Hepburn Shire Council is working in partnership with the City of Ballarat on advocating for a mountain biking program to be included in the 2026 Commonwealth Games and for competition to be held at the Creswick Trails. With this week’s State Government announcement that the games will be held between the 17-29 March 2026 both Councils are calling for both Mountain Biking to be included in the Victoria 2026 program, the Commonwealth’s first Regional Games and for the Mountain Biking program to be conducted at the Creswick Trails.
NFF welcomes biosecurity ramp-up as FMD risk intensifies
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed the Federal Government’s new biosecurity measures announced following the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) to Australian tourist hotspot, Bali ... “We would also like to see an increase in frontline biosecurity officers at return airports and ongoing reviews into the appropriateness of additional intervention methods such as footbaths”: NFF President Fiona Simson.
New FMD biosecurity messages for travellers from Indonesia: Watt
Biosecurity officers are boarding planes on arrival and playing a new biosecurity message on all inbound flights from Indonesia, reinforcing Australia’s strict biosecurity measures and providing FMD-specific advice to travellers. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the Albanese Government is very serious about keeping this devastating disease out of Australia.
Stop making excuses on biosecurity: NSW Farmers
NSW Farmers President James Jackson has slammed government officials for being wishy-washy on biosecurity controls such as foot baths ... “The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry says they can’t have antiseptic foot baths at airports because a child might fall in them,” Mr Jackson said.
Narrandera set to showcase the best of country racing
Jeff Hanson. Narrandera Race Club is gearing up for one of their biggest ever meetings. Racing on Sunday July 17, Narrandera will host their first Showcase race day, with each of their eight races carrying a minimum $30,000 in prize money.
