Scenic Rim named in Lonely Planet’s Top 10 regions in the world
Global travel authority Lonely Planet has announced their Best in Travel 2022, three lists encompassing the world’s hottest countries, cities and regions, and have included the Scenic Rim as number eight in the top regions to visit in 2022.
Statement by NFF President, Fiona Simson on ‘The Plan to Deliver Net Zero’
The Government's Plan confirms, beyond doubt, what we already knew: our farmers and our agricultural lands hold the key to delivering Australia’s 2050 goal. The NFF has been a leading advocate for a fair and planned transition to economy wide Net Zero ... this Plan recognises the hard work agriculture has already done in driving down Australia’s emissions since 2005.
Trash to treasure: copper mine waste could hold key to renewable revolution
Queensland copper mine waste could deliver a key ingredient for the renewable energy revolution thanks to a three-year international study. Qld Resources Minister Scott Stewart announced a three-way agreement between the Queensland Government, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and the University of Queensland which will examine whether cobalt – a globally-sought-after critical mineral and a key battery ingredient – can be retrieved economically from old copper mine tailings.
Price hikes a double whammy on harvest efforts
NSW Farmers is calling for better long-term national fuel security as higher fuel prices take their toll during a tight harvest season. It’s the latest hit to the grains and horticulture sectors, which have been crying out for better access to harvest workers for several weeks. Not only will farmers be frantically trying to find labour, they will also be frantically trying to secure fuel before the price blows out.
A golden outlook for a golden year’ – Rabobank 2021/22 Australian Winter Crop Forecast
Australia is set for a second consecutive bumper winter harvest, with total production forecast to come in just five per cent shy of last year’s near-record crop, according to Rabobank. In its just-released Australian Winter Crop 2021/22 Production, Price and Inputs Forecast, the specialist agribusiness bank estimates the nation will harvest 52.87 million tonnes of winter grains, oilseeds and pulses this season. While down five per cent on last year’s crop, this is still a hefty 25 per cent above the five-year average.
Abrolhos scallops first in Australia to gain the MSC blue fish tick for sustainability
The Abrolhos Island and Mid-West Scallop Trawl Fishery has achieved certification to the MSC fisheries standard. It is the first scallop fishery in Australia and the eleventh fishery in Western Australia (WA) to gain this certification.
Afghani locals in “limbo”
Gabrielle Duykers. Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre (MRC), Eugenia Tsoulis spoke to Naracoorte Lucindale Council at its latest meeting, emphasising the need to continue support for Afghan residents ... Following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, many local Afghan migrants are trying to safely bring their family members to Australia. However, many are unable to do so due to being on temporary “bridging” visas or without citizenship.
Salty singers not too shabby at shanty show
Denmark's sea shanty singers, the Salty Seadogs, gave audiences at the Albany International Folk ’n’ Shanty Festival renditions of old and new shanties with heaps of gusto ... Nine shanty-singing groups and 26 Australian folk music acts and seven international acts played in several venues around Albany waterfront including the Albany Entertainment Centre.
Mackay biorefinery pilot plant ready for take-off
Mercurius has finalised commissioning and is about to commence operations at their pilot plant that will use their patented REACH(TM) technology to produce valuable renewable chemicals, diesel and jet fuel from sugarcane waste. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Mackay, which is in the heart of sugarcane country, was the perfect place for this trial to take place.
Farmers demand government repay carbon theft
The state’s leading agricultural organisation is calling on the federal government to repay billions owed to farmers. Costly emissions reduction action taken by farmers to help Australia meet its Kyoto commitments resulted in a surplus of 431 million tonnes of carbon captured – worth more than $30 billion* today. NSW Farmers President James Jackson said the balance sheet must be squared before the federal government signs up to any deals at Glasgow.
Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement
Australia and Singapore are developing a Green Economy Agreement (GEA) to further accelerate both countries’ transition towards a green and sustainable future, and help to create good jobs and lower carbon emissions. The GEA will look at practical initiatives to promote and facilitate trade and investment, including lowering the regulatory burden on businesses. It aims to remove non-tariff barriers to trade in environmental goods and services and to accelerate the uptake of low emissions green technology.
Farmers want Kyoto ledger squared
National Farmers Federation President Fiona Simson says while Australian farmers continue to lead the world in improved sustainability and emissions reduction it is time to address the inequities of the past. "Farmers have been at the forefront of Australia’s efforts to meet climate change targets for decades, although not always knowingly." Ms Simson said in the 1990s and early 2000s, Queensland and NSW farmers were victims of land clearing legislation that removed their property rights, without compensation.
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.
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.
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.
International recognition for Tweed River management
Tweed Shire Council has been recognised as one of three top leaders in global river management at the prestigious 21st Thiess International Riverprize for its work on the Tweed River ... Council has been working with a broad range of partners for more than 30 years on projects to increase the health of the Tweed River, following a series of devastating fish kills in the late 1980s.
History made as Ag Worker Visa created
The Australian Government has amended the Migration Regulations to create the Australian Agriculture Worker Visa (Ag Visa) to provide for a vital agriculture visa to help secure the future of rural and regional Australia ... “The Ag Visa will be the biggest structural change to agricultural workforce in our nation’s history. The visa will also be available to the fisheries, forestry and agricultural processing sectors and will target seasonal workers, skilled and semiskilled workers“: Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud.
A new dawn for agriculture’s workforce
After five years of advocacy by the NFF, an Agriculture Visa is one step closer to becoming a reality with the Governor General signing the legislation into law. NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar said the milestone represented a new chapter in Australia’s approach to addressing agriculture’s workforce shortages.
Broadening the Australian palate with new wine grape varieties
The McGowan Government continues to support the expansion of the State's wine industry, backing the local development of three new wine varieties from the Mediterranean - two receiving a medal at a recent Western Australian wine show ... Prosecco, a sparkling white grape variety, and Nero d'Avola, a mid-body red variety, were sourced from Italy while the Mencia variety originates from Spain.
Korean giant offloading 1,308ha Southern Highlands property
Hume Coal has moving to quickly sell what is the largest landholding in the South Highlands region after its plans for a $533 million coal mine were knocked back by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC). The Australian subsidiary of Korean steel giant POSCO is hoping for over $60 million for the 1,308-hectare landholding, seven kilometres from the town of Moss Vale.
