Law & order

A  Maldon resident recently shared concerns regarding a ban on fake flowers at the Maldon Cemetery that will come into effect on 1 January 2023. The ban will include plastic toys and ornaments and breakable containers.

Rockhampton Regional Council will be launching a Systematic Animal Inspection Program across all properties within the Rockhampton Local Government Area ... “This program allows Council to ensure that animal owners are following all relevant Local Laws, which are intended to protect the welfare of animals...": Planning and Regulation Councillor Grant Mathers.

The Victorian Government has been accused of “side-stepping the consultation process” over proposed changes to animals welfare laws that could see licences brought in for horse events and any commercial horse activity. Animal Care Australia (ACA) horses and livestock representative Karri Nadazdy said as a major stakeholder, ACA responded to the Animal Welfare Act Reform Directions Paper in December 2020 and said no warning was given that licensing was under consideration.

Licences for any professional horse activity and events in Victoria could be brought in under proposed new animal welfare laws. The proposal has been outlined in a plan developed as part of the reform process for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and states that anyone “showing and exhibiting animals for a commercial purpose” would be subject to new regulations, including that a “licence is required”.

The gossip in Tennant Creek and the Barkly has been in overdrive this week after news broke our Mayor had been charged with drug-related offences. The town’s flamboyant Mayor Jeff McLaughlin (42) was arrested by police around 10.15am Monday morning after a roadside test.

In just under a month we have run multiple stories on IndyNR.com about youth crime in Coraki ... One of those arrests is now the subject of national media interest after the family of one of the arrested boys posted graphic video of the boy handcuffed on the ground with blood on his head and drifting in and out of consciousness.

Territorians can expect faster scanning speeds with new and improved Banned Drinker Register (BDR) devices to be rolled out across the Territory from this week. The BDR is a valuable tool to assist in reducing alcohol related harm in the Northern Territory and Territorians are well used to providing photo identification to purchase takeaway alcohol.

The Lake Nash Bats could be kicked out of the AFL Mount Isa competition after officials and fans assaulted umpires on Saturday. The violence escalated after the final siren of the grand final, won by the Tigers in an upset, however the trouble was brewing well before then.

Emma Pritchard. When Clarence Valley resident Paul MacNamara decided to transition from an everyday teacher to an education officer in the prison system, he found himself in an unfamiliar classroom with strict settings and new students. Some were sex offenders and murderers, others were serving time for armed robbery, drug offences, or breaking and entering ... "I noticed that people of all ages would ask me about my job and what is was like to teach in a gaol," he recalled.

Nita was lying awake in bed at 2am in her unit in Casino. She was waiting for the radio to come on. She looked up and a figure was standing by her bed. He wore a hoodie, was barefoot and looked about 16, Nita said. He fled when Nita screamed. “I’ll never forget it,” Nita, 86, said ... They used to steal things out of the garage and off the porch but now they are coming into our homes, she said.

There has been much said about the Murray-Darling Basin Authority over the 10 years of Basin Plan implementation ... The latest attempt by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to justify the hydraulic land clearing and loss of capacity of the Murray River needs to be called out for what it is – mismanagement in breach of the 2007 Water Act.

Blockade Australia activities which stopped Sydney peak hour traffic on 27 June 2022 is an experience which timber harvesting contractors have been confronting for years. In the week ended August 5, 2022, on five successive days, protestors entered timber harvesting sites in Northern NSW and placed their personal safety in danger to such an extent that work ceased.

Detectives have charged 24-years-old Lachlan Mark Freund of Cambooya in relation to the alleged murder of 25-years-old Thor Morgan in March ... Following an extensive investigation as part of Operation Uniform Tyne, police dive squad officers recovered a firearm from a northern branch of the Condamine River on July 26, which police will allege was the weapon used in the incident.

Patricia Gill. The Shire of Denmark is reviewing local laws concerning the keeping of cats with a limit of two animals older-than-six months per household being considered in an effort to curb the feral population. The Shire will also have more power to restrict the movement of cats and those that cause a nuisance ... consultation is underway on the proposed rules which the Denmark Shire Council will likely consider in September.

VicForests has been given a green light to log areas of Greater Glider habitat in Victoria’s Central Highlands, the Supreme Court has ruled ... Three parcels of forest known to be home to the endangered glider will be opened for logging despite VicForests confirming that they have not surveyed the areas ... ARR.News asked some questions of Kinglake Friends of the Forest.