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Law & order

Did the new highway make the flood worse? Transport authorities respond, residents seek class action

Residents know about floods. They know how to prepare. The March 1 flood blew them and their homes out of the water as the Richmond River rose way above what anyone had predicted or ever expected. It has led some residents to question how and where the water was trapped and why it took longer to recede than previous floods.

EPA promises to be transparent about post flood oil sludge investigations

The Environment Protection Authority has done assessments of those Broadwater homes with hydrocarbon contamination. Hydrocarbon includes oil, diesel and other fuels. A specialist consultant is doing soil assessments and sampling from the yards of affected properties. The results of this testing will be provided to residents and used to decide remedial strategies.

Man fined $15k for felling trees

A man as been fined $15,000 by the Cooktown Magistrates Court over the felling of 113 old-growth trees in the Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park. In 2020, a timber export company entered into an agreement to log Cooktown Ironwood trees (erythrophleum chlorostachys) on two Cape York stations that border the national park.

Failure to tackle unfair contracts criticised: NSW Farmers

The state’s farmers are disappointed the federal government has failed to crack down on unfair contract terms. A Bill aimed at delivering fairness for small business by making UCTs unlawful was introduced in early February – but has not been progressed by the federal government.

Progressing the world’s largest renewable energy system: NT Gov

The Territory Labor Government will introduce legislation this week to facilitate the $30 billion Sun Cable Australia-Asia PowerLink project ... The Solar Project (Australia-Asia Power Link) (Special Provisions) Bill 2022 will provide certainty that key commitments in the Territory’s Project Development Agreement with Sun Cable will be met. The legislation will clarify and streamline existing processes, increase project certainty, and support Sun Cable to secure project financing.

Illegal dumping on cane farms must stop

Peak sugarcane organisation CANEGROWERS is seeking urgent discussions with local government amid an escalation of people using Queensland farms as dumping grounds ... ARR.News asked some further questions of CANEGROWERS on this costly problem.

The conversation has started

Serena Kirby. Community member and South West MLC Dr Sally Talbot, who was instrumental in getting WA’s VAD law passed in State Parliament, spoke of the process at the Dying To Know forum convened by death doula Kit Bewley.

Sara Storer a hit

A perfect autumn evening and the setting sun’s golden haze set the scene for the Sara Storer concert in Wakool, presented by the Australian Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Agency ... 21-time Golden Guitar winner ... Backstage, Sara said it was great to be back on the road after a quiet two years.

Carbon credit profits as primary production income – Carbon Count CEO Phil Mulvey’s view

"The latest government announcement about primary producers being able to claim their carbon credit profits as part of their primary production income looks positive indeed. What is important to understand however is that this development, whilst positive, is only benefiting those primary producers that have already started a carbon farming project and are soon ready to sell. What this development doesn't doesn't do is incentivise farmers to take up a carbon project in the first place; the key issue we need to overcome to meet our netzero2050 targets. What we need most now are governmental incentives that mitigate the financial barriers of entry for farmers and enable them to get started fast": Phil Mulvey.

NFF backs changes to recognise carbon credits as farm income

The National Farmers' Federation has praised Federal Government changes to see Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) and biodiversity credits treated as farm income ... NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar said the change was due recognition that income related to carbon and biodiversity were part of the farm business. It is also consistent with policy analysis the NFF has progressed under the Australian Agriculture Sustainability Framework (AASF) project.

Tax changes for farmers to bolster land stewardship: Littleproud, Taylor, Sukkar

The Morrison Government will apply concessional tax treatment to primary producers that generate revenue from the sale of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) and biodiversity certificates. This will encourage carbon abatement activities and help Australia deliver on its net zero emissions target by 2050.

Gunner’s arrival in Tennant Creek draws criticism from residents

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s visit to Tennant Creek this week was greeted with ire by many local residents sick of the continuing crime and antisocial behaviour in town ... “Residents have a reason to be angry with the Chief Minister – since 2016 we have yet to see a detailed crime prevention plan that would tackle the issues in Tennant Creek”: Barkly MLA Steve Edgington.

New homes for victim-survivors to rebuild

Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said it was vital victim-survivors have access to safe, affordable housing as quickly as possible to help them get back on their feet after their traumatic experiences. “We’re starting to see the important outcomes from our record commitment through the delivery of these 68 additional homes in Sydney and regional NSW, giving women and children who have suffered domestic violence a place to recover and thrive.”

Calls for federal govt to drop excise tax on fuel

Hitting the pause button on a fuel excise tax would provide instant relief for motorists as the federal government faces pressure to act on soaring prices ... Queensland LNP Senator Susan McDonald said the government had to do something, and the fuel excise was the “bluntest instrument” available.

Council continues cuttlefish protection push

Council continues to support a submission for their key breeding ground – named the Cuttlefish Coast Sanctuary Zone – to be placed on the National Heritage List under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Council continues to support a submission for their key breeding ground – named the Cuttlefish Coast Sanctuary Zone – to be placed on the National Heritage List under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

18 year old charged with rape of woman

An 18-year-old man has been charged with the alleged physical sexual assault of a woman on the main street of Tennant Creek on Tuesday night.

The State of Things – mandates and madness: Bev McArthur

Last week, I supported a motion by the Liberal Democrats’ David Limbrick to end COVID-19 mandates in Victoria, sending the matter to the new ALP-fortified ‘independent’ body to review Pandemic Bill impacts. Quite simply, it went to the heart of freedom of choice, liberty and the right of individuals to be individuals.

Dalton welcomes decision to quash floodplain harvesting laws

NSW state MP for Murray Helen Dalton welcomed the NSW Upper House vote to disallow law changes that allowed for excessive floodplain harvesting in the NSW Northern Basin on Thursday. “This result is a big victory for communities in the Lower Darling and irrigators in my electorate,” Mrs Dalton said.

Three men charged after violent Guilderton home burglary

Police will allege that about 1.45am, a number of men armed with axes forced entry into a property on Dewar St and assaulted two men, who were sleeping inside at the time. Both men (aged 49 and 60) received extensive injuries and were flown to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment.

Car theft – vehicle stolen following crash

Kirstin Nicholson. Ben Timms, of the Barham Licenced Post Office, was out on his delivery run when he came across another driver in need of help at around 10am ... Rushing to assist, he grabbed the fire extinguisher from his own vehicle to prevent the fire from spreading. While performing his good deed, the driver of the burning vehicle fled in Ben’s utility, driving east along Barham Road.

Welcome debate on problematic farm regulations

CANEGROWERS has welcomed the opportunity for the significant issues and concerns that surround the reef regulations imposed on farmers to be aired in the Queensland Parliament.

Sneaky plan to hand out Floodplain Harvesting Licences could be illegal and expose Govt to billions in compensation: Faehrmann

Moves by Water Minister Kevin Anderson to pave the way for the handing out of licences for floodplain harvesting as early as this week are likely in breach of the Commonwealth Water Act and could set up a future government to have to fork out billions of dollars in compensation, says Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and water spokesperson and chair of the recent NSW Upper House Committee into Floodplain Harvesting.

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