Media Release

Farmers have rolled into Melbourne on tractors, prime movers and utes, urging Labor to rethink its plans to destroy prime agricultural land throughout Victoria ... our food and fibre production is at risk, with thousands of kilometres of prime land set to be ripped up and replaced for wind turbines, towers and transmission lines.

Combining the art of magic, mind-bending illusions, and an electrifying soundtrack and lighting Luke Blaze is bringing the extraordinary spectacle, REBORN to Regional Victoria commencing September 2 at Riverlinks Westside in Mooroopna. REBORN will captivate and mesmerize audiences as Luke Blaze, Australia’s youngest current underwater escape artist, embarks on a show which pushes boundaries...

Australia’s peak farm body has called on delegates at the ALP National Conference this week to vote down a radical anti-farming motion backed by the Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN). Farmers say the “Climate, Clearing and Cows” motion, which calls for methane emissions to be halved in the next 6.5 years, is misinformed and in conflict with mainstream scientific opinion.

Whyalla City Council has released a new book showcasing its historic art collection to the public in its entirety for the first time. ‘City of Whyalla Art Collection ... the history of Whyalla’s Art Collection starting from the 19th Century to the more recent pieces created in the 2020s.

Even early removal of Chinese anti-dumping tariffs would not be enough to prevent Australia’s wine industry facing several years of oversupply, Rabobank says in its newly-released Wine Quarterly Q3 2023 report ... So large is the current oversupply, says Ms Piggott, that Australia has the equivalent of 859 olympic swimming pools worth of wine in storage.

Titled,  Embracing Our Natural Capital: The Science, Technology and Art of Managing Forests For All Values, the 2023 ANZIF conference, will provide an exceptional learning and development opportunity ... an opportunity for forest scientists, managers and growers to come together to enhance our knowledge and explore the future of our forests and sector.

New state-of-the-art technology will be unveiled, helping first responders overcome dangerous communications black spots to keep them better connected during emergencies. Mobile Wi-Fi equipment has now been installed in over 1,300 Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW State Emergency Service (SES) vehicles, which will ensure 4G or satellite communication access during incident responses.

Near-full water storages and the likely return of dry weather patterns are 2 factors influencing possible River Murray System management strategies for the year ahead. The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) released its 2023–24 Annual Operating Outlook on 15 August 2023.  

The Rookwood Weir project is helping fish species move safely and more freely in the Lower Fitzroy River system. As part of the project’s environmental offset strategy, a $7 million fishway is to be added to the Fitzroy Barrage, located at Rockhampton, downstream of the weir.

Australian agricultural commodity prices experienced a mixed month in July, with wheat and cotton prices edging up, while dairy and barley prices eased, and cattle prices tracked sideways. The movements are reflected in the NAB Rural Commodities Index* which declined 2.1 per cent in July.

Greater Shepparton City Council invites members of the Undera and surrounding communities to an information session providing a comprehensive update on flood outlook, flood recovery actions, and essential emergency readiness. The session will be delivered in partnership with VicSES, Goulburn Murray Water, and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.

Australia’s latest feedlot survey results, published by the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), show numbers of cattle on feed rising by 8.5% to 1,256,832 head in the June quarter. ALFA’s President Barb Madden said that the number of cattle on feed was the second highest on record.

Regional Arts Australia (RAA) and Culture Counts have released new research findings on cultural tourism … The RAA Cultural Tourism Accelerator Program 2021-2022 Research Project indicates that arts and cultural activity in regional and remote Australia creates significant economic impact and community connection.

According to the most recent national inventory conducted in 2021, Australia has 13,287 cubic metres of low-level radioactive waste, which by volume is more than five standard Olympic swimming pools ... The site of Australia’s only nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights can safely store waste on site for some time, but we must ensure this waste has an appropriate disposal pathway.  

The largest and most ambitious trade initiative in Australian horticulture has been given the green light with a host of partners signing on to an historic $130 million program, the Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) ... As part of the program, FASTA will also boost biosecurity initiatives to solidify Australia’s strong reputation in pest-management and as a responsible trading partner for years to come.

Forestry Corporation has almost completed a groundbreaking replanting program that has seen more than 11-million seedlings planted in the state’s pine forests this winter. Almost three years on from the Black Summer bushfires and the recovery effort in softwood plantations continues.

The final stage of Carisbrook Levee project was completed in June 2023 and Council is now working with our funding partners to confirm a date for an official opening ... This project has delivered a significant piece of infrastructure which will mitigate flooding for the township of Carisbrook.

Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MLC Robert Borsak and SFF Goulburn Branch President Andy Wood have called out the hypocrisy of the Liberal member for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman, for her recent motion in the NSW Parliament about the proposed Tarago Incinerator. The proposed incinerator at Tarago will burn 380,000 tonnes of Sydney's waste each year, including plastics, municipal and industrial waste.

Creativity comes naturally to Cassie Goodwin, who with the support of Centrecare FNQ, has taken her craft to a new level, capturing the attention of local therapists, and creating a market for hand-sewn, bright, and characterful, weighted cats ... "One of Cassie’s long-term goals was to establish a small stall of her arts and crafts so in 2019 she began sewing classes to hone her skills": Centrecare FNQ’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager Nathan Lee.

With  three shows  already sold out, tickets to Spaghetti Circus' major new show 'Monumental' are literally flying out the door. Opening on Wednesday 16th  August for an exclusive 2-week run at Brunswick Picture House, 'Monumental' showcases the skills of Spaghetti’s talented Performance Troupe in a huge new production that has something for everyone!  

Industry body GrainGrowers has called for additional information about the potential sale of Incitec Pivot’s fertiliser business to foreign interests, citing growing concerns from members over future supply.