Media Release

The vision to create an “ecological wonder” and restore a pasture site to rainforest and wetland ecosystems is now a step closer to reality thanks to Sunshine Coast Council endorsing the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park Master Plan. The plan sets out Council’s vision to restore the 65ha site adjoining Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve on Jinibara country.

The Nationals WA and Federal National Party have ... taken a stand against the flawed implementation of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Laws by WA Labor ... “WA Labor MPs have admitted they have botched the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, now, with Federal Labor considering enacting similar legislation, concerns are being raised": Shane Love.

A report providing an update on the progress of key activities under the Basin Plan has been issued by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. The tenth in a series, this report card reflects the progress made in first 6 months of 2023, during a period of significant flooding and flood recovery around the Murray–Darling Basin.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) welcomes the Albanese Government’s decision to extend the timeframe for implementing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy said common sense had prevailed following Minister Tanya Plibersek’s announcement to allow efficiency projects to progress and be counted towards the Plan’s targets.

Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has entered a strategic alliance with plant nutrition company RLF AgTech, financing an innovative pilot program that aims to generate soil carbon credits ... RLF AgTech, a specialist in plant nutrition, has launched a soil carbon pilot program with Australian farmers who will utilise its Accumulating Carbon in Soil System (ACSS) technology.

Campaspe Shire Mayor Cr Rob Amos said the Council’s first Economic Development and Tourism Summit held on Friday, 21 July 2023 was an outstanding success. More than 150 business, industry and community leaders attended the summit which was a key plank of the council’s engagement process to develop a new five-year Economic Development and Tourism Strategy for the shire.

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, released on 26 July 2023, shows food inflation slowing in the June quarter. Rabobank senior food retail analyst Michael Harvey said “Food inflation is at 1.6 per cent for March to June (unchanged from the last quarter), and 7.5 per cent year-on-year – slowing down from last quarter at 8 per cent”.

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority provided advice to the Hon Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water that full implementation of the Basin Plan will not be possible by 30 June 2024 ... With 16 key SDLAM projects unlikely to be operable by 30 June 2024, the Authority estimates a shortfall in water recovery of between 190 and 315 gigalitres.  

The Authority welcomed the opportunity to meet with the Hon Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water. In response to her request, the Authority provided the Minister its  advice on the current state of Basin Plan implementation.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) welcomes Minister Plibersek’s announcement that she will seek to extend the Murray-Darling Basin Plan deadlines. NFF President Fiona Simson said the extension would buy time for smarter completion of the plan without resorting to devastating buybacks.

A new report released last week confirms the Australian horticulture industry will be making an essential contribution to attaining the ambitious goal of $100 billion in national agricultural value by 2030. Commissioned by Hort Innovation and delivered by The Centre for International Economics, the Contribution of Australian horticulture industry report predicts the sector will witness a 22.5 per cent increase in combined value by 2030, to reach $21.8 billion.

From the dance studio to the great outdoors, ballerina Ms Valerie Tereshchenko has proven it’s never too late to try something new. Studying, performing and mastering the art of ballet for 25 years, the Ukraine-born ballerina took on a new challenge by studying a  Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management  with the help of  Charles Sturt University’s online study options.

Grain producer groups have unified to oppose a flawed planning application which would diminish export capacity for the nation’s grain supply chain and wealth generation for rural communities and the national economy. Grain Producers Australia and GrainGrowers have backed calls by the Victorian Farmers’ Federation Grains Council to reject the Planning Application submitted by the Hamilton Group, to build office space at the Geelong Port.

The latest agricultural lending statistics provided by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) show an increase in aggregate lending to the farm sector of 9 per cent in 2021–22. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said the cumulative value of loans outstanding has increased from $100.7 billion at 30 June 2021 to $109.9 billion at 30 June 2022.

The George the Farmer story began in 2012 when founder Simone Kain was trawling the internet looking for farming books and apps for her farm-obsessed son George ... "I quickly discovered there wasn't a human farming character globally who was telling sequential stories about life on the land for children, let alone a modern Aussie farmer telling real, relatable yarns," she said.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade has increased plant surveillance after a confirmed sample of the papaya mealybug was found in the Darwin region.  The suspected Paracoccus marginatus was discovered after the Plant Biosecurity team received a call from a concerned resident in Parap last week, who identified a cluster of white coloured insects on their papaya plants.

Vibrant murals on water assets in Gosnells and Armadale were unveiled by Water Minister Simone McGurk, who also celebrated the successful partnerships between Water Corporation, local artists and school groups ... "Through the Splash of Colour program, we've worked with local community groups to transform more than 60 water assets across Western Australia into something they can be proud of, adding real value to our streets and suburbs": Water Minister Simone McGurk.

Amendments proposed to the Police Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2023 will authorise police to use handheld scanners to detect, seize and destroy weapons being carried by individuals.  Carrying a controlled weapon without reasonable excuse is an offence which carries a penalty of 12 months imprisonment, this term is double if the offence occurs at night time.

Yeppoon in Central Queensland will host Australia’s pineapple industry this week for their annual Pineapple Field Days. Organised by Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) on behalf of Australian Pineapples, the two-day event brings together growers, government, researchers, and supply chain members to showcase the latest research and development occurring within the industry.

On a visit to the Torres Strait, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner announced the composition of the new 10-person Cape York Special Fisheries Working Group to provide advice on fisheries issues in the region.