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Media Release

Farmers warn of conservation ‘land grab’: NSW Farmers Association 

A controversial proposal from an anti-farming environmental group risks handing control of private land to government under the guise of conservation. NSW Farmers’ Conservation and Resource Management Committee Chair Bronwyn Petrie said the Wentworth Group of Scientists’ “Blueprint for a Healthy Country and Thriving Regions” to farmers was deeply disingenuous.

New report details First Nations progress across the Murray-Darling Basin: Watt

The Albanese Government has ... tabled the annual Murray–Darling Basin First Nations water report for 2024–25. This report provides an overview of the progress made in 2024–25 by the Albanese Government to strengthen First Nations peoples’ leadership, knowledge and self determination in water management and planning decisions across the Murray–Darling Basin...

North East Rail passengers set to be locked out of Sunshine transport hub: Cleeland

The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland MP, has raised concerns in State Parliament this week about the redevelopment of Sunshine Station, warning the current design risks locking north-east Victorian passengers out of one of the state’s most important transport interchanges.

Banjima people take Wittenoom to the United Nations Human Rights Council and launch litigation against WA Government

On March 10, Banjima Traditional Owners and the filmmakers behind Walkley Award-winning documentary YURLU | COUNTRY will take part in an official UN Side Event at the Human Rights Council, in Geneva, Switzerland. It comes off the back of Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation launching a $1.5 billion claim against the WA Government, as part of their Clean Up Wittenoom campaign...

Farmers gutted after compulsory acquisition amendment passes: VFF

"The Victorian Farmers Federation is gutted that Parliament has backed laws allowing farmers’ land to be taken for transmission lines before the environmental assessment is even finished": Brett Hosking, VFF President.

Cotton industry celebrates contribution to Australian agriculture’s record $100 billion milestone: Cotton Australia

Australia’s cotton industry ... celebrating its contribution to the milestone set to be reached by Australian agriculture this year, with gross production value to exceed $100 billion – four years ahead of the 2030 target.

Regional growth without rail is a hollow promise: Siri Gamage

Dr Siri Gamage. We keep hearing about regional growth. We hear about decentralisation, productivity, housing pressures in capital cities and the promise of thriving regional communities. But here is the uncomfortable truth: growth without proper public transport is not a strategy. It is rhetoric.

Australian beef export volumes tested by new China quota: Rabobank

Australia’s beef exports are set to face some of the biggest adjustments compared with other international exporters as new import quotas announced by China in late last year reshape the global beef trade, Rabobank says in a newly-released report.

Drier conditions on the horizon after record year: ABARES

Australian agriculture is set to reach a record $101.4 billion in grosspproduction value in 2025-26 before easing in 2026–27, with both prices and output expected to soften. ABARES is forecasting combined agriculture, fisheries and forestry value to top $107.4 billion in 2025-26 – also a record - underscoring the strength of Australia’s primary industries. 

More water for farmers in Northwest Tasmania: Watt, Pearce, Urquhart

Construction has begun on the new Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme Augmentation, which will deliver more water to farmers in the northwest Tasmanian region. Increased water supply will be a key enabler for farmers in the region, allowing them to invest, diversify, expand and value add to their crops.

Far West left high and dry as Minns Government dumps Wilcannia Weir Project: Cooke

The Minns Labor Government has abandoned the people of Wilcannia and the broader Far West, shelving the long-awaited Wilcannia Weir replacement project. Shadow Minister for Water Steph Cooke said the decision is a betrayal of a community that has fought for more than three decades to secure a safe, reliable and drought-proof water supply.

Under the Hood: Scott Abdy is defying limits, one burnout at a time

Bundaberg burnout driver Scott Abdy was just three years old when doctors told his parents he would never ride a bike, and yet, here he is decades later, gearing up to return to the Rare Spares and Repco Rockynats 06 burnout pad with precision, power, and an unmistakable passion for skids. 

Federal tree clearing complaints surge raises concerns for farmers: Property Rights Australia

Property Rights Australia says the Federal government’s major overhaul of environmental law duplicating the traditional State role was always going to be a problem for an under resourced Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water DCCEEW. Compounding the problem is a surge in complaints regarding alleged “illegal tree clearing”, placing increasing pressure on both regulators and rural landowners.

Northern Murray-Darling Basin buybacks: announcement and initial responses

The Federal Government's announcement that it will consider purchasing water entitlements in the northern Murray-Darling Basin has, unsurprisingly, provoked differing responses. The announcement from Minister Watt and the responses from Nationals Senator and Shadow Minister for Water, Ross Cadell, from the Shadow Minister for Water (NSW), Steph Cooke, and from the Nature Conservation Council of NSW point to the different issues and views on this contentious topic.

Labor must stop any water from Elbow Valley going overseas: Littleproud

Leader of The Nationals and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud has raised serious concerns about a proposed water extraction operation in the Elbow Valley region. Mr Littleproud said the Chinese-owned developers’ proposal to extract up to 96 million litres of water annually, in an area susceptible to drought, to bottle and potentially export overseas doesn’t make sense.

Time for the Commonwealth to finally deliver Barkly radar: Edgington

The Commonwealth must finally deliver a new weather radar for the Barkly region that the region has been waiting a decade for ... “The residents of the Barkly have been waiting for a new weather radar since the Federal Government de-commissioned the old one in 2015 - over a decade ago,” Mr Edgington said.

Council’s first exhibition for 2026 in a class of its own

Launching at The Centre Beaudesert on Saturday 14 March, Mr Chippa the Woodblock Carver of Bagru brings to life the delightful children's book through hand-carved woodblocks and traditional hand-printing techniques. Lee FullARTon's cultural story about the woodblock carvers of Bagru and the exhibition are the culmination of many years of research, with her travel journal paintings and colourful Kathputli puppets illustrating her long-standing connection to India.

Hunter-Central Coast REZ kicks off construction jobs: Sharpe

Construction is officially underway on the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), a project that will generate enough energy to power more than all the homes in the Hunter.

Nambucca Valley Deputy Mayor blocks regional collaboration: Kemp

Nambucca Valley’s Labor Deputy Mayor has attempted to block Nambucca Valley Council from joining the Mid North Coast Joint Organisation – a move that would have isolated the valley from regional collaboration with neighbouring councils. 

Closure of Beaufort River abattoir a devastating blow to Great Southern jobs and sheep industry: Hunter, Rundle

The Opposition has slammed the Cook and Albanese Labor Governments after the temporary closure of the Beaufort River meat processing facility in the Great Southern — coming just one day after governments announced supply-chain grants intended to "support" the sheep industry.

18 million hectares of farmland required for Labor’s net zero target: Littleproud

...Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the agricultural land required by … DAFF own calculations doesn’t factor in land that has already been sequestered. It comes after Senate Estimates heard the ABARES Insights Sequestration on agricultural land: impacts and policy trade-offs report shows under the 119 million tonnes of land-based sequestration needed to achieve net zero, about 18 million hectares of sequestration projects would need to be established by 2050.

Farmers reject ‘dumpster fire’ plans: NSW Farmers Association

NSW Farmers says plans to pollute rural and regional communities with Sydney’s rubbish should be immediately rejected. The proposed Parkes Incinerator would burn 700,000 tonnes of Sydney's red-bin rubbish each year if approved, and NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said it was totally unacceptable to force any regional community to be the dumping ground for Sydney waste if they did not agree.

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