Media Release

Australia is negotiating amendments to the Australia-European Community Agreement on Trade in Wine (Wine Agreement). As part of the negotiation the Australian Government is running a public objections process on wine geographical indications (GIs) proposed by the EU.

Studio? Who needs a studio? I paint anywhere the mood takes me. Easel? Who needs an easel?  Margaret Olley.

A new exhibition showcasing works by artists with disability will open in Alice Springs on Saturday, 25 March. Strong Feelings, which will take place at Red Hot Arts, includes a mixture of portraiture and storytelling, using costume, digital art, song, soundscapes, video and photography.

Childcare users in regional Queensland have waited more than 12 months to access services, according to a new study released by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI). The RAI Childcare Study ... focused on accessibility, availability, affordability and quality of childcare and its impact on workforce participation, liveability, population attraction and retention of staff in the Maranoa and Western Downs regions...

A “complex, rare and logistically challenging’’ operation to replace a 100-year-old Sunshine Coast bridge has been successfully completed ... The 21m-long timber bridge is located at 298 River Road, Maroochy River, a rural suburb between Yandina and Marcoola.

Current issues and challenges around wild dog management were under the spotlight as more than 50 operational, agency and research staff from around the nation attended a three-day symposium in northern NSW.

The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) together with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) brought nine scientists from around the world together on Tuesday March 21 in Sydney for a day-long summit to discuss the scientific evidence in support of red meat and livestock production in today’s society. The Australian Good Meat Summit brought together industry leaders and producers from across the red meat and livestock sector...

The Murray–Darling Basin Authority is moving ahead with detailed design work on a suite of options to improve the movement of water through the Barmah–Millewa Reach of the Murray River. Basin governments in February noted the results of the  Barmah–Millewa Feasibility Study  and committed $2.35 million to the next stage of investigation in what will be known as the Barmah–Millewa Program.

This week Council will be removing the Leichhardt tree at the Rockhampton Memorial Gardens and replacing it with two young trees which have been propagated from the original ... “This tree has been part of the Memorial Gardens landscape since the site was created in 1996": Communities and Heritage Councillor Drew Wickerson.

Tweed Shire Council, with partners Social Futures and Boosting the Local Care Workforce Program, are inviting Commonwealth Home Support Program providers to attend a free educational forum ahead of major changes to the in-home aged care sector next year. Strategy In The Face Of Change – Community Aged Care Forum will inform the sector of changes coming into effect in July 2024.

Wimmera grain growers have an opportunity to directly contribute ideas and raise local issues to help the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) invest in locally relevant research, development and extension (RD&E) at upcoming forums. As part of GRDC’s National Grower Network (NGN), grower forums will be held at Goroke, Wallup, Rupanyup, Toolondo and Kaniva from 27 to 30 March, 2023.

The uptake of genomic technology among the commercial beef industry is on the rise as producers understand the power of taking their breeding decisions to the next level. Neogen Australasia NSW Genomics Territory Manager Hannah Powe said the utilisation of genotyping had exceeded expectations with 79 per cent of Angus bulls listed in catalogues in 2022 carrying genomic predictions...

Scenic Rim Regional Council is set to put the bite on wild dogs with its biannual baiting program ready to roll out mid-April.  The program, which uses sodium fluoroacetate baits more commonly known as 1080, assists owners of larger land holdings in managing pest animals which not only pose a threat to native wildlife but also pets and other domestic animals.  

The Strategic Plan for the Forestry Centre of Excellence has been launched by the State Government, laying out the vision behind this $15 million 10-year collaborative project. The Centre, the first of its kind in South Australia, is being developed to create long-term research and development capability to enhance the Green Triangle’s economic prosperity, generating more jobs and investment in the region.

Queensland’s agriculture industry will play a big part in reaching the state’s 2050 net zero emissions target, with the pathway set out by the 21 March 2023 release of the Low Emissions Agriculture Roadmap 2022-2032 by the Palaszczuk Government. The Roadmap charts a clear route for Queensland to achieve even cleaner and greener food and fibre production, while remaining a world-leader in agriculture.

"Landowners and farmers have made it clear at a rally held in Widgee on Friday 17 March, Powerlink and the State Government are not listening to the community ... The community has attended so-called stakeholder meetings in rural and regional Queensland only to discover that the consultation process is tokenism with little to no consideration of alternative power corridors on State owned land": Chair of Property Rights Australia (PRA) Rob Atkinson.

The new battery is one of the next 12 large-scale, electricity network-connected batteries that will help Queensland communities reap even more benefits from rooftop solar. Emerald is home to over 1,920 solar systems, and the battery will allow locals to capture cheap renewable energy and drive down power bills, easing the cost of living.

South Australian food, wine and beverage companies continue to reap the rewards from Japan’s largest e-commerce site, connecting with millions of new customers as sales keep surging. Rakuten – a platform described as the “Amazon of Japan” – boasts more than 100 million Japanese users and is home to 27 per cent of Japanese e-commerce, a figure that equated to $40 billion in 2020.