Media Release

Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Martin Pakula congratulated Hanwha Defense Australia on its successful bid to deliver the Commonwealth’s LAND 8116 program in Victoria, strengthening the state’s defence capabilities and creating 300 highly skilled local jobs in design, engineering and manufacturing.

The Morrison Government has announced a $1 billion defence contract for new Self-Propelled Howitzers for the Australian Army has been awarded to Hanwha Defense Australia. The contract signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea. Based in Greater Geelong, the contract will procure Self-Propelled Howitzers and Armoured Ammunition Resupply Vehicles, under the LAND 8116 Phase 1 project.

Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club have officially opened the Lagoon Street Bar + Dining Piazza, transforming the area into a modern and vibrant outdoor space. Fitted with two alfresco dining outlets, a cocktail bar and a children’s playground, Lagoon Street promises to offer a brand new dining experience for members and guests alike.

The last consultation period on new Emissions Reduction Fund rules to enhance monitoring of pest and weed management in ERF projects and manage impacts on agricultural production and regional communities has opened. The rules will give the Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, the power to prevent certain types of large ERF native vegetation projects ... from going ahead where there is evidence that the project would have an adverse impact on agricultural production or communities.

Carbon Count has announced that its flagship soil carbon project management software has concluded its beta testing phase and is now available to soil carbon project managers across the globe ... the Australian owned and designed SaaS platform streamlines the entire process of running a soil carbon project into a clear and simple workflow; facilitating the trade of soil carbon credits for agricultural consultancies and their landholder clients.

The Limestone Coast Food and Agribusiness was officially launched at Farmer’s Leap ... The Limestone Coast is SA's most diverse food and beverage producing region, the only region in SA that grows and processes meat (beef and lamb), dairy, horticulture and grapes within the region, generating $1,123m of agricultural output, 18% of the State’s agricultural production from 2% of SA’s geographic area.

Agile Black Hawk helicopters will revolutionise bushfire fighting in South Australia this summer and significantly boost capability for the Country Fire Service’s aerial fleet in a move that also increases protection for the community and firefighters.

Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio has officially launched the battery − developed by renewable energy specialist Neoen and located at the Moorabool Terminal Station near Geelong. The 300-megawatt Tesla system is the largest battery in the southern hemisphere and created more than 150 jobs during construction.

Perched on the Banks of the Cygnet River, the Kangaroo Island Racing Club is a proud country racing club, with one of the largest membership bases of any country racing club in South Australia.

Country racing always has a story to tell, but none like King Islands. Situated in the middle of the Western Entrance to Bass Strait. The King Island Racing Club Incorporated should logistically not have survived over 125 years of racing.

This years event will be a little different! We will be hosting a range of new entertainment including, jumping castles, water slides, petting zoo, mechanical bull and so much more! Join us on Friday the 17 of December from 5:00 pm for the festivities!

“Plants and livestock will be more resilient to the challenges of drought, frost and salinity, as well as more resistant to pests and disease thanks to the research coming out of our new Advanced Gene Technology Centre”: NSW Minister for Agriculture, Adam Marshall.

WA Health Minister Roger Cook has officially opened Carnarvon's $19.9 million Gnullingoo Mia residential aged and palliative care home. This new aged care home has been integrated with the existing hospital to ensure residents have access to skilled aged care assessment, older patient initiatives and subacute programs, education and telegeriatrician services, while feeling comfortable, supported and at home.

Despite recent flood and rain damage in the eastern states, the ABARES Agricultural Commodities: December Quarter is forecasting a history-making agricultural gross production value of $78  billion – $5.4  billion more than predicted just a few months ago. The value of agricultural exports is forecast to hit a record $61 billion.

After a year of lockdowns the Moooving Art herd have broken loose to explore the region and the Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre needs your help rounding them up! Wandering away from their usual sites, the cheeky cattle have left behind a list of clues to solve before they return home. The treasure hunt consists of several cow locations around the region including Shepparton, Mooroopna, Merrigum, Murchison, Tatura and Dookie.

A stunning snapshot of apiculture has taken out first place in the 2021 National #AgDayAU Photo Competition. This year, the competition received a record number of awe-inspiring entries, all capturing the many diverse agricultural careers right across the country.

A very successful Innisfail Invitation Fours saw teams and players travelling from Townsville, Ingham, Weipa, Yungaburra, Gordonvale, Cairns as well as Josh Kier, Jesse Turnbull and Tyler Pettigrew from Brisbane.

The bottom of your kitchen draw isn’t where you would expect to find award winning art, but Darren O’Brien did. The Glenwood resident took out top spot in the open category at the 2021 Waste to Art Competition with Bitza, the junk yard dog who represented the problem of rubbish in our oceans ... Darren described Bitza as a “big pile of crap” and that creating the work had been a labour of love.

Hard work and a willingness to adopt new technology and practices are behind the positive results in an ABARES survey of sugarcane farms according to peak grower group CANEGROWERS.

The ABARES Financial performance of sugarcane farms 2020–21 to 2021–22 survey finds Australian sugarcane farm cash income was 91 per cent higher compared to 2013-14, reaching an average around $190,800 in 2020-21. ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said the the improved financial performance of sugarcane farms since the previous survey in 2013-14 is due to adjustment in the industry, increased sugarcane production per farm and higher average yields.