Media Release

The Minns Labor Government has today released a new guide to strengthen consultation practices with regional, rural and remote communities across the state. This is part of the Government’s ongoing work to build stronger regional communities by delivering solutions tailored to local communities and informed by local knowledge. 

The tiny town of Eromanga is preparing to celebrate Mother’s Day with a uniquely Australian twist - and a dinosaur named JoJo. In a touching tribute to two women with the same name, the Eromanga Natural History Museum in Outback Queensland is announcing an early Mother’s Day gift this week by naming a sauropod dinosaur that was unearthed during a dig last year JoJo.

The Hon. Stephen Patterson, Shadow Minister for Energy and Net Zero (SA). The cost of keeping the lights on continues to rise under the Malinauskas Labor Government, with two reports released today confirming significant increases in the cost of wholesale electricity. Reports from the AER and the AEMO show wholesale electricity prices in South Australia in the first quarter of this year have reached $98 per MWh, a 17 per cent increase from Q1 2024.

The Hon. Susan Close, Deputy Premier of SA, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water (SA). Almost 725 hectares – the equivalent of 450 Adelaide Ovals – are being added to three popular SA’s parks, providing more access and better protection to our state’s natural attractions ... Murray River National Park and Maize Lagoon Conservation Park in the Riverland, as well as Sceale Bay Conservation Park on Eyre Peninsula, will be expanded.

Australia’s pulse exports – comprising chickpeas, beans, lentils, lupins and peas – may face minor headwinds in the year ahead due to changes in global supply and demand, Rabobank says in a newly-released report. The food and agribusiness banking specialist says the most likely impacts on farmgate prices and export margins for pulses will stem from currency volatility and shipping costs.

Member for Clarence, Richie Williamson, has today welcomed the release of the latest artist impressions for the $263.8 million redevelopment of Grafton Base Hospital and is encouraging the community to attend upcoming pop-up information sessions to learn more about this important project.

Communities across the region, concerned about ongoing serious incidents of crime will soon have their voice heard as the Time for Change e-petition hits the NSW Parliament. Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said 22,015 people across New South Wales had signed the petition, sending a strong message to the Labor Government.

The Finocchiaro CLP Government is continuing to focus on keeping Territorians safe by allocating a record $495 million directly to Corrections in the 2025-26 Budget. There will also be additional funding held in contingency to be drawn down to address corrections demand pressures as needed.

The Minns Labor Government will today introduce legislation to the NSW Parliament significantly reforming the state’s victims registers to ensure victim-survivors of serious crimes receive a mandatory notification about their right to sign up as a registered victim-survivor, to receive critical information about an offender.

The Crisafulli Government is continuing its efforts to restore safety to Queensland, with more than 20 deployments of the State Flying Squad into crime hotspots in the first three months of the year. A quarterly snapshot of police efforts to turn the tide on youth crime reveals Police made more than 4,235 arrests of youth in the first three months of the year, laying 18,028 charges.

The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has paid tribute to Kestrel Aviation as the iconic Mangalore-based company celebrated its 40th anniversary at this week. Ms Cleeland was a guest speaker at the anniversary celebration, where she praised the local, family-owned business for its leadership in aerial firefighting, emergency response, and aviation training .

Potential declines in bee populations due to varroa mite infestation could jeopardise Australian horticultural production, Rabobank says in a newly-released report ... In the report, How varroa mites might impact Australian pollinators, the bank’s RaboResearch division says this threat comes at a time when demand growth for pollination is outpacing growth in beehive numbers.

TasFarmers President Ian Sauer ... stressed that some major issues were not presented to voters during the campaign, including changes to superannuation, environmental law reforms, and forestry policy, therefore it is a fallacy to say there is a mandate from voters.

The South QLD and Northern NSW Region of the Australian Alpaca Association has several studs holding Open Farm days during National Alpaca Week ... The first weekend coincides with Grafton Show, and the alpaca section will have fleece judging on Friday 9 May, with halter/led classes on Saturday 10 May.

Proud Argan artist Matilda Nona speaks to guests about her innovative ink and print making process at the official opening of BUPUNGU on the weekend at NorthSite Contemporary Arts in Gimuy/ Cairns.  

Australia’s fish habitat charity, OzFish, is calling on the help of Australia’s recreational fishing and ocean-loving super sleuths to track down the country's remaining tropical shellfish reefs — so they can be studied and restored. OzFish, in collaboration with Griffith University, is asking Australians to keep their eyes peeled for tropical shellfish reefs while out on the water.

Inflation ticked higher across the majority of food categories the latest quarterly Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, has shown. On a year-on-year basis, food and beverage inflation rose 3.2 per cent in the March 2025 quarter data...

Australia’s dairy sector may be the beneficiary of a new school milk program being implemented in Indonesia.

TasFarmers has issued a strong warning against the Federal Government’s proposal to tax unrealised capital gains on superannuation balances, calling it “legalised theft” that threatens intergenerational farming, investment confidence, and the retirement savings of everyday Australians.

Monash University scientists are urging caution around recent claims of breakthroughs in green nitrate fertiliser production, warning there is more work to do before the concept is market-ready. Research by the Monash School of Chemistry has reviewed 50 published studies claiming to have produced green nitrate fertilisers, and found none that successfully resulted in a sustainably-produced alternative to existing products.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has today released its 2025 Federal Election Scorecard, revealing how the major parties stack up when it comes to agriculture and regional Australia.

Most farmers are unlikely to face onerous requirements – particularly in the short-term – as a result of mandatory climate-related reporting recently introduced for large Australian companies, according to new research by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank.