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Specific ‘forever chemical’ found at unexpected levels in firefighting foam: UNSW Sydney

A new study has revealed there may be a significant underestimation of a specific type of  PFAS ‘forever chemical’ in the environment. Researchers from UNSW Sydney found that branched perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was more prevalent than expected in firefighting foam.

Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024: Rowland

Based on public statements and engagements with Senators, it is clear that there is no pathway to legislate this proposal through the Senate. The Government will not proceed with the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024. The Government invites all Parliamentarians to work with us on other proposals to strengthen democratic institutions and keep Australians safe online, while safeguarding values like freedom of expression.

Inaugural Cattle Australia event draws a large crowd

More than 500 stakeholders from across the beef supply chain have walked away optimistic about the future and ready to collaborate on the big issues facing the industry, following last Thursday’s Cattle Connect producer day … Cattle Australia’s inaugural conference and producer day, providing delegates the opportunity to hear from Australian and global experts on the changing dynamics of food production.

Festive fun for 2024 Gin Gin Christmas Parade

The Gin Gin Christmas Parade is back again on Sunday 22 December with the whole community invited to get into the festive spirit. Gin Gin Rural Fire Brigade’s Jack Daw gives an overview of the event: The event started in 2023 as a way to bring the community and the local emergency services closer together, and to spread some holiday joy.

Robust legislative agenda for final parliamentary sitting week: Edgington, Cahill

The CLP Government will introduce a comprehensive schedule of legislation for the final parliamentary sitting week of the year, commencing Tuesday. The First Home Owner Grant Amendment Bill 2024 and Fines and Penalties (Recovery) Amendment (Validation) Bill 2024 are two significant legislative priorities to be debated this sitting.

Consumers urged to choose quality batteries this sale season after record number of fires: Sharpe, Dib, Chanthivong

The NSW Government is warning consumers about the potential dangers of buying poor quality lithium-ion battery powered products as gifts this holiday season, which may pose a fire risk. The warning comes amid fears that substandard lithium-ion battery powered devices may flood the market during Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other pre-Christmas sales ahead of new regulations coming into effect next year.

Closing the gap in connectivity

With election season upon us and rural mobile networks pushed to their limits during harvest, it’s an ideal moment to examine the persistent gaps and dropouts in mobile coverage. Before diving into the political and economic factors shaping mobile connectivity, let’s take a step back and explore the history of Australia’s mobile network rollout. By tracing its development, we might uncover how so much of the bush was left behind.

Bringing them in by baring all at the Bowlo

When is a bowlo more than a bowlo – when it’s at Bonalbo and the bowling club is a place to meet, eat, have a drink and even get your kit off. Bonalbo Bowling & Recreation Club is making sure it’s doing what it can to thrive. Club board president David Whitney ... quoted a shocking statistic that one bowling club a week is closing.

Gallery on half the ANZAC oval carpark

The Aboriginal art gallery, now known as ATSIAGA, will be placed on about half of the present Anzac Oval car park ... ATSIAGA stands for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia, suggesting the plan still has ambitions for national status ... there was no mention of  the assertive campaign  by traditional custodians who want the gallery to be built south of The Gap.

Overhaul needed in truck wash biosecurity gaps: VFF

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is urging the Victorian Government to consider a complete overhaul of the state’s truck wash network to plug major gaps in Victoria’s biosecurity preparedness safety net.  VFF Livestock President Scott Young said the recent closure of the truck wash facility at the Pakenham saleyards has exposed how fragile the state network is.  

Carol Lyall, new show president

Allora Show Society loyalist Carol Lyall recently stepped forward to take on the President role of an organisation that can boast a presence in the Allora regional community since 1878. After excelling as Chief Horse Steward for two years, Carol added the Show Society Vice-President role to her resume last year.

Allora’s Heritage Weekend celebrates 30 years

As has been the case for over three decades, the 2025 Heritage Weekend will see all roads leading to Allora on the Australia Day weekend, 25 and 26 January with a stream of historical vehicles and machinery converging on the Allora township and picturesque Showgrounds ... Having been featured in British historical machinery magazines, the Allora Heritage Weekend can be said to be known internationally.

$4m increase queried

Health Minister Chris Picton has defended the increase in budget allocation of $4million to the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) last financial year ... “The fee-for-service expenditure for the Limestone Coast Local Health Network last financial year was $28,164,000, an increase of $4million from 2023. Can the minister explain exactly what fee-for-service relates to and whether that is the amount spent on employing locum doctors?” asked Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride.

Seven hundred thousand

Two salaried doctors in the region, employed by the Limestone Coast Local Health Network, are paid yearly salaries of around $700,000 each. But why, Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride questioned Health Minister Chris Picton in the House of Assembly last month. Mr McBride quizzed the minister about what these roles were that were paying that amount and where they were based.

Council to fix Shuards Lane

After 10 years of neglect and six years of wrangling, the current Naracoorte Lucindale Council has voted 7-2 in favour of fixing and reinstating a 636m portion of the 1.866km Shuards Lane. At least five ratepayers no longer have all-weather access to their properties … there is no all-weather access for an ambulance or veterinarian if needed, nor a truck to move or sell livestock.

Tchum Lake Aquatic Club: New leadership

The Tchum Lake Aquatic Club has ushered in a new era of leadership, with Alex Noonan taking the helm as president following Andrew Lee’s dedicated eight-year tenure ... One of the first challenges facing the new executive team is tackling the lake’s significant weed problem.

Energy Breakthrough this weekend: “Stand by for a start!”

Excitement was palpable at Donald High School last week as members of the Energy Breakthrough (EBT) team gathered alongside sponsors and family to unveil their new vehicle and receive their official team gear. The event marked the final preparations ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated challenge in Maryborough, Victoria.

Deep dive into romance of surf culture on Mid North Coast

An immersive exhibition which plumbs the depths of the rich surfing culture on the Mid North Coast will open to fanfare at Coffs Harbour tomorrow.  Swell Chasers: Surf Stories from the Mid North Coast  sprawls across three galleries at the City of Coffs Harbour’s Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) from 23 November to 2 February.  

New sea container strategy to boost biosecurity in the Pacific: DAFF

A workshop in Fiji this month will seek to strengthen biosecurity in the Pacific by developing a new strategy to manage risks associated with sea container movements. The strategy aims to reduce the global spread of hitchhiker pests across the Pacific region via the sea container pathway.

Rail sale: Council and VicTrack respond

A property leased by the Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) is being sold by the Victorian Government, raising questions about zoning and community consultation around the sale of a heritage asset that has been a green buffer around Maldon Station since the gold rush era. The Tarrangower Times ... requested information from Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) to ask about the zoning for 14 Reef Street, which was understood to have been changed to make way for the sale ...

#AgDayAU photo competition captures the spirit of agriculture: NFF

A grinning musterer taking a mob of cattle out at sunset has taken out the top prize in the 2024 National Agriculture Day photo and video competition. National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said Bronte Tremlett’s striking shot won the judges over in a record field of 500 entries.

Two-in-five city dwellers looking to make a regional move: RAI

New research commissioned by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) shows the number of city-dwellers looking to relocate to the regions has doubled over the past 18 months, demonstrating an urgent need for solutions to regional pressure points. The results of a nationwide survey shows 40 per cent of capital city residents are considering a move to regional Australia – up from 20 per cent in May 2023.

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