News

Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility and Territorians are being encouraged to join the conversation with the community consultation now open on the Northern Territory’s livestock biosecurity laws.

A new exhibition that pays tribute to the resilience of the Scenic Rim region following the devastating bushfires that raged across the region during the Black Summer of 2019-2020 has opened at The Centre in Beaudesert.

Gabrielle Duykers. After relentlessly advocating on behalf of cross-border residents for more than a year, Apsley farmer Paula Gust is still fighting for the health and social wellbeing of her community. Mrs Gust, who has a farm straddling the SA/VIC border, began the Cross Border Call Out (CBCO) page in August 2020 ... She said she spends between 20 and 30 hours per week advocating for the cross-border community, taking time away from her own business.

Traditional Owner knowledge was shared among land managers in a Cultural Burning workshop held on Kabi Kabi Country at a Sunshine Coast Council environment reserve near Kenilworth recently.

Following some threatening fire seasons, the Territory Government allocated $2 million towards updating firefighting infrastructure to keep lives and properties safe. Recently, two new 350,000 litre water tanks were installed at both Batchelor and Hughes Airstrips, costing $150,000.

The amazing astrophotography competition, Capture the Cosmos, is back and this year it is expected to attract some out of this world entries!    

Now is the time to ask the people in your world how they are really going, with R U OK Day officially taking place on Thursday, 9 September ... “This year’s theme is ‘Are they really ok?’, encouraging people to ask the question, but also ask the question again.”

Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation is now offering supermarket vouchers for all Aboriginal community members who are double jabbed against COVID-19. The $25 IGA Supermarket food vouchers are now available to collect for eligible residents one day after they receive their second dose.

There was nothing soft about this comp! After a successful albeit last minute round up, the reviews are in and there are calls for the AAI Softball Tournament to become an annual shin-dig.

Strong increases in nearly all commodity prices saw the Rabobank Rural Commodity Price Index lift by 3.26 per cent in August to its highest level on record. This includes going beyond the Covid-induced commodity price surge of March 2020.

Gannawarra Shire businesses may see more visitors this summer as copies of the new Gannawarra Visitor Guide have been distributed to Visitor Centre’s throughout Victoria and across the border.

Shire of Gingin brigades will join City of Wanneroo brigades in having access to their own thermal imaging cameras this bushfire season ... The cameras help firefighters identify hotspots in bushfires, enabling them to target specific areas and deploy their resources accordingly. They are also an important tool to detect fires burning underground, which are a common threat in Western Australia and can cause bushfires to reignite after they have been extinguished.

The Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Business Council Dubai are delighted to jointly host with Dubai FDI the webinar focused on one of the key industry sectors - Food & Agribusiness.

Over five million pine and eucalyptus seeds are being sown this year at Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Grafton nursery. The program is providing a boost to local employment and continuing to rebuild NSW State forest plantations previously harvested or lost in the Black Summer bushfires.

The opportunities and the potential of the NSW Agriculture sector to grow to $30 billion by 2030 came through loud and clear at the NSW Farmers online Annual Conference. “The prospects for increasing local food and fibre production are abundant, with 94 percent of the state out of or recovering from drought and strong commodity prices,” said NSW Farmers President James Jackson.    

September 1st 2021 saw the commencement of the Bush Fire Danger Period for Coastal NSW, including 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs). This brings the total number of LGAs currently experiencing heightened bush fire risk to 27 across NSW. Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said it is important that communities in these coastal areas are aware of their bush fire risk.

Budding citizen scientists are being called upon to help record and map sightings of the reclusive Albert’s Lyrebird as part of a project to help conserve the beautiful rare bird.

A new exceptional circumstance review for the Department of Health’s Distribution Priority Area (DPA) classification will help regional and rural areas respond to unforeseen workforce and population changes which may be impacting access to local GP services ... “I have heard loud and clear the concerns that the current approach is not capturing current or emerging local pressures, sudden and unexpected changes and unmet demand,” said Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie.

The Greens have introduced a bill to parliament that would ban the export of greyhounds from Australia for commercial purposes including breeding and racing.