ALRTA rejects new standard hours
The ALRTA has rejected an NTC [National Transport Commission] proposal to reduce maximum weekly work time to 60 hours, increase the minimum daily continuous rest period to 8 hours and prohibit all driving 14 hours after the end of a long rest break ... ALRTA National President Scott McDonald said that the both the proposal and the consultation timeframe were naïve and unworkable.
Major economic loss due to farm worker shortage
The state’s agricultural worker shortage has wiped hundreds of millions from projected harvest income as farmers desperately plead for access to labour. NSW Farmers President James Jackson said reports of the state securing more farm workers would be welcomed if they came to fruition, but he warned the time for talk had passed.
Cutest sheep in the world on Australian shores
Valais Blacknose sheep, known to be the cutest sheep in the world, have been born for the first time in Australia following Valais Blacknose sheep, known to be the cutest sheep in the world, have been born for the first time in Australia following the successful importation of embryos and semen from the United Kingdom.
New model of northern Australia illuminates exploration potential
Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt says our resources exploration industry can now access another world-leading dataset, revealing exciting new prospective regions across more than one million square kilometres of northern Australia.
Loud & clear
With just two days’ notice, community volunteers at the heart of the Koondrook Perricoota co-design welcomed a shiny entourage of politicians, bureaucrats and media. The whistlestop tour was part of a $330 million funding announcement with no less than five state and federal politicians ... The Koondrook Perricoota project has been a white elephant of government spending with the $120 million over-designed project sitting idle.
Kelp can help: The Greens
Angus Taylor was quoted in The Australian saying, “no affordable, practical and large-scale way exists to reduce [methane from agriculture] other than by culling herd sizes” ... Researchers found cows belched out 82% less methane after putting a small amount of seaweed in their feed for five months. Recent trials of Tasmanian red seaweed - Asparagopsis - show methane can be reduced by up to 98%.
Taskforce to probe bank branch closures in Cowper
A Regional Banking Taskforce established by the Liberal and Nationals Government will bring welcome focus on the impact of bank branch closures on regional communities Pat Conaghan Federal Member for Cowper has said.
Statement by NFF President, Fiona Simson on ‘The Plan to Deliver Net Zero’
The Government's Plan confirms, beyond doubt, what we already knew: our farmers and our agricultural lands hold the key to delivering Australia’s 2050 goal. The NFF has been a leading advocate for a fair and planned transition to economy wide Net Zero ... this Plan recognises the hard work agriculture has already done in driving down Australia’s emissions since 2005.
Climate Solutions Fund support for forestry jobs
In July 2020, the Government simplified access to carbon funding for forestry projects across five plantation growth regions. The Government is expanding access for four new regions in Tasmania, Gippsland (Victoria), the Green Triangle (Victoria) and Kangaroo Island (South Australia).
Australia’s plan to reach our net zero target by 2050: Aus Gov
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor released Australia’s Long Term Emissions Reduction Plan (the Plan), to deliver net zero emissions by 2050 ... The Plan is based on our existing policies and will be guided by five principles: technology not taxes; expand choices not mandates; drive down the cost of a range of new technologies; keep energy prices down with affordable and reliable power; and, be accountable for progress.
Softwood plantation estate steady, with long term log availability increasing
Australia’s commercial plantation estate stood at 1.8 million hectares in 2019-20 according to statistics released by ABARES. ABARES Acting Executive Director, Dr Jared Greenville, said the report shows the softwood estate remained relatively stable at about one million hectares. “However, the hardwood estate declined by about 200 thousand hectares compared to the previous estimate for 2014-15," Dr Greenville said.
Intergovernmental agreement signed for delivery of Norfolk Island services
Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, and the Premier of Queensland and Minister for the Olympics, the Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, have signed an Intergovernmental Agreement for the provision of state services to Norfolk Island, marking the beginning of an enduring partnership for the delivery of essential services to one of Australia’s most remote communities.
Key rural health workforce program extended to get more medicos in the bush
A key rural health workforce program that enables nursing and dental students and trainee doctors to train in regional and rural Australia is being extended for another three years by the Morrison Joyce Government. Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program provides high-quality clinical rural training experiences for students in a range of career paths, including GPs, nurses, dentists and allied health professionals.
$1.6 million upgrade for Juno Centre
New accommodation and improved equine facilities are key features of a $1.6 million investment in an agricultural training centre just east of Tennant. The Juno Centre offers residential and in-reach programs to students from across the Territory.
55 per cent of “regional” grants went to the cities
Analysis released by the Australian National Audit Office has revealed that 55 per cent of all "regional" grants announced by the Morrison-Joyce Government since 2018 have gone to projects located in the major cities. Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain said this was another blow for regional areas that had to deal with so much during this time.
Diving into water research to make a splash for the Top End
A new project to bolster water sustainability in northern Australia is about to start, gathering the insights Northern Territory producers need for greater crop yields while reducing water usage ... Minister for Northern Australia David Littleproud said the water productivity trial will set the scene for future water planning and decision-making.
Submission to the Regional Telecommunications Review 2021
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) published its submission to the Regional Telecommunications Review 2021. The submission highlighted the concerns of telco consumers living outside Australia’s metropolitan centres and provides insight into phone and internet complaint trends.
Working with communities to find solutions to the sand slug: Dr Ben Dyer
Something we're often asked at the Murray–Darling Basin Authority is if we've found a solution to the 'sand slug' impacting the River Murray Barmah Choke. We haven't found a solution but we're working with the community, seeking expert advice, and finding a way forward.
Update: Border blue casts doubt on harvest
The Prime Minister’s decision to overrule a planned removal of quarantine arrangements has sparked fresh fears the NSW harvest will be spoiled. NSW Farmers President James Jackson said he was stunned to hear of the reversal just hours after Premier Dominic Perrottet promised to scrap hotel quarantine. “We had been calling for cheaper and more efficient quarantine arrangements heading into a big harvest season, and were relieved by the Premier’s announcement,” Mr Jackson said.
A Way Forward
The Northern Australia Committee has tabled the final report of its Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The report follows on from the work of the Committee’s interim report Never Again tabled on the 9 December 2020.
Afghani locals in “limbo”
Gabrielle Duykers. Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre (MRC), Eugenia Tsoulis spoke to Naracoorte Lucindale Council at its latest meeting, emphasising the need to continue support for Afghan residents ... Following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, many local Afghan migrants are trying to safely bring their family members to Australia. However, many are unable to do so due to being on temporary “bridging” visas or without citizenship.
Beach plans in disarray
Andrew Gill. The future of the Ocean to Channel Recreation Precinct development planned for Ocean Beach is in doubt with the Denmark Shire’s application for $4 million from the Building Better Regions Fund rejected ... The blow comes as the shire and surf club battle to save beach assets in the wake of erosion caused by a series of wild winter storms.
