AER extends timeframe for making a decision on VNI West RIT-T dispute
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has extended the timeframe for making a decision on the dispute raised by Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance Inc. (MCHPA) in relation to AEMO Victoria Planning (AVP) and TransGrid’s Joint Victoria NSW Interconnector West (VNI-West) regulatory investment test for transmission (RIT-T).
Biosecurity breakdown – government failing Australians: Canegrowers
Media reports of a new government plan to combat the spread of Red Imported Fire Ants only serve to further highlight the government’s continuing failure to fulfil one of its most basic responsibilities ... CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan has said ... a much smaller treatment area around the Scenic Rim and Gold Coast will be targeted, effectively allowing one of the most dangerous and destructive invasive species in the world to continue spreading north and west unhindered.
Reopening of China barley trade welcomed: GrainGrowers
The decision by China to remove duties on Australian barley is welcome and opens the way to rebuild a $1.2 billion annual trade flow, grower representative body, GrainGrowers, said on 4 August 2023. GrainGrowers said dialogue between the Australian and Chinese governments had delivered an outcome in the longer-term interests of both countries and Australian growers.
World famous shuttle stallions arrive for Australian breeding season: DAFF
Shuttle stallions are highly valuable, male thoroughbred and standardbred horses who are ‘shuttled’ between the Northern and Southern hemisphere to mate and produce valuable offspring for the racing industry. Renowned for their race-track performance and historic pedigrees, these stallions will mate with some of Australia’s top broodmares.
Tunnel borer relaunched
An important milestone has been reached by Snowy Hydro, the Snowy 2.0 project and for one of its three tunnel boring machines (TBM). TBM Lady Eileen Hudson was the first machine to start tunnelling on the pumped-hydro mega project, the first to complete a tunnel and is now underway on her second tunnel excavation.
Basin Plan flounders as problems mount
Southern Riverina Irrigators said Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s determination to deliver the Basin Plan in full shows just how out of touch with reality the minister really is ... To date, 83 per cent of water recovered has already come from the southern basin and SRI is urging NSW water minister Rose Jackson to follow Victoria’s lead and put a line through future buybacks ... Despite the devastation caused by the MDBA in the southern basin, MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville said most communities are in support of the plan’s implementation.
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health visits Wilcannia
Last Friday Senator Malarndirri McCarthy made a not well publicised visit to Wilcannia. Word soon went round town and a number of locals were able to tell her of their health and other concerns. The Senator toured the hospital where she met some staff, the new Maari Ma health building, and met with representatives of the Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Notes from Central Darling Shire Council Meeting, 26 July 2023
The Shires Administrator Bob Stewart reported on a meeting he had with the NSW Minister for Local Government, Hon. Ron Hoenig and the Minister for Water, the Hon. Rose Jackson. Bob reported that the Minister is keen to bring the Shire out of Administration however he also understands the challenges faced by Council in a number of areas, including day-today operations and financial sustainability.
Projects won’t lower flood levels – Hogan
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan has criticised the Albanese Government’s $100 million announcement for 20 projects in the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program as they won’t lower flood levels ... “The community would feel exceptionally disappointed by projects announced by the Federal Government today as they contain no effective flood mitigation works”: Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan.
Buloke Times editorial: Prospects of an Australia-Europe FTA
A previous editorial concluded with a possible view from the European side of a trade agreement ("FTA" - free trade agreement) with Australia. This time, from the Australian side, we look at the principal agricultural products which our negotiators feel will give us some advantage in an agreement with the European Union (EU).
Detection of Lumpy Skin Disease in Australia exported cattle to Indonesia: Animal Health Australia
Given the presence of the disease in Indonesia, positive results in Australian cattle post arrival are not unexpected ... Importantly, trade is and can continue to Indonesia from 28 Australian export establishments, however, there are 4 export establishments in Northern Australia who are working with the government to further ensure they are disease free.
Debbie fights for levee left off flood funding list
The 7.8km long levee runs through Ms Johnston’s property and it is meant to protect the Bungawalbin catchment from flooding including protecting Swan Bay, New Italy and Woodburn. Ms Johnston has been fighting to be heard. When she asked CSIRO research scientist Jai Vaze who was travelling with Mr Watt about it, he drew a blank.
Minister’s visit comes with $100 million announcement for flood resilience projects
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt stood on the banks of the Richmond River on Friday, July 28, to announce $100million for flood resilience projects across five council shires. The funding is the second part of $150 million with $50 million announced in February.
Cheaper medicines and backing local pharmacies: Butler
We know just how important the local pharmacy is in rural and regional Australia. They’re a critical part of the fabric of a community and are often the first place we turn for health advice. That’s why the Government is supporting rural and regional pharmacies, as we ensure that every single dollar that the Government saves with 60-day prescriptions is reinvested straight back into community pharmacy.
Joint statement regarding live cattle exports to Indonesia: NFF
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has been advised by the Indonesian Agriculture and Quarantine Agency (IAQA) that Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has been detected in a small number of Australian cattle exported to Indonesia—after those cattle had arrived and spent some time in Indonesia. “Australia is and remains free from lumpy skin disease, as confirmed today by Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer,” RMAC Chairman, Mr John McKillop, said.
Support for regional, rural and remote pharmacies: Butler
Pharmacies in regional, rural and remote Australia (known as areas 2 to 7 under the Modified Monash classification method) with average script volumes equalling dispensing income of under $1 million in the 12 months to 1 April 2023, will be eligible to receive a new Regional Pharmacy Transition Allowance (RPTA) ... The new allowance is in addition to the doubling of the budget for the Regional Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance (RPMA), which came into effect on 1 July.
The housing crisis – time to act
Viv Markham. As Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards said, “There is no magic fix.” This week’s article poses the questions: how big is government appetite to fix the homelessness and the housing problem? ... we’re at a housing crossroads, so why not consider other solutions?
Shane Love and David Littleproud stand united in opposing overbearing Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Laws: Love, Littleproud
The Nationals WA and Federal National Party have ... taken a stand against the flawed implementation of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Laws by WA Labor ... “WA Labor MPs have admitted they have botched the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, now, with Federal Labor considering enacting similar legislation, concerns are being raised": Shane Love.
Mid-year report points to challenges in Basin Plan implementation: MDBA
A report providing an update on the progress of key activities under the Basin Plan has been issued by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. The tenth in a series, this report card reflects the progress made in first 6 months of 2023, during a period of significant flooding and flood recovery around the Murray–Darling Basin.
Common sense prevails for Basin Plan projects: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) welcomes the Albanese Government’s decision to extend the timeframe for implementing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy said common sense had prevailed following Minister Tanya Plibersek’s announcement to allow efficiency projects to progress and be counted towards the Plan’s targets.
Nature Conservation Council of NSW turns on conservationists
The Nature Conservation Council (NCC) of New South Wales has blasted what it calls a “concerted misinformation campaign being spread by corporate irrigators about the proposal to purchase water for the environment.” The move has disappointed communities in the southern connected system as they fight to protect their livelihoods, environment and communities.
Deputy Mayor puts forward national issues considered relevant to Council
Narrandera Shire Council Deputy Mayor Cameron Lander has reported on some of the many issues discussed at the 2023 Australian Local Government Association National Assembly that he felt were of particular interest to Narrandera Shire Council ... The 2023 NGA theme was "Our Communities, Our Future" and looked at ideas on new federal programs and policies that would support councils to build stronger communities in the future.
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