NSW Farmers calls for answers on Inland Rail
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin says the Albanese Government needs to provide answers after it scrapped a multi billion dollar freight project that was poised to connect productive farming businesses and communities across the country. “NSW Farmers policy supported Inland Rail because moving freight more efficiently matters to farm businesses, regional communities, and the prosperity of the nation,” Mr Martin said.
Wrong corridor killed Queensland’s Inland Rail — A decade of failure demands a fresh start: Littleproud
The decision by the Albanese Labor Government to abandon the Queensland leg of the Inland Rail project is a devastating but not surprising blow to regional Queensland. Mr Littleproud said it was a failure that has its roots in a fundamentally flawed corridor decision made over a decade ago that has given the Albanese government the excuse to cut and run. When then-Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce selected the Queensland corridor, it was routed through flood-prone land that was always going to require hundreds of millions of dollars in additional engineering...
TasFarmers raises red flags as Rushy Lagoon decision delayed again
Farmers are demanding answers after the sale of Tasmania’s largest farm, Rushy Lagoon, was granted a third extension for review by the Foreign Investment Review Board. TasFarmers said the repeated delays, now extending beyond the standard statutory reporting timeframe, raise serious questions about the financing and transparency of the proposed foreign investment deal.
Vital diesel reserve helps keep farmers moving: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) welcomes the Victorian Government’s announcement to secure a vital 10 million litre diesel reserve for Victorian agriculture industry. VFF Acting President Peter Star said it was a sensible step to strengthen confidence across the sector and a step in the right direction after sustained advocacy from farmers and the industry.
A new rail reality for New England
The reported decision by the Australian Government to scale back Inland Rail to Parkes has quietly reshaped the transport future of inland eastern Australia. For communities across the New England region, it raises an important question: what now fills the missing rail link to Queensland?
Record investment in the freight rail network and consolidating Inland Rail: King
The Albanese Government is today announcing a further $1.75 billion investment to improve the productivity, resilience and reliability of Australia’s freight rail network, alongside a $55 million incentive scheme to get more freight moving by rail and sea ... The Government has taken the decision to consolidate the Inland Rail project...
Strengthening energy security with Japan: Albanese, Wong, Bowen
Australia and Japan have reached an agreement to further strengthen energy security in our region ... will work together to support the flow of essential goods – including fuel and gas – between our countries.
Biggest electricity boost in West Australian history: Bowen, Wilson, Sanderson
The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments are delivering an historic boost to WA’s energy system with 1.9 gigawatts (GW) of cheaper, cleaner renewable generation and 482 megawatts (MW) of battery storage as part of 10 new projects set to be built across regional WA.
Stronger framework to safeguard fuel security: Malinauskas, Koutsantonis
The Malinauskas Labor Government will introduce into Parliament this week new legislation to strengthen emergency powers should they be required in the event the fuel crisis worsens. Petrol, diesel and jet fuel continues to arrive in South Australia, with prices significantly lower than earlier in the crisis.
New market access to Indonesia for five export meat establishments: Collins
... the approval of five additional export beef establishments for exports to Indonesia, including one establishment also receiving approval for sheep and goat meat ... is a boost for Australia’s trade relationship with Indonesia where more high-quality Australian halal red meat will now be available.
Medicare is failing the bush – Nursing and midwifery bodies demand urgent action: Australian College of Nursing
Twelve national organisations are calling for immediate reform to Medicare and pharmaceutical policy settings that are delaying diagnosis, fragmenting care and driving avoidable hospital admissions in the bush. The peak bodies representing nurses, nurse practitioners, endorsed midwives, and midwives, together with health system experts, have written jointly to the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport...
Not a luxury: Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association challenges ‘universal’ mobile coverage at Senate inquiry: ICPA
“Mobile connectivity in the regions is not a luxury; it is a critical and essential service.” That was the tone set at the Senate inquiry into the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 where the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) gave evidence on behalf of remote families.
Labor Government must act on wine crisis to help fuel crisis: Canavan, Chester
The Albanese Government is ignoring warnings of a deepening crisis in Australia’s wine sector, which is adding to the social and economic pressures on growers.
Renewables lift supply share as batteries re-shape energy markets: AEMO
Renewable generation growth and rising battery participation continued to reshape Australia’s east coast electricity system in the first quarter of 2026, alongside a year-on-year decline in wholesale prices, according to AEMO’s Quarterly Energy Dynamics (QED) report published today.
Faster environmental approvals with states and territories: Albanese, Watt
The Albanese Government is supercharging the transition to faster, more streamlined project assessments and approvals under our historic environmental law reforms. The Government will provide more than $45 million over 4 years to progress bilateral agreements with states and territories that will reduce duplication.
Delivering free GP appointments for Northern Tasmania: Archer
The Tasmanian Government is delivering more bulk-billed healthcare services for Tasmanians, with the first TassieDoc clinic announced ... The Deloraine and Westbury Medical Centres will boost access to bulk-billing appointments, following a comprehensive Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
Territory positions itself at centre of national defence push: Finocchiaro
The Finocchiaro CLP Government has launched the Northern Territory Defence Strategy 2026 as Defence Week begins in Darwin.. Announced today during a keynote address at the Northern Australia Defence Summit, Chief Minister and Minister for Defence NT Lia Finocchiaro outlined the five key priorities: Maritime sustainment, Army’s Littoral Pivot, Northern Theatre Logistics, Northern Basing and Ranges and Innovation, Test and Evaluation.
Banks must dump Environmental, Social and Governance ‘woke’ agenda for coal, gas and oil: McDonald, Canavan, Hogan
The Nationals are calling for a major shakeup of Australian banks, following revelations that energy-lending policies have been destroying investment in coal, gas and oil. Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said The Nats had written to the four major banks, expressing concern that a businessman was denied even a bank account after he tried to build a diesel refinery in Gladstone.
When ideology meets the fuel tank
In the 1930s, Winston Churchill warned that Europe was sleepwalking into danger. Across the chamber, Neville Chamberlain insisted all would be well. “Peace in our time,” he said—a comforting line, right up until Hitler crossed into Poland. We are seeing a modern version of that same delusion play out today.
Algal bloom testing results continue positive trend: Malinauskas, Scriven
In response to months of improved beach conditions and latest monitoring trends, the State Government is now in a position to adjust some of its Algal Bloom Summer Plan response measures. Water testing results show the vast majority of South Australia’s coastline continues to record zero or low levels of the Karenia algae species, building on the encouraging monitoring data over the past three months.
Gun buyback hits wall as majority of states refuse to sign up
A national gun buyback scheme introduced in the wake of a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach has stalled, with a majority of Australian states and territories declining to join the program by the March 2026 deadline set by the federal government. The buyback was announced by Prime Minister Albanese in December 2025, days after a shooting at a Hanukkah celebration...
Work begins at Fingerboards demo pit following mobilisation by local contractors: Gippsland Critical Minerals
Work has begun at the Fingerboards Project Mining and Rehabilitation Demonstration Pit, following local contractors successfully completing site mobilisation and pre-start inspections. Six additional East Gippsland businesses have now been engaged to support activities at the MRDP, with more than 20 local contractors sharing in procurement contracts now valued at more than $1.4m.
