Federal environmental approval for new solar farm to power 160,000 Queensland homes: Watt
The Albanese Government has given environmental approval to another renewable energy project in Queensland, boosting the state’s energy security. Finalised in just 19 days, Blackbutt’s Tumuruu solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) has also been approved by the South Burnett Regional Council.
There’s no social licence for Rushy’s sale: TasFarmers
The peak body for Tasmanian farmers has released its Rushy Lagoon Land Use North-East Community Impact Survey. TasFarmers said it had received concerns from numerous members regarding the proposed sale of Rushy Lagoon, and federal government support allowing a foreign-owned entity to purchase the property and convert it to a pine plantation.
Securing more fertiliser for Australian farmers: Farrell, Collins, Ayres
The Albanese Labor Government continues to secure essential fuel and fertiliser to keep Australian agriculture moving, with around 80,250 tonnes of additional urea now locked in through the Government’s $7.5 billion Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility. Through Export Finance Australia, the Government has partnered with Incitec Pivot to support the purchase of two shipments of urea from Indonesia.
Balranald council says it was never told: Questions mount over Mungo consultation
A draft strategic management framework for one of inland Australia's most significant World Heritage sites has prompted serious questions about the reach of its public consultation process. Balranald Shire Council says it has no record of being directly notified the document was open for public review. Concerned stakeholders are saying they only discovered the consultation was underway through a Google Alert.
City of Greater Geraldton teams up with CSIRO for Boxthorn Blitz
Boxthorn Blitz workshops are returning this year with a new addition aimed at strengthening the fight against the invasive African boxthorn. Following a recent partnership between the City of Greater Geraldton and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the first Boxthorn Blitz workshop will include a demonstration of the new African boxthorn biocontrol program.
Neighbouring mayors call for Basin Plan review fairness
The mayors of two neighbouring Victorian municipalities are calling on the Murray Darling Basin Authority to recognise the efforts of improved irrigation systems across the region when conducting its 2026 Basin Plan review.
Moonta heritage shutdown fallout tops $100k
Michelle Daw. Moonta Mines heritage volunteers say about $100,000 has been lost since National Trust of South Australia shut local sites in February, as they continue to fight the closure on multiple fronts.
News bargaining incentive legislation vital but it needs some tweaks
The introduction of the news bargaining incentive is vital to address information ecosystem disruption but the proposed legislation needs some tweaks, according to publishers’ groups and organisations such as Democracy Counts and the Public Interest Journalism Initiative.
Littleproud welcomes review of Southern Downs water licence
Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud has welcomed the Queensland Governments decision to review the water licence granted to Cherrabah Resort, describing it as an important and positive step. Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy has announced the State Department will review the water licence of Cherrabah Resort after its foreign owners applied to commercially extract and bottle up to 96 million litres of groundwater per year.
Australian Government delivering $4.8 million in relief to regional and remote airports: King
The Albanese Government has provided critical financial relief to 34 regional and remote airports through the Regional and Remote Airport Support Program. These relief payments will help airports, largely run by local councils, to manage any debts linked to the voluntary administration of Rex Airlines, and maintain the essential aviation services they provide for their communities.
Biggest diphtheria outbreak: Feds help NT hotspot
The biggest diphtheria outbreak since national record keeping began now (21 May) stands at 230 cases this year, affecting mainly Aboriginal people and believed to have caused the death one person. Around 60 per cent of the cases are in the Northern Territory, with further outbreaks in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
Lismore remains committed to rail trail visionÂ
Lismore City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering the Northern Rivers Rail Trail through Lismore, despite this week’s unsuccessful federal funding outcome. The $42 million application was submitted in 2024, in partnership with Byron Shire Council, to progress the rail trail section from Lismore to Bexhill.
The three principles behind Australia’s Fool’s Paradise
If you ever wondered why so few of our political class appear genuinely effective, the answer can largely be explained by three principles that govern human organisations everywhere: the Pareto Principle (1890s), Price’s Law (1960) and the Peter Principle (1969).
NSW Labor government must stop delaying Narrandera Water Treatment Plant progress
The NSW Labor government has failed to sign the required Deed of Agreement to progress Narrandera's Water Treatment Plant business case, nearly six months after Commonwealth funding was awarded. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said the ongoing delay is preventing Narrandera Shire Council from progressing critical work to deliver clean drinking water to the community.
MDBA shapes Basin language
A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet, but would it mean the same thing? This is the thought I was left with when the MDBA announced the "Opening trade balance set for Barmah Narrows". Notice the subtle change in language? The "Barmah Choke", which is a natural constriction to water flow within the river channel, has formed part of the operating rules that irrigators had to abide by for longer than some of us have been alive.
Albanese Labor Government helps secure more jet fuel and fertiliser: Albanese, Wong, Farrell, Bowen, King, Collins
After discussions between Australia and China, including between the Prime Minister and China’s Premier Li, the Albanese Labor Government has helped to secure three shipments of jet fuel, totaling more than 600,000 barrels or about 100 million litres.
Fingerboards mine proposal triggers nuclear action provisions: Mine Free Glenaladale
Robyn Grant from Mine Free Glenaladale said, “There was some disappointment in the community that the Minister did not reject this proposal outright, because of the serious environmental impacts it poses to Matters of National Environmental Significance in the region."
The 2025 Animal Health in Australia Annual Report and System Report (Second Edition) are out now: AHiA
The Animal Health in Australia (AHiA) Annual Report 2025 and the Animal Health in Australia System Report (Second Edition) are now available.
Further streamlining and strengthening the foreign investment framework: Chalmers
This second round of foreign investment reforms is all about making more improvements so the regime is much stronger where risks are high and much faster where risks are low ... These reforms will increase certainty for investors and will lead to faster and fewer approvals, reduced regulatory burden, and improved tools to address high-risk investment.Â
Queensland’s Fuel Security Plan – Crisafulli Government puts Queensland’s fuel security and energy plan on the global agenda: Last
The Crisafulli Government will detail its energy and fuel security plan to an international audience, with Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last travelling to Adelaide this week for the Australian Energy Producers Conference. The Australian Energy Producers Conference and Exhibition is one of the country’s premier energy forums...
Opening trade balance set for Barmah Narrows in 2026–27: MDBA
The Barmah Narrows trade provision will start the 2026–27 water year with around 24 gigalitres (GL) available for downstream trade. A restriction on the trade of water downstream of The Narrows (previously referred to as the Barmah Choke) has been active since 2014 to protect water delivery to existing entitlement holders and to maintain the local river environment.
Good vibes at Mardigrass26
Michael Balderstone. There was a good vibe at MardiGrass everyone agreed, but what does that mean? People were smiling, there were no altercations, or very few, people were happy, and even the police agreed it was a "good vibe". The vibe of thousands of people getting high together, that's what it was.
