Federal politics

Carey Brennan. On Thursday, April 11, approximately 80 farmers filled the Donald Memorial Hall supper room to hear from the Buloke Shire and several speakers, to find out exactly what the Victorian NSW Interconnector (VNI) West Transmission Lines project means for this district.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is relieved the Commonwealth Government has finally stopped blackmailing Victoria and agreed to fund environmental projects that will ensure floodplains are watered. VFF President Emma Germano said it’s pleasing to see that Victoria will no longer be short-changed for key Basin Plan projects.

"After years of advocacy with and for the Victorian community, the Commonwealth has finally agreed to fund key Victorian environmental water projects that will secure water for our precious floodplains, even in dry conditions. This is what the Murray Darling Basin Plan was always intended to achieve, and the Commonwealth Government has finally confirmed it agrees with us ...": Harriet Shing.

When the Government approached me to chair the Supermarket inquiry, it only took a minute to realise it was doomed for failure, Katter’s Australian Party Leader, and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter said. “The Committee was only recently established, yet submissions are already about to close!” Mr Katter said.

Bridges remain an issue for the federal government to cross in the upcoming budget, with GrainGrowers calling for additional urgent targeted funding to address current safety and efficiency issues. The call follows the recent announcement by the federal government of $45 million for regional safety upgrades.

Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, has called on the federal government to scrap its Murray Darling Basin advertising campaign, labelling it “dishonest and disgraceful.” ... “These ads blame NSW farming families for the state of the rivers, when water mismanagement by the federal government is responsible for the shocking state of our system,” Ms Dalton said.

Reto and Heike Bodenburg have been through a lot to get to the point where they are stable, have a thriving cafe, and are part of the Coraki community ... All that is on hold, with an immigration tribunal looming and the threat of Heike being forced to return to Switzerland and leave all they have built behind.

The National Farmers’ Federation welcomes the interim report reviewing the adequacy of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, saying the recommendations would help give the Code the teeth it needs. NFF President David Jochinke said the report backed farmers’ call for the Code to be made mandatory and be bolstered with greater penalties for breaches.

The NFF Horticulture Council strongly supports the key recommendations detailed in the interim Independent Review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct ... The Council is particularly encouraged to see recommendations for the enforcement of the mandatory code, and the possibility of increased fines reaching up to 10 per cent of turnover, potentially amounting to billions.

"Today we have released the interim report of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct independent review, commissioned by the Albanese Government. We want a fair go for families and a fair go for farmers. This work is all about making our supermarkets as competitive as they can be so Australians get the best prices possible": Jim Chalmers, Andrew Leigh.

The Member for Barkly has called out the corporate ANZ company for its lack of stable banking facilities in Tennant Creek. A number of customers who had been waiting outside the local branch since its 9.30am opening time on Tuesday were frustrated by its closure. Barkly MLA Steve Edgington highlighted the plight of residents without keycards ...

Marion Scrymgour, MP Member for Lingiari ... Last Wednesday Chief Minister Eva Lawler put in place a youth curfew in and around the CBD in Alice Springs. This action took into account violent rioting and damage to property in the town area and then in one of the town camps on Tuesday.

Forestry Australia has welcomed the decision by the Federal Court to allow planned prescribed burns in the Strathbogie Forest ... Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman said prescribed burning recognises Australia’s fire-dependent ecosystems, and fire-adapted flora and fauna that have evolved through the long tradition of indigenous caring for Country.

Farmers welcome amendments announced ... to delay timelines for the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard legislation, but continue to warn impacts may still be felt by Australian farmers. National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke was pleased the Federal Government had listened to producers’ concerns, easing the targets set for utes and some 4WDs.

Legislation for the Albanese Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard being introduced ... will be good for the hip pocket and good for the environment. This will reduce emissions from new passenger vehicles by more than 60 per cent by 2030, and roughly halve the emissions of new light commercial vehicles over the same period.

The state government’s new policy to fast-track renewable energy projects by accelerating planning approvals has been strongly attacked by Victoria’s peak farming body and one of the state’s leading planning experts. The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) said the policy was a slap in the face after years of sham consultation with farming communities, while the RMIT Emeritus Professor of Environment and Planning, Michael Buxton, said it would lead to “terrible decisions”, with wind and solar farms being “placed in the wrong location".

VicGrid has released its study area for the new transmission infrastructure through South Gippsland that will transport energy from offshore wind into the Latrobe Valley (LV) electricity grid. The study area starts about six kilometres from the coast near Giffard and travels north-west past Stradbroke West, to Willung, across to Flynns Creek and on to the Loy Yang power station.