Joint statement in response to QantasLink announcement
Mildura Rural City Council CEO Martin Hawson. We’ve received fresh assurances ... from Qantas, Mildura Airport Chief Executive Officer Andrew Elliott and Chair Marcus Guthrie that the airline remains committed to Mildura for the long term ... So to be clear, Qantas have confirmed with me there will be no impact to flights to and from Mildura as a result of the decision, which is reassuring for our community.
Qantas pulls more regional jobs as Labor has no plan to keep the bush moving: McKenzie, Webster
Qantas’ decision to shut its crew bases in Mildura, Canberra and Hobart is another blow to regional Australia, centralising jobs to capital cities and ripping skills and spending out of local communities. Around 70 pilots and cabin crew are affected across the three bases, including about eight staff in Mildura.
The Road to Ruin is down Highway 2035
The ink is barely dry on Canberra’s new 2035 carbon targets, and the climate catastrophists are already eyeing 2050, the holy grail when net zero will finally be achieved. Out in the Wheatbelt, most farmers shrug. Another distant date, another government promise, most have tuned out with the view that what I can’t see does not hurt me — a bit like the GRDC levy that nicks 1 per cent of farm-gate revenue. But let’s be clear ...
Gas: Suppliers rip-off or government incompetence?
Don Fuller. Has the NT Government been taken to the cleaners by the gas industry or is the government simply incompetent? It seems clear that it has bought far too much gas at far too high a price.
Assisting WA farmers with phase out of live sheep exports by sea: Collins
...The $30 million Farm Business Transition Program will provide grants of up to $75,000 per applicant to help eligible sheep producers prepare for the phase out, with funding to support new business plans or the adoption of alternative farming practices. The program will be delivered over two rounds, with $20 million available in round one opening next week, and $10 million to be made available in 2026.
Hon Tanya Plibersek visit to the island
"Thank you for making my recent visit to your very special island such a pleasurable and memorable experience. Beginning with Rachael who greeted us on the tarmac to take us to our accommodation, it was like returning to see old friends, catching up on Island life in the three years since I last visited. After dropping off our luggage, we walked down to Campbell’s bike hire then cycled on to the school ..."
Postcode exclusion is killing hospitality in Hay
A two-and-a-half-year battle to secure a chef through the Skills in Demand Visa program for popular dining spot, The Riverina Hotel, has finally come to an end for hoteliers, Dave and Kelly Sloan. It has been a hard slog while Hay is not included on the eligible postcode list for hospitality workers to gain a Working Holiday visa.
Mobile phone coverage must be included in Universal Service Obligation reform: Littleproud, Webster
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is reiterating calls to reform the Universal Service Obligation (USO), following another major mobile phone outage. Mr Littleproud said the latest Optus outage showed the vulnerability of the 000 service if a mobile phone tower goes down and the service does not divert to another provider’s tower.
QUT leads Queensland’s push to become Asia-Pacific biomanufacturing hub
QUT has launched an $18 million upgrade to its Mackay-based QUT Pioneer BioPilot, transforming it into Australia’s leading pilot-scale fermentation facility and advancing Queensland’s ambition to become an Asia-Pacific biomanufacturing hub.
The Future Flock – Sheep producers to help shape industry’s future: Sheep Producers Australia
Australia’s sheep industry is at a turning point - and producers are being asked to help write the next chapter. Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) has launched the development of The Future Flock, a national strategy designed to guide the sheepmeat and wool sector through change and set a profitable, resilient direction for decades to come. ARR.News asked some questions of SPA CEO Bonnie Skinner about The Future Flock and national strategy.
A small community with a big voice calls for rethink on Bendigo Bank agency closure: Wycheproof asks, “Why?”
The people of Wycheproof are deeply concerned by the recent announcement that Bendigo Bank will fully close its agency in the town. This decision, made without broad community consultation, has significant implications for residents, local businesses, and the liveability of the rural community.
ABARES releases interim findings of review into chicken meat industry
Today ABARES released its interim findings into the review of Australia’s chicken meat industry. The purpose of this report is to seek feedback before ABARES finalises its recommendations to the Australian Government.
Industrial renewables laid bare
The Pyramid Hill was a hive of activity on Sunday as community members from Loddon and Gannawarra Shires gathered to discuss industrial renewable developments openly. The meeting hosted by Loddon Valley Renewables Awareness Group provided an open community forum, something that is avoided at all costs for transmission line and renewable developments, as one speaker framed it, "divide and conquer" is the standard modus operandi.
Haydays’ plight goes to Federal Health Minister
"I will be writing personally to the Federal Health Minister." That was the promise made by Member for Farrer and leader of the Liberal Party, Sussan Ley when she visited Haydays last week. Ms Ley toured the aged care facility with chair Lisa Bowen and staff members Martyn Quinn and Julie Weymouth, to see for herself the upgrades needed for Haydays to retain its accreditation.
Timber Towns Victoria welcomes funding
"This funding initiative is an exciting new opportunity for the forestry sector," according to Cr Karen Stephens, president of Timber Towns Victoria and Mayor of Glenelg Shire Council, "ultimately using the whole of the tree and turning what would have been wasted wood fibre into a valuable low-carbon resource for use in other industries."
Floods don’t wait – Katter calls for faster flood warning system upgrades: Katter
Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter, has criticised the slow rollout of the National Flood Warning Infrastructure Network (FWIN) program, warning that Charters Towers and other North West communities are being left exposed.
National preparedness activities underway ahead of Higher Risk Weather Season: McBain
A range of preparedness activities are underway as the Bureau of Meteorology releases its Higher Risk Weather Season Outlook ... Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the Albanese Government was working with states and territories to improve disaster management arrangements ...
Combing through genetics delivers tools to keep bees busy: AgriFutures Australia
Australian researchers are delving into the secret life of bees in a quest to breed more resilient, productive and happy honey-makers. The nation’s first comprehensive honey bee genetic improvement program, Plan Bee, has delivered genetic tools to secure the future of beekeepers.
A new medical specialty – Rural Generalists formally recognised: RACGP
Rural Generalists (RG) will now be formally recognised as a specialist medical field within general practice in the Australian healthcare system following an announcement by the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler MP ... “This is a positive step forward in making the rural generalism career pathway more visible and ensuring that RGs are always appropriately remunerated for the vital work they do in rural and remote communities across Australia,” RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said.
Banana farmers condemn biosecurity backflip: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers has slammed a review into banana imports that could devastate the industry and put the nation’s biosecurity at risk. This week the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced a review of quarantine arrangements for bananas imported from the Philippines into Australia.
GRDC’s “right size” review sparks a revolt
The Grains Research and Development Corporation thought it could settle the question of whether its budget was “right-sized.” Instead, it has lit a fire under growers. After a run of big harvests and strong prices, levy income has ballooned and reserves now sit at $688.4 million—up more than $100 million in a single year.
Burning down the house
Bendigo Bank torches regional development with selective blacklist based on mining. Just like the fictional Tasmanian town of Mystery Bay, a star in its own right in the hit ABC TV series Bay of Fires, Queenstown, where much of the show was filmed, is being held back by mysterious forces. Locals have suspected for some time that the town was a “no-go” area for home lending but like many other disadvantages they face due to remoteness, it was believed geography was the likely cause.
