Biosecurity trumps all on beef imports: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers have backed calls for an independent scientific panel to review federal authorities’ decision to lift biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports into Australia. NSW Farmers’ President Xavier Martin said there was no room for error when it came to biosecurity and said a review was vital to ensure confidence that US beef imports would comply with Australia’s biosecurity and food safety standards.
Reinstatement of US beef imports into Australia: ALFA
The Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) acknowledges the Australian Government’s announcement to reinstate access of beef processed from the United States of America into Australia. This follows conclusion of a science-based risk assessment process undertaken by the Australian Government since 2019 to determine whether beef processed in the USA sourced from cattle from Canada or Mexico can meet Australia’s biosecurity and food safety requirements.Â
Response to unhelpful comments made by NAAJA’s Acting CEO: Boothby
The comments today from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) Acting CEO, Anthony Beven, are not only irresponsible, they are utterly absurd. To suggest that the Commonwealth should pull funding from the NT Police Force until a meeting takes place is reckless and inflammatory. These kinds of outbursts do nothing but create confusion and fear in remote communities who rely on police for safety and protection.
Good news for Council’s coffers
Toowoomba Regional Council's financial woes as of late have been softened with the announcement of an interim $4 million surplus for the 2024/25 financial year. At last week's Ordinary Meeting of Council, Councillors endorsed the interim full year result which turned a revised $5.7 million budgeted deficit into an interim $4 million surplus.
Inquiry hears of litany of fails from water policy
It was Dwight Eisenhower who famously stated, 'Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field'. The same rings true for water reform, and once again, this week the list of systemic failures and a lack of basic understanding of how policy decisions impact communities was on display. A NSW Government public hearing held in Deniliquin this week looked at the impacts of the Water Amendment (Restoring Our River) Act 2023 on NSW regional communities.
How did 100 Bendigo Banks close without anyone noticing until now?
Bendigo Bank has hit the headlines for closing 10 branches shortly followed by an announcement it was getting rid of all of its regional agencies but there are another 90-odd Bendigo-branded banks that have been shut over the past five years it has managed to keep quiet. Many of these were community franchises that have been disappearing in the dozens, with both regional and metropolitan areas impacted.
Frustrations aired at algal bloom meeting
Yorke Peninsula businesses are calling for financial support from the state and federal governments, while also encouraging tourists to still visit the region, amid the ongoing harmful algal bloom. This was the sentiment shared by a crowd of almost 100 business owners and members of the public who gathered at a meeting organised by Port Vincent Progress Association on July 15.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique, July 2025
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) met on 17 July in Sydney ... covered an extensive agenda heading into a busy period of publishing, end of year reporting and the release of the Basin Plan Evaluation and Sustainable Rivers Audit.
Centre for Population key data releases
The Centre for Population’s analysis of the National, state and territory population, December 2024; National, state and territory population, September 2024; Regional Population, 2023–24 is now available on the Centre for Population website.
State Government reveals next stage of algal bloom support package: Malinauskas, Close, Scriven
The State Government’s Emergency Management Committee of Cabinet has met this morning and signed off on a $28 million harmful algal bloom support package. The comprehensive package covers industry support, science and research, communications, community support and clean up.
Feds fly in with $14m
Sarah Herrmann. The Federal Government has pledged $14 million towards South Australia's harmful algae bloom, but has not declared it a national disaster. Federal environment minister Murray Watt made the announcement yesterday (Monday, July 21) during a visit to Adelaide's beaches, saying $14 million was the formal request made by the State Government the day before.
Super Tax tops the list of farmers’ priorities for new parliament: NFF
As the new Federal Parliament sits for the first time this week, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is urging Senators to reject the proposed Super Tax. The NFF and its members have strongly opposed to the Super Tax since the Bill* was introduced in the last Parliament, given the threat it poses to the 17,000 family farms held in self-managed superannuation funds.Â
Is it climate change or just a natural ecological cycle?: Frank Batini
Frank Batini. In summer 2011, following a very dry winter there was limited but noticeable tree crown scorch and some deaths of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) on sites with shallow soil. This event was repeated in summer 2024. On both of these occasions the forest growing on deeper soils was healthy. Academic and media comment immediately linked these deaths to human induced climate change ... ARR.News asked some further questions of Frank.
Long-awaited outback relief welcomed: Pederick
The Opposition has welcomed the State and Federal Government’s announcement to establish a barge crossing at Cooper Creek on the Birdsville Track, delivering long-awaited relief for outback communities and freight operators. Shadow Minister for Regional Roads, Adrian Pederick said this is something that should have been addressed months before the Birdsville Track was flooded…
Funding to support industry transition – phase out of live sheep exports by sea: Collins
The Albanese Labor Government ... announcing further details of the $139.7 million sheep industry transition assistance package to support the phase out of live sheep exports by sea. The release of this detailed assistance package follows a series of industry co-design workshops held in Western Australia earlier this year.
Councils have moved far beyond three ‘R’s
Local government is no longer all about "roads, rates, and rubbish", according to Local Government and Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain. McBain addressed representatives of 537 local government areas (LGAs) at last week's Australian Local Government Association's (ALGA) national general assembly.
Live sheep package a disgrace – no consultation, no state contribution, no credibility: Hunter
The Opposition has slammed the Albanese and Cook Labor Governments over their deeply flawed $139 million live sheep phase-out package - calling it a political stunt dressed up as support, with no meaningful industry consultation and not a single dollar in new funding.
New Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) provider for West Wimmera
West Wimmera Health Service (WWHS) is delighted to announce that it has officially started delivering home support services to recipients of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) living in West Wimmera Shire. This transition, effective from 1 July 2025, allows WWHS to extend vital health and aged care services to communities in Kaniva, Goroke, Edenhope, Apsley, Harrow…
Hope, leadership and possibility: Wimmera Grampians’ changemakers return inspired from National leadership gathering
Four Grampians' Wimmera women have returned from a powerful and inspiring three-day National Changemaker Gathering in Cairns, hosted by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation under the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund initiative.
Mayor talk with Louie Zaffina: Everything’s ticking along well
Balranald Shire moving forward with key projects and community initiatives. Mayor Louie Zaffina has been keeping busy since taking office, with significant progress on several fronts across the Balranald Shire. From major infrastructure projects to community health initiatives, Council is delivering on multiple priorities while actively seeking solutions to regional challenges.
Tony’s backing for Emerson recommendations
Hugh Schuitemaker. The Riverland's Federal MP says recommendations from an industry report examining dealings between wineries and grape growers should be implemented "as quickly as possible" ... "I welcome the recommendations of the Emerson Review and note that they echo the calls I and others have been making for many months," Barker MP Tony Pasin said.
Flood modelling now complete
The CSIRO has released its catchment-scale virtual model of the Richmond, Tweed and parts of the Brunswick Rivers, which offers an unprecedented understanding of how floodwaters move through our catchment, and will be used to test future flood mitigation scenarios.
