Group calls for new ads to provide Basin balance
Ongoing community outrage at misleading Australian Government advertisements has led to official complaints by a leading rural organisation. The Murray Regional Strategy Group (MRSG) has submitted formal complaints to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACC) and the Commonwealth Ombudsman. Its complaint relates to Murray-Darling Basin Plan advertisements, amid numerous claims they are inaccurate and misleading.
Farmers call for increased dairy code transparency: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (VFF UDV) is stepping up calls for increased transparency as the ACCC’s Dairy Code of Conduct review continues ... “The Dairy Industry Code review has had an overwhelmingly positive impact for Victorian dairy farmers, but strengthening the Code ... will assist farmers in ensuring long term profitability”: VFF UDV President Bernie Free.
Liberals seek nuclear social licence
With the Latrobe Valley a possible site for a nuclear power station, the federal Opposition has upped the argument for nuclear as a possible way for the nation to lower greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining a reliable and cheaper energy supply.
Letter from a sheep farmer to Senator Ghosh
Hugo Bombora. Dear Senator Varun Ghosh, Congratulations on your recent appointment to the Australian Senate. Nice to bump into you at a wedding last Saturday night. Thanks for the insightful questions. As acknowledged, it’s hard to put together one’s thoughts with Taylor Swift playing in the background. But as promised, here they are via email.
Can this senator save live exports?
Meet newly appointed senator, the former barrister Varun Ghosh who recently took his place in the Senate after he was officially confirmed as Labor’s choice to replace the retiring Patrick Dodson.
... The bit in Ghosh's CV that talks about constitutional law is what every sheep farmer in WA should be interested in, as it hints that our new senator might actually understand the concept of States' rights and that any move to ban a trade that is almost exclusively out of one State may well impinge upon section 52 of the Constitution.
Labor’s new fresh food tax will drive up cost of living: Littleproud
Labor’s legislation on a new fresh food tax has been introduced in Parliament ... Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor’s biosecurity protection levy will charge farmers for the biosecurity costs of importers bringing their product to Australia ... Labor will set the tax rate as a proportion of an industry’s average gross value of production over a three-year period.
Sharing the National Collection: Tiny Texas gallery to host Jan Brown works: Burke, Green
Five bronze sculptures by Australian artist Jan Brown will travel to Texas Regional Gallery in rural southeast Queensland as part of the Albanese Labor Government’s Sharing the National Collection program. Locals and visitors to Texas will be able to enjoy Brown’s striking sculptures of native birds, on loan from the National Gallery of Australia for two years...
Cook Labor Government deserts live sheep export industry: Love
Premier Roger Cook has deserted farmers and shown his true intentions after admitting in Parliament last week to talks with Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to end the live sheep export industry. Deputy Nationals WA Leader and Member for Roe Peter Rundle MLA asked the Premier … to explain why the Minister for Agriculture had been in secret talks with Canberra around a transition package for farmers.
NFF urges parliament to side with farmers on biosecurity levy: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation is sending a message to politicians to do the right thing by Australian farmers as debate on the controversial Biosecurity Protection Levy kicks off in the House of Representatives ... NFF President David Jochinke said despite the mounting evidence the levy was poor policy and should be scrapped...
Buloke Times Editorial: Facebook versus local newspapers
One of our pet hates is the phrase: "Yeah, I read about that on Facebook". Gets the hackles up every time. Yes, the person may have read a news report while on the social media platform, but it is almost certain that information was generated elsewhere. Facebook doesn’t employ journalists to engage with local communities and report information relevant to readers. We do.
Mansions for bush communities, courtesy governments?
Over the next 10 years 2700 mansions, at a cost to the taxpayer of $1.5m each, will be spread across Aboriginal communities in the NT outback ... It's simple: $4,000,000,000 divided by 2700 houses equals $1,481,481 per house ... we have asked Mr Albanese and Ms Lawler for a break-up of what the $4 billion will be spent on.
Aboriginal homes across the Barkly set for upgrades after NT and Federal governments announce $4 billion deal
The Territory and Federal Labor governments announced a landmark $4 billion investment this week to improve Aboriginal housing in remote communities across the Territory. The investment will see 2,700 homes built across the Territory’s remote communities in the next 10 years, with 270 homes built each year.
Government hasn’t given up on Basin plan says Minister
"I’ve been very clear that my government does not support buybacks. This is not an empty promise – I have already demonstrated that I am taking action by releasing the NSW Alternatives to Buybacks Plan in February that clearly shows how we plan to minimise the exposure of regional communities to water buybacks": NSW Minister for Water, Rose Jackson.
Supermarkets gouge growers millions in rebates alone: NFF
The Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices continues its hearings in Melbourne ... having heard repeated incidences of poor - if not unconscionable - behaviour by supermarkets from consumers and growers alike in Hobart and yesterday in Orange. Chair of the NFF Horticulture Council Jolyon Burnett said evidence and testimony from growers and industry representatives had already painted a bleak picture of the unbalanced trading relationship between major supermarkets and fresh produce suppliers.
Landmark $4 billion investment for remote housing in the Northern Territory: Lawler, Uibo
The Federal and NT Governments have announced a landmark joint $4 billion dollar investment for housing in remote communities across the NT to help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians ... The 10-year commitment to improve remote housing will see up to 270 homes built each year ... Labor Government is investing a further $120 million over three years to match the NT Government’s yearly investment ... in addition to the NT Government’s existing $40 million per annum investment in homelands housing and essential infrastructure upgrades.
Time to address the shortage of ag mechanics
Seems the old saying "all roads lead to the city" applies as much to country kids as it does to new migrants who have just arrived. Can you believe that Australia has imported 8.15 million people since 2000? ... The National Skills Commission report has found that 45 per cent of employers struggle to fill apprenticeship positions and even then 53 per cent of starters fail to complete their qualification. Australian kids just don't want to get their hands dirty, while the skilled migrant workforce who are trade-qualified prefer the big cities to the bush.
Bankwest invited to appear at Senate Inquiry: Canavan, Rennick, Colbeck, Brockman
Following the announcement of the closure of all Bankwest branches, the Regional and Rural Affairs and Transport Committee have invited Bankwest to appear at hearings in the Pilbara ... Senators Matthew Canavan, Gerard Rennick, Richard Colbeck and Slade Brockman have expressed their disappointment in the closure of Bankwest’s 45 branches despite commitments to not close branches during the ongoing Senate Inquiry into Regional Bank Closures.
The power and accountability in the Murray Darling Basin: Agribusiness Australia
Restoring our Rivers Bill debated at Agribusiness Australia event. The profound implications of the Commonwealth’s Restoring Our Rivers Bill was unpacked in a wide-ranging discussion about the Murray Darling Basin Plan at an Agribusiness Australia event in Melbourne last week in front of nearly 150 guests.
Caboolture Sawmill Expansion Project complete: King, Chisholm
The Caboolture Sawmill Expansion Project is now complete, which will support an internationally competitive sawmilling business for the Sunshine Coast gateway region ... As a result of the project, the site has doubled its production capacity and is currently processing 370,000m3 of locally-grown sawlog.
Amid widespread transmission line confusion … “VNI West must return to the drawing board”
“Victorian Labor’s attempt to again reboot consultation on transmission lines is an admission consultation has failed abysmally on VNI-West,” Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, says. The State Government has introduced a Bill to establish VicGrid, claiming the new brand will “modernise the way new energy infrastructure is planned and developed in Victoria while giving communities a voice in the process”.
One man, a tinnie and the mighty Murray
There’s a magic that comes from the tranquil flowing waters of the mighty Murray. As the river snakes from the mountains across the floodplains and finishes in the estuary, Dennis Miles of Yarrawonga has been observing the beauty, the challenges and the love expressed by people on the river.
Bankwest branch closures: Love
Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Nationals WA Shane Love ... noted Bankwest’s announcement of a transition to a wholly online servicing model and closure of their branch network across the State. Bankwest, which is owned by CBA (Commonwealth Bank of Australia), has stated 15 regional branches of Bankwest will be converted to CBA branches.
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