Aussie meat gets sizzling welcome in the Middle East: Austrade
Growing demand for high-quality red meat products in the Middle East is opening up this dynamic growth market to Australian exporters. At Gulfood 2025 – the Middle East’s biggest food industry event – 35 Australian red meat producers built new connections with buyers and distributers in the region.
RFDS shares its visions and aims as election draws closer
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has a long and proud history of delivering vital healthcare to Australians living in rural and remote areas for over 95 years. However, despite this enduring commitment, significant disparities in healthcare access persist, leading to worrying health outcomes for those living outside major cities.
AEC issues warning over unsolicited postal vote applications ahead of election
The AEC takes privacy law obligations seriously and advises that political parties are exempt from privacy legislation. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has once again cautioned voters about unsolicited postal vote application forms distributed by political parties via mail and SMS.
2032 Olympic venue for equestrian events
Toowoomba Equestrian Centre to be developed at the Toowoomba Showgrounds will benefit the entire region during and post the Olympics. The Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland (RASQ) CEO Damon Phillips says the project will leave our region with an equestrian centre capable of delivering national and international level events...
Libs in election mode
Dangerous potholed roads, a crippling drought, the high cost of living, failing and unreliable mobile phone coverage, burgeoning government bureaucracy – as May 3 looms, they are just a few of the concerns people want addressed by the next federal government. The nation is in election mode and Liberal senators Alex Antic and Leah Blyth have been weaving their way throughout the Limestone Coast…
Labor blames Liberals
The Albanese government considers the cost of living, access to secure and well-paid jobs, and infrastructure as the most pressing issues for voters in regional towns like Naracoorte. As Australia goes to polls on May 3, a lot is at stake for all political parties. Acknowledging that “people are doing it tough,” the current federal government of four years blames the current challenges to a previous decade of “Liberal neglect.”
Agriculture sector profoundly disappointed in United States’ tariff decision: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) expresses its profound disappointment in the United States’ decision to impose a 10 per cent tariff on all Australian exports. The United States and Australia have a deep and multifaceted agricultural relationship underpinned by the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, which sees zero tariffs applied to two-way trade between our nations.
Candidates respond to the Budget
It’s the political silly season as the rush to get elected hits full steam. Once dormant pollies spring to life with promises of shiny beads and mirrors, and a promise that this time it will be better.
Olympics dream comes true
When Greenmount resident and Clifton State High School's Year 11 student Ellie Stenzel stepped up to the microphone to make the opening address to the Equestrian Australia Board and the Olympic Committee in support of Toowoomba's bid to stage the Equestrian events she may not have realised the full importance of her speech to the future of equestrian events on the Downs.
Eight vie for Riverina
Riverina will head to the polls to elect their next Federal MP on Saturday, 3 May. Eight candidates have declared they're entering the race for the seat of Riverina, four party affiliated and four independents. The Riverina electorate - and other incarnations of the division - has been held by the Nationals for nearly 45 years (since October 1980).
Do no harm and hear the other side
Once every three or so years at the federal level, peak bodies in agriculture line up to present their election wish lists to the major political parties, in the hope of getting them embedded in their campaign platforms ... it’s time to change the tune.
Biodiversity versus Great Koala Park: a bit of fairdinkum science: Vic Jurskis
According to Forestry Australia’s Dr Freeman, National Parks don’t guarantee biodiversity ... The Endangered listing of koalas north of the Victorian border and the idea of a Great Koala National Park are farcical. The koala is an irruptive species. High numbers indicate an irruption, not a stable population.
Riverland councils left high and dry as federal funding falls short – What about us?
“We’re paying more for everything we do, whether it’s fixing roads, managing waste, or maintaining community facilities. But unlike households, local government has to contend with the cost shifting of services from other levels of government, with no extra funding to support them": Renmark Paringa Mayor Peter Hunter ... Mid Murray Council also strongly advocating for more federal support ... The South Australian Local Government Association has also called on the Federal Government to provide appropriate funding for local governments.
Cutting global farm subsidies can improve environmental outcomes: ABARES
Reform of global agricultural subsidies and tariffs at the World Trade Organization would support better environmental and food security outcomes, according to the latest ABARES Insights paper.
Another cruel hoax
The Federal Government’s callous disregard for rural, regional and remote Australians is on full display in the final business hours before a potential federal election is called, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said, after the Aged Care Minister announced an impossible timeline to save regional aged care home care services.
Hard Talk: Top election issues
Healthcare, infrastructure, the rising cost of living and government waste are among the key concerns impacting voters in regional towns like Naracoorte in the South East ... In this edition of Hard Talk, The [Naracoorte] News spoke with several political leaders to gain insight into the major election topics that could determine the outcome.
SA’s first full rural medical degree launched
For the first time in South Australia’s history, aspiring doctors can complete their entire medical degree in regional communities, thanks to Flinders University’s new South Australia Rural Medical Program. Sixty students – including 30 in Mount Gambier – have begun their studies in the landmark program, which is designed to address the critical shortage of doctors in regional, rural, and remote areas.
Sporting group blows whistle on showgrounds consultation failure
Who would have thought ping pong could get the Victorian Government into so much trouble. Amid developing controversy over plans to redevelop the Prince of Wales Showgrounds at Bendigo, damning testimony has come to light from a 2023 Federal Senate inquiry into the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games that was to be hosted by regional Victoria.
Haines gives tax cuts and health funding a tick
Independent Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has welcomed tax cuts and funding to deliver more training places for doctors in regional Australia under key announcements in Tuesday’s federal Budget. Dr Haines’ advocacy for a Commonwealth injection of funding into the regional healthcare workforce was substantially reflected in the 2025-2026 budget.
Long-term timber demand shored up by increased supply: ABARES
Today’s publication of the Wood Volumes Analysis indicates Australia has reliable access to structural forest and wood products to meet future demand. The report provides an analysis of the long-run supply of and domestic demand for wood products in Australia, particularly those used in construction.
New data confirms broadacre farmland prices have levelled off: ABARES
Broadacre farmland prices across Australia have continued their plateau for a second straight year after decade of strong growth, which had seen broadacre farmland rates increase by more than 10 per cent per year on average.
Time for some fact checks on Pioneer article
Jason Perrin. I refer to Andrew Weeks’ article in last week’s Murray Pioneer ... The article is negative, does a disservice to growers, and has glaring inaccuracies, and unless corrected, adds confusion to things we are lobbying for on behalf of growers.
