Federal Budget lacks vision and ambition – small businesses feel ignored: CPA Australia
Household cost-of-living measures were front and centre of Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ pre-election Budget ... but the government has failed to deliver initiatives that would improve business productivity, innovation and growth. CPA Australia Chief Executive Officer Chris Freeland AM said: “Businesses and their advisers will find little in the federal Budget that will help offset the pain all-too-many small businesses have been experiencing.
Budget is vanilla ice cream for the bush: GrainGrowers
The budget delivered ... is like a single, small scoop of vanilla ice cream for the bush – predictable and lacking the flavour to truly satisfy regional Australia, industry body GrainGrowers said ... it had missed the opportunity to deliver on a range of regional investment opportunities that would strengthen grain-growing regions and bridge the gap between urban centres and the bush.
Farmers set their sights on federal election after underwhelming budget: NFF
...Federal Budget underscores just how critical the upcoming election will be to deliver the key investments needed to secure and grow Australian agriculture in an increasingly uncertain environment. National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke said this was a chance for the Federal Government to back Australian agriculture and give the economy a much-needed shot in the arm.
City-focused, country-funded; a budget that forgets its backbone: NRHA
The Federal Budget for 2025-26 is a mixed bag for rural, regional and remote Australia in terms of funding for healthcare. While certain aspects of the budget benefit rural populations, there is a lack of a targeted strategy to address the unique health challenges these communities face.
Co-op sector says Budget’s aged care and housing plans will help many Australians: BCCM
...statement from the chief executive of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM), Melina Morrison, on the Federal Budget ... “The significant expansion of aged care and housing policies unveiled in the Federal Budget will ensure many Australians can now rightly expect a better quality of life.
Seven years for nuclear: Parker
A 1000 megawatt nuclear power station using South Korean expertise could be built in the Latrobe Valley in seven years, with a fleet possibly in 11 years, at an estimated cost of $10 billion each, according to an Australian nuclear expert, Robert Parker.
ANZ at cashless tipping point after fundamental change to bank business model
When does a bank cease to be a bank? ... As of March 2025, ANZ is just a handful of branches away from the majority of its banks in the most populated areas of Australia being cashless ... Regional Australia ... has lost 20 branches to cashlessness ...
ACCC identifies co-op supermarkets as alternative to major operators: BCCM
The Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals (BCCM) ... welcomes the ACCC recommendation which calls on the Government to support better prices and competition for Australian shoppers especially in regional and remote areas through measures to incentivise more community owned and co-operative stores.
Govt pressures energy companies to waive daily charge on outages during ex-cyclone Alfred, offers personal hardship payment
More than 84,000 homes and businesses in the Northern Rivers experienced power outages during ex-cyclone Alfred. Some lost power multiple times. The State Government has written to energy companies asking them to defer electricity bills...
$25 million to drive the next stage of Barton Highway: King, McBain
The Barton Highway has undergone significant upgrades over the past few years. The first stage of works opened in early 2024, and duplicated the highway from the NSW side of the ACT Border to Kaveneys Road in NSW ... Detailed planning work to deliver Stage 2 of the Barton Highway upgrade is currently being finalised.
Teals’ ‘fake online newspaper’ an insult to regional communities and media outlets
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the Teals' 'fake online news site', funded by Teal donors, is extremely misleading to local communities and harmful to regional Australian media organisations. Mr Littleproud said it is disappointing the Teals have launched online 'Gazette News' in a bid to deceive residents...
Australia first survey targets the role of local papers
Political leaders across Victoria are being asked their views on the importance of local newspapers and their ongoing sustainability as part of an Australia-first research project. The Victorian government is the only state government in Australia to make this guaranteed commitment.
3G switch off “should have been handled better”
The senate's Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiry into the shutdown of the 3G mobile network has found that the shutdown should have been handled better ... The evidence given by many rural Australians through this committee inquiry speaks to the loss of mobile phone access despite those promises,” Mr Pasin said.
ACCC recommends supermarket reforms to provide better outcomes for consumers and suppliers
The final report for the ACCC's supermarkets inquiry has made 20 recommendations after finding that ALDI, Coles and Woolworths are some of the most profitable supermarket businesses among global peers and their average product margins have increased over the past five financial years.
First machete ban in Australia passes Parliament: Carbines
he Allan Labor Government has implemented Australia’s first machete ban with the Terrorism (Community Protection) and Control of Weapons Amendment Bill [2024] passing Parliament ... Penalties of 2 years imprisonment or a fine of over $47,000 for being caught in possession of one will apply.
Politics drives Basin demise
Australia’s largest water reform project, the Murray Darling Basin Plan, appears to be joining a growing list of abject failures driven by politicians and bureaucrats who have little to no wisdom, ethics or skin in the game. Unless of course, that skin is water trading ... Despite constitutional protections, the Australian Federal Government's $13b has fuelled a 50 per cent reduction in NSW and Victorian irrigation water use since 1997-98. SA saw a 22 per cent reduction, while Qld bucked the trend increasing extraction by roughly 58 per cent.
Priority budget projects identified
Independent Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has released her Indi Budget Submission ahead of the budget to be handed down next Tuesday. The key themes of Dr Haines’ submission reflect the widespread concerns and policy priorities for Indi including regional housing supply; cost-of-living support; health; early education and care; climate change and energy; regional development; and integrity.
Equine excellence
If it takes a village to raise a child then it also takes a massive team effort from the Cambooya Campdraft Association, Cambooya Pony Club, other local pony clubs, local businesses and politicians to successfully redevelop the Cambooya Recreation Ground into a first class equine facility.
Will more money for Medicare bulk billing work in the Riverland?
The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) said the Federal Government’s announced investment in Medicare and GP training will assist more Riverland patients to access affordable care. RDAA president Raymond Lewandowski said any investment in health was welcome, especially investment in primary care…
Looking at the bigger wine industry issues?
Andrew Weeks. I write in response to the commentary about the recent Senate Committee hearing, and the impact that a mandatory code for winegrape purchases will have on the Riverland wine sector. It is not surprising there is a strong voice among growers calling for a mandatory code ... However, it is misleading to suggest that installing a mandatory code of conduct will be the answer to all problems, nor is it guaranteed to only have positive impacts.
Non-tariff barriers: A multi-billion dollar burden
A newly published ABARES Insights report has emphasised concerns around non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and their sharp increase in recent years.
Research to boost farmers’ connection with ‘green finance’: Charles Sturt University
A Charles Sturt University researcher argues that sustainability research is particularly relevant to supporting Australian farmers’ resilience to both climate change and market risk.
