Albanese Government to secure Australian gas for Australian users: Bowen, King, Ayres
The Albanese Labor Government will introduce a domestic gas reservation scheme that will require gas exporters supply a proportion of their total production to the Australian market – equivalent to 20 per cent of exports, from 1 July 2027 – ensuring Australians have the affordable gas they need.
Farrer by-election campaign tests candidates
With bookmakers offering shorter odds for the One Nation and Independent candidates in the Farrer by-election, questions remain for voters following campaign scrutiny and mixed messaging ahead of Saturday’s polling ... As one of Australia’s richest agricultural regions, water has been a key issue for irrigators and towns, and more recently fuel and fertiliser costs; other key issues included health services, housing affordability, and local government funding.
Farrer election fight intensifies
There have been just four coalition MPs in the 77 years of Farrer but all that could be about to change on Saturday. Sussan Ley held the seat for 25 years, and the previous election margins were often 11-20 per cent over the Labor candidate, although in the last election, Michelle Milthorpe got within 6 per cent with preferences, 20 per cent on the primary alone. If you think this Farrer election appears more heated than most, you may be right, 12 candidates are in the running and external forces are pumping money into not only to get a candidate elected but also to undermine others.
NSW Farmers calls for answers on Inland Rail
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin says the Albanese Government needs to provide answers after it scrapped a multi billion dollar freight project that was poised to connect productive farming businesses and communities across the country. “NSW Farmers policy supported Inland Rail because moving freight more efficiently matters to farm businesses, regional communities, and the prosperity of the nation,” Mr Martin said.
Wrong corridor killed Queensland’s Inland Rail — A decade of failure demands a fresh start: Littleproud
The decision by the Albanese Labor Government to abandon the Queensland leg of the Inland Rail project is a devastating but not surprising blow to regional Queensland. Mr Littleproud said it was a failure that has its roots in a fundamentally flawed corridor decision made over a decade ago that has given the Albanese government the excuse to cut and run. When then-Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce selected the Queensland corridor, it was routed through flood-prone land that was always going to require hundreds of millions of dollars in additional engineering...
TasFarmers raises red flags as Rushy Lagoon decision delayed again
Farmers are demanding answers after the sale of Tasmania’s largest farm, Rushy Lagoon, was granted a third extension for review by the Foreign Investment Review Board. TasFarmers said the repeated delays, now extending beyond the standard statutory reporting timeframe, raise serious questions about the financing and transparency of the proposed foreign investment deal.
Vital diesel reserve helps keep farmers moving: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) welcomes the Victorian Government’s announcement to secure a vital 10 million litre diesel reserve for Victorian agriculture industry. VFF Acting President Peter Star said it was a sensible step to strengthen confidence across the sector and a step in the right direction after sustained advocacy from farmers and the industry.
A new rail reality for New England
The reported decision by the Australian Government to scale back Inland Rail to Parkes has quietly reshaped the transport future of inland eastern Australia. For communities across the New England region, it raises an important question: what now fills the missing rail link to Queensland?
Record investment in the freight rail network and consolidating Inland Rail: King
The Albanese Government is today announcing a further $1.75 billion investment to improve the productivity, resilience and reliability of Australia’s freight rail network, alongside a $55 million incentive scheme to get more freight moving by rail and sea ... The Government has taken the decision to consolidate the Inland Rail project...
Strengthening energy security with Japan: Albanese, Wong, Bowen
Australia and Japan have reached an agreement to further strengthen energy security in our region ... will work together to support the flow of essential goods – including fuel and gas – between our countries.
Biggest electricity boost in West Australian history: Bowen, Wilson, Sanderson
The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments are delivering an historic boost to WA’s energy system with 1.9 gigawatts (GW) of cheaper, cleaner renewable generation and 482 megawatts (MW) of battery storage as part of 10 new projects set to be built across regional WA.
Stronger framework to safeguard fuel security: Malinauskas, Koutsantonis
The Malinauskas Labor Government will introduce into Parliament this week new legislation to strengthen emergency powers should they be required in the event the fuel crisis worsens. Petrol, diesel and jet fuel continues to arrive in South Australia, with prices significantly lower than earlier in the crisis.
New market access to Indonesia for five export meat establishments: Collins
... the approval of five additional export beef establishments for exports to Indonesia, including one establishment also receiving approval for sheep and goat meat ... is a boost for Australia’s trade relationship with Indonesia where more high-quality Australian halal red meat will now be available.
Medicare is failing the bush – Nursing and midwifery bodies demand urgent action: Australian College of Nursing
Twelve national organisations are calling for immediate reform to Medicare and pharmaceutical policy settings that are delaying diagnosis, fragmenting care and driving avoidable hospital admissions in the bush. The peak bodies representing nurses, nurse practitioners, endorsed midwives, and midwives, together with health system experts, have written jointly to the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport...
Not a luxury: Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association challenges ‘universal’ mobile coverage at Senate inquiry: ICPA
“Mobile connectivity in the regions is not a luxury; it is a critical and essential service.” That was the tone set at the Senate inquiry into the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 where the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) gave evidence on behalf of remote families.
Labor Government must act on wine crisis to help fuel crisis: Canavan, Chester
The Albanese Government is ignoring warnings of a deepening crisis in Australia’s wine sector, which is adding to the social and economic pressures on growers.
Renewables lift supply share as batteries re-shape energy markets: AEMO
Renewable generation growth and rising battery participation continued to reshape Australia’s east coast electricity system in the first quarter of 2026, alongside a year-on-year decline in wholesale prices, according to AEMO’s Quarterly Energy Dynamics (QED) report published today.
Faster environmental approvals with states and territories: Albanese, Watt
The Albanese Government is supercharging the transition to faster, more streamlined project assessments and approvals under our historic environmental law reforms. The Government will provide more than $45 million over 4 years to progress bilateral agreements with states and territories that will reduce duplication.
Delivering free GP appointments for Northern Tasmania: Archer
The Tasmanian Government is delivering more bulk-billed healthcare services for Tasmanians, with the first TassieDoc clinic announced ... The Deloraine and Westbury Medical Centres will boost access to bulk-billing appointments, following a comprehensive Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
Territory positions itself at centre of national defence push: Finocchiaro
The Finocchiaro CLP Government has launched the Northern Territory Defence Strategy 2026 as Defence Week begins in Darwin.. Announced today during a keynote address at the Northern Australia Defence Summit, Chief Minister and Minister for Defence NT Lia Finocchiaro outlined the five key priorities: Maritime sustainment, Army’s Littoral Pivot, Northern Theatre Logistics, Northern Basing and Ranges and Innovation, Test and Evaluation.
Banks must dump Environmental, Social and Governance ‘woke’ agenda for coal, gas and oil: McDonald, Canavan, Hogan
The Nationals are calling for a major shakeup of Australian banks, following revelations that energy-lending policies have been destroying investment in coal, gas and oil. Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said The Nats had written to the four major banks, expressing concern that a businessman was denied even a bank account after he tried to build a diesel refinery in Gladstone.
When ideology meets the fuel tank
In the 1930s, Winston Churchill warned that Europe was sleepwalking into danger. Across the chamber, Neville Chamberlain insisted all would be well. “Peace in our time,” he said—a comforting line, right up until Hitler crossed into Poland. We are seeing a modern version of that same delusion play out today.
