Federal politics

We are a collective of CFA Brigades in Districts 16 and 18 who have taken a position where our Brigade will not commit to operating on or around electricity generation and transmission infrastructure by taking a perimeter only defence position except for where lives or safety of public is threatened. Specifically, this is Renewable Energy Infrastructure (REI) being wind turbines, large-scale solar and battery installations, high voltage (220 kva plus) transmission lines and connection hubs.

An independent audit into the Federal Government’s compliance with the Basin Plan 2012 and water resource plans has exposed significant shortcomings in its systems and processes, according to the National Farmers’ Federation. NFF Water Committee Chair Malcolm Holm said the audit into the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water's (DCCEEW) confirmed concerns about the Government’s ability to manage Basin resources effectively.

The figures are in, and the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) delivered the second highest amount of water for the environment on record, in 2023-24. The CEWH, Dr Simon Banks, said around 1800 gigalitres of commonwealth water for the environment had been used to maintain or improve conditions in river and wetland systems across the Murray–Darling Basin.

According to the Federal Member for Parkes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refused to attend the National Farmer Rally outside Parliament House, ignoring farmers who travelled from the Parkes electorate to plead with the Labor Government to stop its anti-farming agenda.

Sophie Baldwin. The last time the Bullatale Creek ran dry was back in 2007 – at the peak of the millennium drought. And yet, in 2024 and after three consecutive wet years, the creek is dry. Again. Which begs the obvious question – where has all the water gone?

Sophie Baldwin. 'No farmers, no food’ was the battle cry as farmers from across the country descended on Federation Mall in Canberra on Tuesday, united in a desire to send a clear message to the Federal Government. Australian farmers have had enough of poor government policy and appeasing the green vote impacting on their ability to feed the nation – and the world.

The Global Methane Budget 2024 ... highlights methane emissions from human activities have increased by 20 per cent in the past two decades.  Methane is one of three core greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. It lasts in the atmosphere for just a few decades, which is shorter when compared to its counterparts, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.

Rosalie Auricht. The states in the Murray-Darling Basin have been arguing, seemingly forever, about how to look after and share the rivers ... At the MDBA River Reflections conference in Albury, the audience was asked to explore ‘what does a healthy river mean to you?’ ... "no carp, native fish are increasing in abundance, and no dead fish ..."

Remember ‘terra nullius’ the legal term that rose to prominence in the Mabo case? ... my focus in this opinion piece is not on terra nullius and who owns the land but on aqua nullius and who owns the water ... the Albanese government shows no sign of learning from the referendum disaster and is pushing ahead with building indigenous veto powers into a new National Water Agreement plus revving up the Commonwealth's Heritage Act.

Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, will stand with Mallee farmers and her Nationals colleagues shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds more farmers from across the country today (September 10), in an unprecedented rally against Labor’s anti-farming ideology. Dr Webster said Labor is destroying agriculture and making life impossible for producers of food and fibre, due to endless cuts to the regions, anti-farming legislation and unnecessary red tape.

Construction of a flood protection levee along Gunbower Parade at Koondrook will occur after Gannawarra Shire Council successfully received Federal Government funding. The National Emergency Management Agency announced in late August that the Federal Government would invest $851,774 in the project, which is the first in a series of planned stages to construct a levee network to mitigate the risk of riverine flooding in the Koondrook township.

Joanna Tucker. After years of hard work, the Moonta Mines Cornish mining sites have been added to Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, along with mine sites at Burra. This listing was announced on September 6 and is a significant step towards achieving World Heritage protection for the two historic areas.

Just when it seemed ANZ’s attempts to justify the closure of a regional NSW branch in defiance of a condition of the Suncorp acquisition deal not to close any regional sites for three years could not get any more farcical, the bank has upped the ante. In a letter to a customer complaining about the planned closure of the Katoomba branch next month, ANZ claimed that although it had triggered regional branch closure protocols (established as a direct result of two federal government inquiries into regional bank closures), the protocol was not about regional branches.

The more than half a billion dollars which the just launched Aboriginal Investment NT will be extracting from Canberra bureaucrats over five years should be spent mostly on infrastructure “on the ground, in communities,” says Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour ... “The AINT will ensure the money is spent in the right areas and in line with Aboriginal aspirations,” says Ms Scrymgour. And it may well be time for the Aboriginal land councils “to let go”.

A program designed to reduce the risk and impact of flood events across towns in inland NSW has been extended thanks to a $3 million Australian Government grant ... NSW DCCEEW has identified 14 Local Government Areas across inland NSW where flood works pose known risks, and have received strong support for the program.

Council leaders from Gannawarra, Swan Hill, Mildura, Loddon, Campaspe and Moira shires visited Canberra and Bendigo over the last two weeks, speaking to politicians and advisors on water management, renewable energy, housing and the funding of local government ... The latest round of buybacks was a pressing issue for the group.

Narrandera Post Office closed this week when lead contamination was identified in one of the back-of-house rooms during a routine check of the building. An Australia Post spokesperson said following health advice, the post office was closed and Australia Post was in the process of trying to get a temporary post office up and running to service the town.

Sebastian Calderon. Houseboats traveling along a section of the Murray River are facing challenges, due to low water levels, forcing operators to limit mobility through the Riverland. Changes in the river’s water flow following environmental conditions have recently seen a group of boats unable to travel between towns like Renmark and Berri.

The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Spring 2024 shows increased risk of fire for large areas in NT and Queensland, as well as far west and southwestern Victoria, and the southeast corner of SA. Mean temperatures for the year to date have been above average to very much above average for most areas, with areas of western WA and northern SA experiencing highest on record maximum temperatures for the period.