Federal politics

NSW Farmers has condemned the Federal Government’s catastrophic ban on live sheep exports by sea as it released a four-year plan to transition away from the live sheep trade ... According to an announcement made by Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt ... Australia’s live sheep exports by sea trade will be phased out by 1 May 2028...

Large traces of white spot virus were detected in wild-caught school prawns south of Ballina ... State MP Richie Williamson said it is a further blow to the commercial fishing industry across the region with Clarence River estuary fishers already impacted by a two-year biosecurity lockdown.

What activists want Watt delivers. Watt farmers fear. What's next on Watt's hit list. What to do with Watt. All questions Western Australian farmers are now asking after last week's decision to move ahead with the live export ban. On the hookup when the Minister announced his plan, Murray Watt is quick to call me out when I questioned his motives claiming I was being personal.

Quill. A meeting was held at Birchip Leisure Centre ... Anne Webster, Gerald Feeny, Glenden Watts, Barry Batters and Di Lehmann attended to discuss the issue of renewables coming into the area, the construct company Cubico moving into Curyo West with idea of developing 100 to 200 wind turbines and the ramifications it might have on landholders and the community, should it go ahead.

From Monday 13 May the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) will commence releases from Lake Mulwala to lower the water levels by approximately 1.5 metres ahead of necessary maintenance and inspection work in June. MDBA Acting Executive Director of River Management Angus Paton said releases would be managed to meet demands downstream of the Lake while also achieving the target water level of 123.3 metres AHD by 17 June 2024.

Traditionally when the Australian Labor Party gets serious about winning elections, it looks to the grownups in the right wing of the party to provide the leadership that will appeal to the centre of Australian politics. Unfortunately, it seems this time around, things are different, as Australia now has its first Prime Minister who hails not just from the left, but the hard left of the ALP.

The NFF Horticulture Council ... welcomed the report by the Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices, which reveals the true cost of supermarket power and exploitative behaviour being borne by both Australian households and the national horticulture industry. Chair of the Council Jolyon Burnett said ... there has been shock at the evidence of widespread appalling treatment of fresh produce suppliers.

An emotional candlelight vigil was held at Hay Lions Park on Wednesday evening, bringing together a group of more than 30, who each took a stand against family violence. National vigils are held annual on the first Wednesday of May to remember and honour those who have been killed by domestic or family violence.  

We welcome ... release of Select Committee on Supermarket Prices final report.  This inquiry has been an important opportunity to shine a light on the challenges being faced by many Australian producers.  

Farmers have welcomed an announcement by the Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Rockhampton today regarding the next phase of the Future Drought Fund (FDF). National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President, David Jochinke, said the FDF was central to making producers more resilient in the face of current and future droughts.

New research on how to treat people with PTSD brought on by the 2022 floods was announced at Southern Cross University in Lismore ... Leading the research is Professor James Bennett-Levy ... The research project has many ‘firsts’ in its approach.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has ordered that Coral Coast Distributors (Cairns) Pty Ltd can no longer sign-up customers into Centrepay credit arrangements in its Urban Rampage stores.

Geoff Pearson. Two weeks ago 300 farmers from across the South West convened an urgent drought meeting to address what is one of the driest seasons experienced in living memory across what is traditionally the wettest part of Western Australia. It’s at times like these that the State and Federal governments need to step up and support farmers to rectify where they have made things worse through past policy mistakes.

Robbs coming back to rob you, that’s Robbs jetty for those who weren’t born long enough ago to recall the smell of rotting hides at Cockburn. Those born even longer ago will recall the endless strife of the WA state-run meatworks that were a bastion of union bastardry. Why are they coming back? Well, the Federal government has committed Australia to borrowing billions of dollars off countries that are not handicapping themselves with mad Green left anti-fossil fuel regulations (think China and the Middle East) to invest in the Future Made in Australia program.

A new database has been launched to provide people working in Australian agriculture a clearer view of compliance expectations regarding sustainability and ESG activities. The Sustainability-related Regulations Database (SR-Database) provides information on current Australian legislation and regulation relevant to the sustainability of the agricultural industry.

The time for talking is over! Immediate, large-scale, effective action is what’s required if we’re to have any hope of halting the march of Red Imported Fire Ants, CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens has said.

Some long necks were seen parading around Australia’s quarantine facility recently with the arrival of 5 llamas to our shores ... “After a significant search, I selected these animals for their quality and genetic diversity,” said importer Jane Ackland of Everlong Llamas. She said llamas haven’t entered Australia from the USA since the mid-1990s.