Government hasn’t given up on Basin plan says Minister
"I’ve been very clear that my government does not support buybacks. This is not an empty promise – I have already demonstrated that I am taking action by releasing the NSW Alternatives to Buybacks Plan in February that clearly shows how we plan to minimise the exposure of regional communities to water buybacks": NSW Minister for Water, Rose Jackson.
Supermarkets gouge growers millions in rebates alone: NFF
The Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices continues its hearings in Melbourne ... having heard repeated incidences of poor - if not unconscionable - behaviour by supermarkets from consumers and growers alike in Hobart and yesterday in Orange. Chair of the NFF Horticulture Council Jolyon Burnett said evidence and testimony from growers and industry representatives had already painted a bleak picture of the unbalanced trading relationship between major supermarkets and fresh produce suppliers.
Landmark $4 billion investment for remote housing in the Northern Territory: Lawler, Uibo
The Federal and NT Governments have announced a landmark joint $4 billion dollar investment for housing in remote communities across the NT to help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians ... The 10-year commitment to improve remote housing will see up to 270 homes built each year ... Labor Government is investing a further $120 million over three years to match the NT Government’s yearly investment ... in addition to the NT Government’s existing $40 million per annum investment in homelands housing and essential infrastructure upgrades.
Time to address the shortage of ag mechanics
Seems the old saying "all roads lead to the city" applies as much to country kids as it does to new migrants who have just arrived. Can you believe that Australia has imported 8.15 million people since 2000? ... The National Skills Commission report has found that 45 per cent of employers struggle to fill apprenticeship positions and even then 53 per cent of starters fail to complete their qualification. Australian kids just don't want to get their hands dirty, while the skilled migrant workforce who are trade-qualified prefer the big cities to the bush.
Bankwest invited to appear at Senate Inquiry: Canavan, Rennick, Colbeck, Brockman
Following the announcement of the closure of all Bankwest branches, the Regional and Rural Affairs and Transport Committee have invited Bankwest to appear at hearings in the Pilbara ... Senators Matthew Canavan, Gerard Rennick, Richard Colbeck and Slade Brockman have expressed their disappointment in the closure of Bankwest’s 45 branches despite commitments to not close branches during the ongoing Senate Inquiry into Regional Bank Closures.
The power and accountability in the Murray Darling Basin: Agribusiness Australia
Restoring our Rivers Bill debated at Agribusiness Australia event. The profound implications of the Commonwealth’s Restoring Our Rivers Bill was unpacked in a wide-ranging discussion about the Murray Darling Basin Plan at an Agribusiness Australia event in Melbourne last week in front of nearly 150 guests.
Caboolture Sawmill Expansion Project complete: King, Chisholm
The Caboolture Sawmill Expansion Project is now complete, which will support an internationally competitive sawmilling business for the Sunshine Coast gateway region ... As a result of the project, the site has doubled its production capacity and is currently processing 370,000m3 of locally-grown sawlog.
Amid widespread transmission line confusion … “VNI”ˆWest must return to the drawing board”
“Victorian Labor’s attempt to again reboot consultation on transmission lines is an admission consultation has failed abysmally on VNI-West,” Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, says. The State Government has introduced a Bill to establish VicGrid, claiming the new brand will “modernise the way new energy infrastructure is planned and developed in Victoria while giving communities a voice in the process”.
One man, a tinnie and the mighty Murray
There’s a magic that comes from the tranquil flowing waters of the mighty Murray. As the river snakes from the mountains across the floodplains and finishes in the estuary, Dennis Miles of Yarrawonga has been observing the beauty, the challenges and the love expressed by people on the river.
Bankwest branch closures: Love
Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Nationals WA Shane Love ... noted Bankwest’s announcement of a transition to a wholly online servicing model and closure of their branch network across the State. Bankwest, which is owned by CBA (Commonwealth Bank of Australia), has stated 15 regional branches of Bankwest will be converted to CBA branches.
Aquaculture’s contribution to Australian seafood supply continues to grow: ABARES
The gross value of Australian fisheries and aquaculture production is forecast to grow by 0.5 per cent in 2023−24 to $3.56 billion according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). ABARES Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville said that growth in 2023−24 is predominantly driven by higher prices of wild-caught rock lobster...
Communities crying over removed milk
Norco have posted a statement on their Facebook page revealing the 100 per cent Australian farmer owned dairy co-operative has been overwhelmed by the passionate outcry from loyal customers after Woolworths recently announced their decision to remove the brand's milk products from 150 stores across metropolitan Sydney ... Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan has also expressed his disappointment in Woolworths following the announcement last week and said if the multinational retail and finance company wasn’t going to support Norco, he wasn’t going to support them.
The Riverine Grazier editorial: Don’t let our story end – Why Facebook’s decision matters to Hay
A decision by a large, faceless US based company miles away in their corporate offices may not seem to have much impact, here, out in Hay, or in Balranald or Ivanhoe. Our local newspaper – YOUR newspaper – surely feels no impact from Facebook or Instagram. Or does it? ... The decision by Meta to stop paying for the news it allows to be shared across Facebook and Instagram will have a direct impact on our newspaper and the support we can offer our readers and communities.
Plans for Delburn
The Delburn Wind Farm developer, Osmi Australia, has allayed speculation that the project would be affected by the federal government's rejection on environmental grounds of the Port of Hastings as a construction site ... Delburn involves the construction of 33 wind turbines each about 250 metres in height on plantation forest land owned by HVP Plantations ... recently deployed new fire detection technology that it said was a first for Australia and the wind farm industry.
Dalton fishes for river quality
Member for Murray Helen Dalton says carp are a threat to the Murray Darling Basin that has been ignored by the NSW Government ... “This week's release of the government's Alternatives to Buybacks Plan completely ignores one of the greatest environmental threats to our river systems - invasive and destructive Carp,” Mrs Dalton said.
Official openings for Jeparit and Nhill infrastructure developments
Hindmarsh Shire Council extends an invitation to all community members to attend the official openings of two important community projects in Jeparit and Nhill ... Dr Anne Webster, Federal Member for Mallee, will officially open the redeveloped Jeparit Riverbank Precinct and the Nhill Cane Ball Court...
Rebound predicted for Australian agriculture: ABARES
Australia’s farm, fisheries and forestry sectors are set to rebound in 2024-25. The most recent Agricultural Commodities and Australian Crop reports are predicting that the gross value of production in 2024–25 will again increase after poor seasonal conditions affected outcomes in 2023-24.
Meta puts news at risk
Andrew Schreyer, Country Press Australia President. Australia's largest organisation of newspaper publishers has attacked the announcement by Meta it will no longer negotiate deals with publishers once current agreements expire ... Meta’s actions undermine our democracy in the way the company displays such disdain for the work of the news industry ... The most popular Facebook pages in most regional and rural communities are those of the local news publishing company, yet Meta says people don’t go to Facebook for news or political content.
Microgrid research will benefit renewable energy needs of country Australia: Charles Sturt University
A Charles Sturt University team is researching the deployment of microgrid projects that aim to meet the energy needs of regional communities in Australia ... The team’s research explores a range of topics relating to microgrid business models, ownership structure and project financing.
Some facts about EU farmers
I keep hearing that we should emulate European farmers by driving our tractors through the streets protesting against our Federal government’s attempts to stop farmers from farming. However, before farmers rush to the tractor, it's crucial to understand the vast differences between Europe's agricultural sector and Australia's ... This is what happens when farmers get into bed with government and take their coin. It’s a lesson we should learn.
What Facebook’s decision to quit news means for local followers
Facebook's announcement it will no longer support news on its platform means that members of community pages where Yanchep News Online now posts will instead need to follow the local publisher’s Facebook page to be able to access that content. But Yanchep News Online, who has never been part of a deal with Facebook is also concerned that if the Australian Government and Facebook get into a stoush over the social media platform’s decision to stop supporting news in Australia it could result in another news ban.
Inland Rail reaches another milestone with the opening of the new Glenrowan bridge: King, Gallagher
The Inland Rail project has reached a major milestone in Victoria, with the opening of the new Beaconsfield Parade bridge in Glenrowan. The new 145-metre bridge will replace the 60-year-old existing bridge to allow greater clearance for Inland Rail to run double-stacked freight trains safely underneath.
