Federal politics

The Authority met with the Hon Tanya Plibersek Minister for the Environment and Water, to discuss Basin issues. The Authority noted the Minister’s announcement of 30 January 2024 launching new programs to deliver the Basin Plan in full. Members were further briefed by representatives of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank is calling on the Federal Government to quarantine regional Australia’s fair share of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF). We would like to see 40 per cent of the HAFF directed to regional Australia to support population growth, address the regional housing crisis, and unlock the economic potential of Australia’s regional communities.

The implementation plan to assist in delivery of Australia’s first National Biosecurity Strategy (NBS), a collaborative, national approach to protecting Australia from exotic pests and diseases backed by all government agriculture ministers, has been released.

After slashing NAB's regional branches by a third Ross McEwan is bailing before a senate inquiry into the closures reports. Miniscule savings at the cost of trashing the bank's reputation in a critical lending base. What will his legacy be?

The National Farmers’ Federation has flagged the rushed backroom deals that will allow the industrial relations reforms through today, will leave farmers to deal with legislation fraught with problems.  NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar said the suite of measures would deliver more uncertainty for farmers, more power for union bosses, and a less dynamic economy for workers.  

Within a day of supermarkets lodging their submissions to the Senate inquiry established to review their own pricing practices, it’s clear their defences rely more on deflection than fact.

NSW farmers and politicians have been lied to about the state of South Australia’s Lower Lakes, with Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, calling on NSW Premier Chris Minns to visit the area immediately. "We have all been conned and it must stop," Ms Dalton said.

Did anyone notice the announcement dropped just before Christmas of the new emissions rules that will impact sales of most of the popular utes SUVs and 4WDs farmers and tradies rely on? ... For those who know their cars, the days are numbered for the number series 75s, 80s, 300s, 150s,   300s, not to mention the Raptors, Rams or even the bog standard Hilux, Triton and Nivara.

The Reckless Renewables Rally brought to together 116 regional community groups with a message for Federal politicians to suspend their reckless rollout ... ‘People living in our cities are being deceived. Rural and regional communities are being socially fractured, divided up and hollowed out by our own government and their energy corporation’s working in unison with home grown renewables zealots and foreign renewable energy company carpetbaggers’: Chairman of PRA Jim Willmott.

The Australian Government has released the 2024 State of Australia’s Regions report. This new report showcases data and insights on key issues and opportunities impacting Australia’s regions – further building the evidence base that supports our commitment to targeted and coordinated regional investment that works better for people and regions.

Farmers and industry fear Labor’s imminent updates to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme could result in workers from nine Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste permanently receiving better pay conditions in some circumstances than Australian farm workers, placing an undue burden on employers.  

The government agency tasked with looking after the interests of the state’s primary production has undertaken no modelling to understand the possible impact mass water buybacks will have on the South Australian agricultural production, it can be revealed … Dr Nicola Centofanti, said she is appalled with the Malinauskas Labor Government’s “talk first, think later” approach towards the River Murray.

Barry Large. There's an awful lot of noise being made right now about the prices every day Australians are being charged at the checkout, whilst the big supermarkets rake-in record profits. Added to this political rhetoric driven by the cost-of-living crisis is an apparent concern about the need to ensure Australian farmers receive their fair share of the retail dollar.

Yet again another strike on the wharfs ends in a cave in by the stevedores. Last week DP World, which is owned by the Dubai Royal Family, agreed to increase wages by 25 per cent over the next four years to end a rolling series of stoppages that has gone on for months. That works out about double the predicted inflation rate with almost no productivity trade offs ... Welcome back to the thinking of the 1970s.

As Australian politicians take aim at globally dictated emissions targets, are everyday Australians left to carry the burden of the ‘green dream’? ... There were an estimated 100 million individual solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in Australia at the end of 2022, and it is estimated 2 billion solar panels will be required if we are to meet the 2050 emissions targets.

On Monday the Hon David Littleproud MP, Federal Member for Maranoa, Leader of the Federal Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, joined Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi, Councillors and the project team onsite at the Warwick Saleyards to officially turn the sod on the $7.5m redevelopment project.

“The proposal, as it stands, is inconsistent with established levy principles such as equitability, transparency and accountability, presents a range of negative consequences for agricultural and biosecurity systems, and lacks transparency about how the funds will deliver dedicated, additional and tangible biosecurity outcomes”: NFF President David Jochinke.

More than 21,000 Mary River cod have been released into South East Queensland waterways to help the species recover from severe floods in 2022.

A former Country Liberal Party front bencher, Roger “Stainless” Steele, says it’s likely that NT Senator Jacinta Price “could contribute even more to the North of Australia from a seat in the House of Representatives".

Australia Day Ambassador and surf lifesaving volunteer Doug Hawkins will join the Narrandera Shire community and offer inspiration and share his optimistic messages and stories. For 23 years, Doug has been a proud surf-lifesaving volunteer whose visionary approach has helped Coogee SLSC and other NSW Clubs implement inclusive training programs ...