Pasin ponders phone towers
Member for Barker Tony Pasin would prefer a different funding method than the “all or nothing” approach of Telstra’s Connect Limestone Coast project. The $40 million project involves 27 phone towers scattered across the region, each costing $1.5 million.
Undergrounding report released
As state and federal governments continue their push to renewables, the mad scramble to build 10,000 kilometres of new power lines by 2030 has rural communities across the eastern seaboard not only gravely concerned about the social and environmental impacts, but also methodology. Last week, the NSW parliamentary inquiry into the feasibility of undergrounding HumeLink was released...
Non-GMO food market red tape slashed: DAFF
Meeting the export premium market certification requirements for non-genetically modified organism (non-GMO) produce has just been made cheaper, easier, and more efficient for Australian farmers. Continuing its ongoing focus on export reform … DAFF has phased-out the use of manual processing for non-GMO certification to 37 countries...
Victorian farmers slam Basin changes: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has slammed the legislative changes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan introduced by the Albanese Government in Federal Parliament … “This move tears up the agreement made by Basin states over 10 years ago and is trying to re-write history on what the Basin Plan actually is”: VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy.
Water Bill a recipe for hurt, division and higher food prices: NFF
Farmers are warning that a bill introduced today by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek would obliterate consensus on the Basin Plan and give the Government unchecked power to shut down irrigation farms in Australia’s food bowl. NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar said the proposal would blow up the Basin Plan and destroy trust and livelihoods in Basin communities.
Environment groups welcome progress on Murray-Darling Basin Plan, but guarantees needed to ensure real water reaches rivers: NCC
In response to a new bill allowing water purchases being introduced to federal parliament, environment groups from across four states have welcomed progress on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, but warn that delays will be costly to the health of our rivers … “While it’s great to see the Basin Plan moving again, it’s important to remember how far behind the Plan is...": Nature Conservation Council of NSW Water Campaigner Mel Gray.
Opposition calls for better communication with WA’s live cattle exporters: Love, de Grussa
“Now more than ever it is crucial the State and Federal Labor Governments work together, and, given the Premier only two weeks ago announced plans to establish an embassy to do the job of elected 14 Federal Labor Members, we have little confidence in this relationship. This is too important to get wrong – stakeholders need to be brought into conversations with Government and while we await the results of Indonesia’s 60-day review, planning must be undertaken to ensure strength of the industry": Shane Love.
Intergenerational Report 2023
This report projects an outlook for the economy and the Australian Government’s budget over the next 40 years. It examines the long-term sustainability of current policies and how demographic, technological and other structural trends may affect the economy and the budget.
Regional Renaissance – New data unveils dynamic change in Australia’s demographic landscape: RAI
A surge of millennials leaving Australia’s capital cities for country communities is helping drive a regional renaissance, new research from the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) has found ... The report shows Local Government Areas (LGAs) such as Dungog (NSW), Loddon (VIC), Blackall Tambo (QLD), Tumby Bay (SA) and Chapman Valley (WA) all saw significant net migration rates for the millennial cohort.
Farmers from the West heading to Canberra with a personal plea: NFF
Farmers and representatives from across the West are packing their bags and heading to Canberra on September 5 to speak directly to politicians about the Government’s proposed phase out of live sheep exports … Australia’s live export industry is worth some $1.3 billion and generates around 10,000 jobs, many in remote areas.
The Buloke Times editorial: Beef industry progress on emissions
Last year, we reported on the US-inspired, non-binding "Methane Pledge", which Australia had joined at the urging of Minister Chris Bowen, who described it as "an aspirational global target for countries to reduce global emissions". New Zealand took it to the extreme of imposing what became known as a "fart tax" on farm animals that cause methane emissions.
Devastating scale of water buybacks revealed while critical questions go unanswered: NFF
The Federal Government has inadvertently revealed that damaging water buybacks will make up at least a third of water recovery under its revised Murray Darling Basin Plan, at a starting price exceeding $3 billion … “The Minister has said last week the current 1500GL cap on buybacks will be lifted': National Farmers' Federation Water Committee Chair, Malcolm Holm.
Take buybacks off the table – MRSG
A leading community and farming representative group in the NSW Murray is calling on the Albanese Government to "take water buybacks off the table". It comes after Water Minister Tanya Plibersek announced buybacks would be used to recover water, including an additional 450 gigalitres which was not part of original Murray-Darling Basin Plan recovery targets ... MRSG chair, Geoff Moar, described news of the buybacks as a "dagger in the heart" of rural communities, especially after constant government promises that they would only be considered if there were no negative social and economic consequences.
Hotter, dryer summers bad news for farmers
The latest Federal Intergenerational Report suggests crop yields could be up to 4 per cent lower by 2063. Reduced yields are expected due to increased frequency and severity of extreme weather, including droughts, as well as most crops producing less in higher temperatures.
South Australian Government opposes southern ocean offshore windfarm zone: Close, Scriven
The State Government has recommended South Australia not be included in the Commonwealth’s proposed offshore wind farm zone that runs from Warrnambool in Victoria to Port MacDonnell … State Government has expressed concerns about the potential impact construction of an offshore windfarm in that area could have on South Australia’s southern fisheries and marine environment.
Casual work set to be redefined
Will Hunter. Casual employees who work a regular pattern of hours may soon have the right to request a permanent position sooner in their employment, under proposed federal government reform. The definition of what it means to be a casual employee is set to be redefined to allow eligible workers a stronger pathway to secure permanent employment.
Labor makes more cuts to the national soil strategy: Littleproud
The Federal Labor Government has scrapped the National Soils Advocate and cut funding to programs that previously had bipartisan support … “Labor also redirected $11.7 million from the National Soils Strategy to ‘other priorities’. They continue to make cuts instead of investing in this much-needed strategy”: David Littleproud.
$4.3m on hold pending study
A regional health bureaucracy has been blocked from spending $4.3 million on hospital upgrades rather than radiation treatment services in the Limestone Coast. But only until a feasibility study for radiation therapy has been completed. Then SA Health Minister Chris Picton will make a decision.
Buloke Times editorial: Shearers 2
This is a follow-up to the previous piece about the shortage of shearers. The numbers of Australian-based shearers have diminished by 30 per cent in the last decade, partly due to the drought, the pull of the mining sector, and Covid 19 restricting arrivals. New Zealand shearers also had a pay rise in 2018. In May 2023, at the end of the earlier editorial, the hope was expressed that the shortage would be relieved by progress with the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM). Provision had been made for a pilot round of a small number to be trained as shearers in southern NSW. That plan will not now go ahead.
Farmers push for urgent housing solutions: TFGA
The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) are pushing for urgent solutions to the Tasmanian regional housing crisis. The matter is of significant concern to the Tasmanian farming sector which has made a real contribution to the states economic growth and expansion.
Vic stands strong, NSW crumples under Albo water grab
The Albanese Government has officially declared war on Basin communities and Australian families who are suffering with the cost-of-living crisis. On Tuesday, the Federal Water Minister declared that the Murray-Darling Basin Plan MKII would remove the legislated protections around taxpayer funded water buybacks and the new plan extended to 2027 ... The Murray-Darling Basin Plan clearly demonstrates legislation is only abided by when it’s convenient to the political outcomes sought, and changed when it’s problematic to those ends.
Listen to people who have ‘lived experience’ – SRI
“We know the devastation of flooding caused by holding too much water in dams. We know that due to constraints issues it is pointless recovering the massive water volumes that are being planned, because it is impossible to deliver them downstream ... governments must listen to people who are ‘on the ground’ and have a different understanding of Basin Plan implementation to those who live in cities and base their assessments on computer modelling”: Jan Beer.
