Statement on the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility: King
According to the most recent national inventory conducted in 2021, Australia has 13,287 cubic metres of low-level radioactive waste, which by volume is more than five standard Olympic swimming pools ... The site of Australia’s only nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights can safely store waste on site for some time, but we must ensure this waste has an appropriate disposal pathway.
Historic $130 million trade alliance to supercharge Aussie horticultural exports: Furner, Watt
The largest and most ambitious trade initiative in Australian horticulture has been given the green light with a host of partners signing on to an historic $130 million program, the Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) ... As part of the program, FASTA will also boost biosecurity initiatives to solidify Australia’s strong reputation in pest-management and as a responsible trading partner for years to come.
Incitec Pivot sale draws growing concerns from GrainGrowers
Industry body GrainGrowers has called for additional information about the potential sale of Incitec Pivot’s fertiliser business to foreign interests, citing growing concerns from members over future supply.
Radiation Treatment Limestone Coast Working Party – community forum
Tony Pasin MP. On July 25th more than 200 people attended a community forum ... hosted by the Radiation Treatment Limestone Coast Working Party ... without the 16,000 signatures, the Parliamentary committee, or the media attention the campaign has garnered, the State Government and by extension the Limestone Coast Local Health Network would not have shifted their position from where it stood six months ago.
Indigenous leader calls for bureaucrat-free Cultural Heritage panel
David Prestipino, NIT. A prominent First Nations leader in the Kimberley has called for an independent panel chaired by an industry leader and Indigenous expert to re-draft WA's doomed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage legislation. Nyikina man and former Kimberley Land Council CEO Wayne Bergmann said a roundtable of industry, pastoralists, farmers, native title holders and land councils should be involved in drafting the new laws.
Pharmacy transition not all rosy
Pharmacies in regional, rural and remote Australia with average script volumes equalling dispensing income of under $1 million in the 12 months to April 1, 2023 will be eligible to receive a new Regional Pharmacy Transition Allowance (RPTA). However, Narrandera pharmacist Mel Close has warned that while that information made it look pretty rosy, the additional funding was based on the number of prescriptions dispensed per year and was not what it seems.
The cashless society – Part 1
Oscar Tamsen. Australians are losing more than $1 billion a year to debit and credit card scammers and electronic thieves, causing more and more Clarence Valley ratepayers and others to ask why the Federal Government is urging the country towards a cashless society. Research undertaken by the CV Independent has revealed that many Clarence Valley bank card holders cannot understand why this "convenient banking" is being favoured while it continues to be open slather to criminals’ intent on stealing their hard-earned monetary assets.
AER extends timeframe for making a decision on VNI West RIT-T dispute
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has extended the timeframe for making a decision on the dispute raised by Moorabool and Central Highlands Power Alliance Inc. (MCHPA) in relation to AEMO Victoria Planning (AVP) and TransGrid’s Joint Victoria NSW Interconnector West (VNI-West) regulatory investment test for transmission (RIT-T).
Biosecurity breakdown – government failing Australians: Canegrowers
Media reports of a new government plan to combat the spread of Red Imported Fire Ants only serve to further highlight the government’s continuing failure to fulfil one of its most basic responsibilities ... CANEGROWERS CEO Dan Galligan has said ... a much smaller treatment area around the Scenic Rim and Gold Coast will be targeted, effectively allowing one of the most dangerous and destructive invasive species in the world to continue spreading north and west unhindered.
Reopening of China barley trade welcomed: GrainGrowers
The decision by China to remove duties on Australian barley is welcome and opens the way to rebuild a $1.2 billion annual trade flow, grower representative body, GrainGrowers, said on 4 August 2023. GrainGrowers said dialogue between the Australian and Chinese governments had delivered an outcome in the longer-term interests of both countries and Australian growers.
World famous shuttle stallions arrive for Australian breeding season: DAFF
Shuttle stallions are highly valuable, male thoroughbred and standardbred horses who are ‘shuttled’ between the Northern and Southern hemisphere to mate and produce valuable offspring for the racing industry. Renowned for their race-track performance and historic pedigrees, these stallions will mate with some of Australia’s top broodmares.
Tunnel borer relaunched
An important milestone has been reached by Snowy Hydro, the Snowy 2.0 project and for one of its three tunnel boring machines (TBM). TBM Lady Eileen Hudson was the first machine to start tunnelling on the pumped-hydro mega project, the first to complete a tunnel and is now underway on her second tunnel excavation.
Basin Plan flounders as problems mount
Southern Riverina Irrigators said Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s determination to deliver the Basin Plan in full shows just how out of touch with reality the minister really is ... To date, 83 per cent of water recovered has already come from the southern basin and SRI is urging NSW water minister Rose Jackson to follow Victoria’s lead and put a line through future buybacks ... Despite the devastation caused by the MDBA in the southern basin, MDBA Chief Executive Andrew McConville said most communities are in support of the plan’s implementation.
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health visits Wilcannia
Last Friday Senator Malarndirri McCarthy made a not well publicised visit to Wilcannia. Word soon went round town and a number of locals were able to tell her of their health and other concerns. The Senator toured the hospital where she met some staff, the new Maari Ma health building, and met with representatives of the Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Notes from Central Darling Shire Council Meeting, 26 July 2023
The Shires Administrator Bob Stewart reported on a meeting he had with the NSW Minister for Local Government, Hon. Ron Hoenig and the Minister for Water, the Hon. Rose Jackson. Bob reported that the Minister is keen to bring the Shire out of Administration however he also understands the challenges faced by Council in a number of areas, including day-today operations and financial sustainability.
Projects won’t lower flood levels – Hogan
Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan has criticised the Albanese Government’s $100 million announcement for 20 projects in the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program as they won’t lower flood levels ... “The community would feel exceptionally disappointed by projects announced by the Federal Government today as they contain no effective flood mitigation works”: Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan.
Buloke Times editorial: Prospects of an Australia-Europe FTA
A previous editorial concluded with a possible view from the European side of a trade agreement ("FTA" - free trade agreement) with Australia. This time, from the Australian side, we look at the principal agricultural products which our negotiators feel will give us some advantage in an agreement with the European Union (EU).
Detection of Lumpy Skin Disease in Australia exported cattle to Indonesia: Animal Health Australia
Given the presence of the disease in Indonesia, positive results in Australian cattle post arrival are not unexpected ... Importantly, trade is and can continue to Indonesia from 28 Australian export establishments, however, there are 4 export establishments in Northern Australia who are working with the government to further ensure they are disease free.
Debbie fights for levee left off flood funding list
The 7.8km long levee runs through Ms Johnston’s property and it is meant to protect the Bungawalbin catchment from flooding including protecting Swan Bay, New Italy and Woodburn. Ms Johnston has been fighting to be heard. When she asked CSIRO research scientist Jai Vaze who was travelling with Mr Watt about it, he drew a blank.
Minister’s visit comes with $100 million announcement for flood resilience projects
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt stood on the banks of the Richmond River on Friday, July 28, to announce $100million for flood resilience projects across five council shires. The funding is the second part of $150 million with $50 million announced in February.
Cheaper medicines and backing local pharmacies: Butler
We know just how important the local pharmacy is in rural and regional Australia. They’re a critical part of the fabric of a community and are often the first place we turn for health advice. That’s why the Government is supporting rural and regional pharmacies, as we ensure that every single dollar that the Government saves with 60-day prescriptions is reinvested straight back into community pharmacy.
Joint statement regarding live cattle exports to Indonesia: NFF
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has been advised by the Indonesian Agriculture and Quarantine Agency (IAQA) that Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has been detected in a small number of Australian cattle exported to Indonesia—after those cattle had arrived and spent some time in Indonesia. “Australia is and remains free from lumpy skin disease, as confirmed today by Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer,” RMAC Chairman, Mr John McKillop, said.
