Housing supply worsens as demand increases: HIA
“The Government is set to fall well short of their goal of building one million homes over five years according to report from their peak housing advisory body (NHFIC),” stated Tim Reardon, HIA’s Chief Economist. The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) released their ‘State of the Nation Housing 2022-23’ report, which highlights that the under supply of housing is set to worsen as demand continues to out paces supply.
SA Parliamentary review likely
A petition led by Naracoorte’s Lachlan Haynes calling for radiotherapy services in the South East is likely to trigger an SA Parliamentary review ... A single petition with over 10,000 signatures must be referred to the Legislative Review Committee for investigation.
Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council communique, 31 March 2023
The Authority discussed the ongoing consequences of recent floods through the Basin, in particular the tragic fish deaths this month in the Barka-Darling River at Menindee. They expressed their deep concern about the impact on local communities and the river environment and commended the coordinated efforts of water management agencies and the NSW Police to address community concerns, to ensure potable water supply and to effectively remove a great many dead fish from the river.
Housing crisis to get worse
The state and federal governments are indirectly influencing the housing shortage in Naracoorte and surrounding townships, claims a local real estate agent. Cameron Grundy of SAL Real Estate says for decades, the state government has retreated from the traditional housing trust model of building and selling properties, which has contributed to the housing crisis of today.
Strangle hold
A recent report on the Water Supply and Demand in the Southern Murray-Darling Basin released by the Victorian Government conveys the catastrophic convergence of events that are unfolding under a plan to “restore the balance” and “save the Murray.” The report brings into focus the extent to which water scarcity will increase in the future as existing and new permanent horticulture plantings explode below the natural constraints of the river system and fight for dam storage.
Break the cycle on crime boasting
A petition has been launched following the announcement of the Breaking Online Notoriety Bill being introduced into Parliament this week. The Federal Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton is asking residents to show their support for the Bill by signing the petition, which calls on all parliamentarians to back the Bill.
2900 quarantine turkey poults nearly ready to fly the coop: DAFF
Australia’s state-of-the-art avian quarantine facility is filling the role of midwife to nearly 3000 turkey poults in Victoria. The team at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) facility in Mickleham together with industry experts have nurtured 2900 turkey eggs from Canada during their minimum 13-week quarantine period.
Safeguard mechanism needs to be safe for agriculture: NFF
As changes to the Safeguard Mechanism enter the home stretch in Parliament, farmers are warning that the impacts of a turbocharged offsets market need to be considered. National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) Chief Executive Officer Tony Mahar said while agriculture was excluded from safeguard mechanism requirements, the 215 emitters it captures will be hungry for offsets from farmland.
Historic native title for Eastern Maar: Williams
Eastern Maar peoples in Victoria’s south-west have gained formal recognition of their land rights in the first Victorian native title determination in a decade, with support from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Treaty and First People Gabrielle Williams joined the Eastern Maar Country at a hearing on Country at Logans Beach to hear the Federal Court’s consent determination - which will formally recognise the groups native title rights.
Send a notice to Australia Post: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud is calling on locals to deliver their own notice to Australia Post, by sending a loud and clear message to continue services in the area ... It comes after Australia Post removed much-loved red street post boxes from Maranoa communities in Weengallon, Guluguba, Macalister, with two boxes moved to metropolitan areas.
Statement on UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement: NFF
We welcome the ratification of Australia’s trade deal with the United Kingdom by the UK Parliament. This deal improves access to an important market for Aussie farmers. It will also give UK consumers the option of sustainable, high quality Australian produce on supermarket shelves to complement their existing home-grown options.
Public objections process on EU Wine Agreement: DAFF
Australia is negotiating amendments to the Australia-European Community Agreement on Trade in Wine (Wine Agreement). As part of the negotiation the Australian Government is running a public objections process on wine geographical indications (GIs) proposed by the EU.
Plea to banks
Shadow Minister for Regional South Australia, Nicola Centofanti, is pleading with banks to not remove their services from Naracoorte and its surrounding townships. Ms Centofanti said while it was unfortunate, the Liberal Party was “seeing an alarming trend” where banks are withdrawing their services from regional centres in South Australia.
Government admission on regional aged care
The Federal Labor Government has been forced to admit it won’t reach its target of 24/7 Registered Nurses in all Aged Care homes, which is an acknowledgement for battling smaller regional aged care facilities. Earlier this week, Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells, revealed to media not every facility would be fully staffed by July 1, following months of pressure and advocacy from the Coalition on behalf of smaller aged care facilities.
Desperate measures to keep bank open
The proposed closure of the Bank SA branch in Kingston will have a devastating impact on the township, its neighbouring communities, and businesses that rely on rural banking. This was the sentiment echoed by almost every member of the public who attended the committee consultation on the future of Bank SA organised by the Kingston District Council on Wednesday.
Kialla Foods, MP want domestic regulation of organics industry
Quentin Kennedy, owner of the successful Greenmount organic food producer, Kialla Foods, believes the Federal Labor government’s decision to abandon domestic regulation of organics is handicapping his ability, and those of other Australian organic producers, to grow their export markets because lack of domestic regulation results in a dual system that is unworkable and costly.
Council’s Inland Rail fight continues
Lockyer Valley Regional Council is continuing in its ongoing objection to the unreasonable impacts of Inland Rail on the future of the region ... “These considerations and alternative routes are now being considered by Inland Rail – and we hope they consider all factors, not just saving money”: Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Cr Tanya Milligan.
Haines pressures government for farmer support
Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has moved a motion in the House of Representatives calling on the Parliament to act on the threat posed to Australia’s agricultural sector by climate change and to take action to support farmers. Dr Haines has proposed a network of 200 agricultural extension officers be funded by government to provide context-specific, trusted and neutral educational outreach services and advice on the technology, products and practices that will help farmers lower their emissions.
United States not understanding our kangaroo industry
Labor has failed to dispel misconceptions around the use and overseas imports of kangaroo products, allowing the United States to stick the boot into the kangaroo industry. It comes after shoe brand Nike announced it would stop making any product with kangaroo leather by the end of 2023 ... Leader of The Nationals and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said the Federal Government had been missing in action and had failed to ï¬ght for the industry.
Labor and Nationals candidates build opinions on affordable housing in the Clarence Valley
The ALP candidate for Clarence Leon Ankersmit has declared the election of a Labor Government on March 25 as the first step towards addressing the housing crisis in NSW. Following the announcement of a $3.5 million investment ... as an election promise by Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan, alongside $3 million contributed by Clarence Village, Mr Hogan reaffirmed his commitment to the project earlier this year, adding "the Labor Government are not going to fund this." CEO of Clarence Village Duncan McKimm ... was keen to uncover if a Labor Government will match their $3 million in funding.
Forest decline, koala plagues and megafires
Vic Jurskis's clear account of the history of the cycle of plagues and crashes of koalas in Australia's eastern states and the circumstances of those plagues and crashes makes one question whether the time frame for assessing the status of koalas should be 200 years, not 20, and whether the public perception about this much-loved animal is fully informed.
Detailed design work to begin on Barmah–Millewa Program: MDBA
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority is moving ahead with detailed design work on a suite of options to improve the movement of water through the Barmah–Millewa Reach of the Murray River. Basin governments in February noted the results of the Barmah–Millewa Feasibility Study and committed $2.35 million to the next stage of investigation in what will be known as the Barmah–Millewa Program.
