Report points to region’s glaring gaps
Gabrielle Duykers. Access to housing, education, mobile service, and high-quality freight infrastructure are the most significant development issues facing the region, according to a recent report. The 2022 Regional Strengths and Infrastructure Gaps report – developed in partnership with Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast (RDALC) and Infrastructure Australia – was assembled to highlight opportunities for supporting the regionalisation trend that occurred as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rural voters urged to make rural health matter at ballot box
“We urge rural voters not to be fooled by flashy, ribbon-cutting announcements about new hospital buildings or equipment. Yes, quality health infrastructure is important – but the focus needs to be on getting more doctors and other health professionals into rural and remote towns to deliver services…both this year and in 20 years" : Dr Megan Belot, Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) President.
Labor pains
Countless reports, ‘engagement’, reviews and the rapid erosion of the river have highlighted all these failings, yet a potential prime minister appears oblivious to the geographical diversity of issues, constraints and environments across the basin. With city centric politics appearing more interested in getting elected, what hope does the health of our basin have?
Build policy on solutions, not winning votes: Speak Up
The community-based Speak Up Campaign has joined the growing list of organisations expressing concern at last week’s Labor Party announcement around implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. In particular is the issue of water buybacks, which Labor’s Shadow Water Minister Terri Butler conceded, “If we have to” was “an option that will have to be pursued.”
Water fight risks real damage: NSW Farmers
"There are real opportunities to deliver environmental outcomes to the river system without reducing production. I would call on both sides to put aside the political point scoring around who's tougher on water, and instead build upon the opportunities in the basin plan that have been hard fought but are still yet incomplete": Richard Bootle, NSW Farmers Water Taskforce Chair.
Did the new highway make the flood worse? Transport authorities respond, residents seek class action
Residents know about floods. They know how to prepare. The March 1 flood blew them and their homes out of the water as the Richmond River rose way above what anyone had predicted or ever expected. It has led some residents to question how and where the water was trapped and why it took longer to recede than previous floods.
Green future with local candidate
Born and raised in Lismore, 22-year-old Kashmir Miller is proud to be The Greens candidate for the seat of Page in the 2022 Federal Election. After experiencing the catastrophic floods which devastated Northern NSW, Ms Miller said during the past month locals have “watched the climate catastrophe arrive in our communities and our homes.”
It’s on: election race has started
The fight to win the vote of Far North Queensland residents has begun, with candidates in Leichhardt preparing for a six-week battle ... There are nine confirmed contenders, although that number could rise ... Katter’s Australian Party candidate Rod Jensen is third in the line of betting at $21
Labor affirms its decision to remove another 450 gigalitres of water from irrigation use: The Riverina State
Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party have affirmed their decision to remove another 450 gigalitres of water, in addition to the 2750 gigalitres already removed via the Basin Plan, from productive use in NSW and Victoria. Most, if not all, of this water will be sourced from The Riverina and northern Victoria.
Jobs to go under Albanese’s water plan: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has warned that jobs across regional Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia will be lost if Anthony Albanese’s policy for water recovery is implemented under the Murray Darling Basin Plan. VFF President Emma Germano said Federal Labor’s five-point policy showed a total misunderstanding of the Basin Plan and a total disregard for jobs in regional communities.
Labor’s plan to future-proof Australia’s water resources: Albanese
An Albanese Labor Government will protect Australia’s precious water resources with a five-point plan for the Murray Darling Basin that strikes the right balance between the needs of local communities, farmers and the environment ... Labor will deliver on the final 450 gigalitres (GL) of water for the environment that Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce have failed to deliver.
Forecast of low prices, more certainty for southern Basin irrigators
Water allocation prices in the southern Murray–Darling Basin are likely to remain low for a third consecutive year, according to the latest ABARES Water Market Outlook.
Senator drills Federal Govt over weather radar delay
“An assistant secretary from the department falsely claimed Tennant Creek’s new weather radar will be complete this year and was unaware the project’s completion has been delayed until 2023 ... At the last round of Senate Estimates in February, I was disappointed to find out only three out of 28 initiatives of the Barkly Regional Deal have been completed since the deal was signed in 2019” : Senator Marlarndirri McCarthy.
Lack of child care at Kingston hits federal parliament
Chris Oldfield. The lack of child care for around 50 families on a waiting list at Kingston has been raised in the Australian Federal Parliament. “Those in this chamber have heard me speak about Kingston South East and a lack of childcare services before,” Member for Barker Tony Pasin told parliament ... “A farming region devastated by fire, and parents unable to earn off-farm income because there was no childcare service available."
Budget promises millions for MIA
The current Federal Government has pumped more than $300 million into the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area with $46.4million for Narrandera alone on extra programs and projects and according to Member for Farrer Sussan Ley last week’s budget shows there is more to come. “As well as the promised cost-of-living measures and fuel excise cut, there’s the NBN wireless towers speed and capacity upgrade – with more money also committed to add new mobile phone coverage and cut some increasing congestion on local phone towers,” she said.
Groundwater – making the invisible visible: BoM
BOM Blog. Groundwater – more literally, underground water – accounts for approximately 30% of Australia's water use. But because it can't be seen like rivers and lakes, many people don't know about it. So how can we 'see' this important but invisible resource?
Fuel excise cut in federal budget
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said while there were not a huge amount of “big ticket items” for the Cape in the budget, there was enough to ensure residents would be better off ... Labor's candidate for Leichhardt, Elida Faith, was not impressed with the budget ... Katter’s Australian Party candidate Rod Jensen said the Far North’s needs had been ignored in favour of short-term “sugar hits”.
Historic trade deal with India: PM
Australia signs an historic trade agreement with India, the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, that will further strengthen our relationship while making Australian exports to India cheaper and creating huge new opportunities for workers and businesses.
Failure to tackle unfair contracts criticised: NSW Farmers
The state’s farmers are disappointed the federal government has failed to crack down on unfair contract terms. A Bill aimed at delivering fairness for small business by making UCTs unlawful was introduced in early February – but has not been progressed by the federal government.
2022 Budget: Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association
When it comes to the big-ticket items for Tasmania the federal budget doesn’t meet Tasmania’s needs for agriculture. The infrastructure spend on water and roads only provides small change for Tasmania. Water is 0.18% of national spending and roads are 0.55%.
2022-23 Budget: Australia’s future population
The population projections for the 2022‑23 Budget include population growth and components at the national level out to 2032‑33 and 2025‑26 for states and territories.
$6.3m Federal Budget boost for Tennant Creek boarding school
Plans for a boarding school for Tennant Creek have been boosted by a $6.3 million funding announcement in this week’s Federal Budget. The funding is in addition to a standing $9.2 million Federal Government investment and a $3 million contribution from the NT Government.
