Politics

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) and Department of Home Affairs have joined forces under the Shadow Economy Taskforce to investigate labour hire providers suspected of unlawful conduct in the agriculture industry through surprise visits in the Gatton region in Southeast Queensland.

Set aside Friday 20 December – the annual Lockyer Valley Christmas Carnival is back! Gatton’s North Street is set to resemble a winter wonderland for the beloved event, which is set to be a fun-filled family night … “The Winter Wonderland theme was so well received in 2022, we simply knew we had to bring it back.

Skills funding policy must be reshaped by the Australian, state, and territory governments to enable more students in remote, rural and regional areas to take up skills training, according to the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the peak body representing independent skills training, higher education, and international education providers.

Narrandera Shire Council has received the results from recent PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) testing in the local drinking water supply, offering assurances to residents that there is no cause for concern. The assurances follow recent complaints from residents about the colour of Narrandera water which is not a new occurrence in the town.

Narrandera High School student Tahlia Gilbert has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to Aboriginal education in NSW public schools at the 19th annual Nanga Mai Awards. Tahlia’s award was the outstanding all-rounder student of the year in NSW’s secondary education.

The reason behind why Wyreema residents were faced with little or no water coming from their taps a few weeks ago has been revealed ... a large storm caused a power surge, with the Wyreema water tower perhaps even being struck by lightning. "That resulted in substantial damage to some of our most critical infrastructure that left almost 2,100 residents with either low or limited water supply," Mr Passier said.

Farmers who hold properties in self-managed super funds (SMSFs) have had a win, with Labor delaying its shocking SMSF tax policy until after the next election.

Paris Rose Brailsford, a 21-year-old youth advocate from the Clarence Valley, proudly represented her region at the first-ever NSW Youth Summit held in Sydney ... The Summit brought together participants from diverse regional and metro communities, cultural backgrounds and life experiences.

Sebastian Calderon. Loxton has become the Murray River Queen's (MRQ) new home after the boat’s successful voyage from Renmark ... The Paringa Bridge crossing was one of the highlights during her trip, as cars and people gathered to see the bridge go up and give way to Donna Neale and her team steaming the MRQ.

In his latest attempt to channel Australia’s wealth into government-approved projects, Chalmers announced plans to steer the Future Fund toward housing and renewables, claiming these priorities will secure both national prosperity and a moral high ground. But if the Treasurer is serious about backing industries with real potential, it’s time to herd the Future Fund into the sheep yards of Western Australia, where $200 million could establish a state-of-the-art abattoir to breathe life into a sector gasping under the weight of Canberra’s policy redirection.  

Hugh Schuitemaker. A significant milestone in Renmark’s recovery from the 2022/23 flood event has been marked with the opening of the town’s new wharf. A large crowd of local residents, plus local and state government representatives, gathered at the Renmark riverfront last Wednesday to mark the opening of the town’s redeveloped wharf.

Labour shortages in the horticulture sector have eased slightly, according to a report from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). ABARES executive director Dr Jared Greenville said the report, based on a survey of over 2,000 horticulture farms across Australia, showed a fall in the number of farms struggling to find workers.

The Hon. Paul Papalia. I am writing to thank the Two Rocks Yanchep Residents Association for their August 19 correspondence regarding staffing and operational hours at Yanchep Police Station. The Western Australia Police Force advise that metropolitan police districts provide the community with a 24 hour per day, 365 days per year policing response.

An important milestone in constructing Lismore’s new $3.9 million Lismore Skatepark was reached this week, with the pouring of 2400m2 of concrete set to begin ... The facility includes both ‘street’ and ‘park’ (bowl) sections and a covered mini ramp, which is eagerly anticipated by the local skater community.

The Albanese Labor Government’s Aged Care Bill has today passed Parliament, ensuring once-in-a-generation reforms to aged care ... Starting from 1 July 2025, the new Act will deliver a range of improvements including a tougher regulatory model, strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and a Statement of Rights to ensure older people and their needs are at the centre of the new aged care system.

In a major win for connectivity and economic growth, Sunshine Coast Council will partner with Google, NEXTDC and others on Australia Connect, an initiative to further the reach, reliability and resilience of digital connectivity in Australia and the Indo-Pacific. Australia Connect will deliver new subsea cable systems and build on the Pacific Connect initiative.

Buloke Shire Council has officially re-elected Cr. Alan Getley as Mayor, and Cr. Graeme Milne as Deputy Mayor, during the Special Council Meeting ... in Wycheproof. The meeting also confirmed the Council’s delegate appointments and set the schedule for the year ahead.