Politics

The Federal Government’s push to go ‘green’ appears to be spiralling out of control, with new costs estimated that the transition will take $1.3 to $1.5 trillion … What do we get for our money? Cheap, reliable, centralised power generation, with technology that will last for more than half a century? Or expensive, decentralised, precious metal intensive, unreliable, short-lived technology that will carve across some of Australia’s most precious landscape?

GrainGrowers has called on the federal government to work with industry to ensure Australian growers can tap into biotechnology developments and deliver timely access to innovative crop genetics.

Hugh Schuitemaker. The current Gerard Council will again appear before the Berri Court, in January, with a "reset" in its management needed to help the community, according to a wellknown local figure ... In response to last week's article, a State Government spokesperson said "the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Kyam Maher) has been made aware of the concerns that have been raised by Mr Lindsay".

"The Albanese Labor Government has introduced a new Bill to the Federal Parliament that gives the government and its bureaucrats extraordinary powers to regulate speech and decide what is classed as misinformation ... We have seen the Bill opposed by the Victorian Bar Association, the NSW Solicitor-General, Human Rights Commission, and the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties": Member for Page, Kevin Hogan.

Here’s an idea for you: Australia has around 15 million taxpayers, but only 50 per cent are net contributors, meaning they actually pay more than they receive back in rebates and deductions ... Now, with the government forecasting a surplus ... wouldn't it be nice if those of us contributing more than our fair share had a say in how that surplus is spent—or, dare I say, saved?

After the Albanese Government recently announced a proposal to introduce new laws to prohibit youths aged 16 and under from accessing and using social media, citing the changes are aimed at mitigating the harm social media is inflicting on Australian children, the Clarence Valley Independent decided to conduct a street survey.

Farming families and small business owners across the country have been left speechless by the Agriculture and Small Business Minister Julie Collins’ response in question time ... regarding proposed changes to superannuation. When asked whether the changes would result in a tax bill on unrealised gains even in years with zero or negative income, the Minister confirmed farmers would have to find the cash – potentially forcing the sale of family farms.

Six South Australian businesses will take part in the delegation led by the industry’s peak body, Distillers SA, and will showcase their award-winning gin, whisky, brandy, vermouth and liqueurs for Singaporean importers and consumers at targeted business meetings, tasting events and site visits...

Sarah Herrmann. The Federal Government is set to follow the South Australian Government in introducing a bill to ban political donations this week. SA’s legislation was discussed in the Upper House last week, and the government said it had secured support from the Liberal Party, minor parties and other MPs.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the latest detection of fire ants in northern New South Wales shows the former Queensland Labor Government was too slow to act on the Senate inquiry report "Red imported fire ants in Australia – ‘don’t let this come back to bite us’" … the Clunes discovery … comes after previous findings of fire ants in Murwillumbah and Wardell.

Michelle Daw. Yorke Peninsula residents are being urged to contribute to a long-awaited inquiry into health services in the region launched on November 14. The inquiry was triggered by a petition signed by nearly 11,000 people. It was led by Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis, who lodged it with State Parliament in November 2023.

The Cairns Group of Farm Leaders (CGFL) are a group of farm organisations from Cairns Group countries, a coalition of agricultural exporting countries. Together, we represent farmers that grow and produce over one third of the world's agricultural exports. It is our vision to create a world with an equitable and enforceable rules-based trading system in agriculture.

For the many people who have spent years working on this issue, culminating in the senate inquiry being called in 2023, the failure to respond officially to the final report and subsequent behavior of the federal treasurer, is highly disrespectful ... Jim Chalmers needs to recognise the democratic processes of government and stop white-anting the findings of this inquiry.

City of Coffs Harbour will be represented as the NSW Government moves toward the creation of a Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast ... The consultation process - as it works toward the park’s formation - includes establishment of three advisory panels (Aboriginal groups, community and industry) ... Coffs Harbour Council resolved to nominate Cr Jonathan Cassell to the Great Koala National Park Community Advisory Panel.  

The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (ASSEA) is calling on Australians to understand the growing dangers of ageing and deteriorating asbestos, particularly as the summer season approaches, and home renovation projects kick off. Despite a complete asbestos ban more than 20 years ago, an estimated one in three homes across Australia still contain asbestos.  

As bracket creep pushes more and more people into the top tax rate ... it is only a matter of time before Australians who are mobile enough decide they don’t want to pour an ever-greater part of their annual income into funding Albanese's political priorities. For those who can pick up and leave the country to escape our high tax rates I thought I would give you a quick world tour of where you can park yourself ...

In the opening sequence we’re told by the central character, played by Anna Torv: “Everything up here is trying to kill you.” Not long after we see an already injured man getting mauled to death by a pack of feral dogs … That’s the start of the Netflix series Territory into which the NT Government has sunk $1.3m of taxpayers’ money and on the back of which our tourism promoters want to boost the industry, currently running at half its normal speed.

Payroll tax on GPs, increasing costs for GP visits, and a complicated Medicare scheme—is our health system failing our communities and the most vulnerable?... We asked the SA Health Minister Chris Picton, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, SA Shadow Regional Health Services Minister Penny Pratt, and Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, what needs to be done to reduce the burden of increasing healthcare costs on people in country towns, where access to various health services is already limited?