Politics

They may look cute and cuddly, but these highly trained sniffer dogs mean business. Fire ant odour detection dogs and their handlers were mobilised in the Lockyer Valley last month to search for the highly invasive pest.

The current fuel crisis failed to hinder hundreds of motor vehicle enthusiasts descending on Narrandera over the Easter long weekend for the annual Narrandera Rod Run. Although many visitors had to pay high prices for fuel to travel to the event, the situation did not put a dampener on an amazing weekend of incredible vintage vehicles taking to the streets.

Patricia Gill. Bernard Wong hopes to inspire a shared custodial ownership of the submarine world at Greens Pool. "When people have a strong, intimate connection with a place, they will work hard to look after it," he says. Since 1990 he has observed the movement of rays and their flotilla of cleaner fish, giant blue groper, camouflaged wobbegongs, conspiring old wives and much more submerged among the granite pillars.

A cut in fuel excise to make petrol more affordable and a push for more Victorians to use public transport instead of driving are welcome measures to help navigate the fuel crisis, according to Rural Councils Victoria. The 50 per cent excise cut will mean immediate relief at the bowser for rural residents and business operators including farmers.

A forum highlighting the negative impacts of the basin plan on rural communities was held in Barham recently – hundreds were in attendance or have watched the forum online. Southern Riverina Irrigators (SRI) joined the Central Murray Environmental Floodplain Group, The Bridge Newspaper and Upper Goulburn Catchment Alliance to organise the event which included a variety of speakers across industry, science and agriculture.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) and Department of Home Affairs’ Australian Border Force (ABF) have ramped up their compliance efforts across South Australia’s wine regions, conducting coordinated unannounced inspections targeting vineyard owners and labour hire providers.

Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) says the Minns Government’s final Budget before the election is a defining moment to address the growing inequity facing regional communities, inequity now being accelerated by the growing national fuel crisis ... RCNSW’s 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission highlights a widening gap between rapid regional population growth and the infrastructure needed to support it.

Residents across Yorke Peninsula are being encouraged to support a petition calling for stamp duty to be waived on existing homes for first homebuyers in regional South Australia. The initiative, led by the City of Victor Harbor and supported by Barunga West Council and other regional councils, aims to reduce upfront costs for buyers and improve housing access in country areas.

Council has welcomed the Queensland Government’s plans for a cutting-edge biofuel plantation near Emerald. Mayor Janice Moriarty joined state government, education, business and industry representatives at an initial tree planting of 16,000 Pongamia trees recently to mark the commencement of the project. 

Where is the Green Sheep? is an immersive visual theatre experience based on the beloved children’s book by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek. We meet Blue Sheep who loves blue flowers and Red Sheep who loves to cartwheel in the fields, Bath Sheep who loves bubbles and Bed Sheep who loves to bounce... But where is that Green Sheep?

The White Cliffs Power Station is the first commercially operated solar thermal power station in NSW and one of the earliest of its kind in the world ... It is a popular tourist attraction and "tourism is an important economic driver for our small communities." The Heritage Council of NSW is thinking about putting the power station on the State Heritage register.

Steven Eade is not easy to find in Hay. He moves through town quietly, keeps odd hours, and has spent most of his 11 years here trying to take up as little space as possible ... "People say, ‘I didn't know you were still here. Where have you been?'" he said. "And I tell them, I'm hiding under a rock where I belong." He is not entirely joking.

“I am deeply humbled and incredibly grateful… It’s a historic result, and I don't take this trust lightly. I’m ready to get to work.” That was the message from One Nation’s Jason Virgo after a stunning election result delivered a massive swing across the MacKillop electorate - with Naracoorte emerging as a key signal of change.

In a stunning act of betrayal, the Liberal and National parties have back-flipped on a commitment made in the Senate just seven days earlier and voted with Labor to scuttle a motion that would have relegated the Government’s problematic cash mandate regulations to history ... Senator Michaelia Cash stood up last Tuesday and, speaking for both the Liberals and National parties, ridiculed the proposal and accused One Nation of trying to “ban cash”.

Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest 2026 is fast approaching, with a packed program set to bring Maitland to life on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April. Alongside the headline ARTC Rail Program, there’s plenty happening across the city for all-ages.

Anyone trying to understand why regional Australians are turning their backs on the major parties need only look at what happened when a motion to disallow the Government’s problematic cash mandate regulations came up for vote in the Senate this week. Lodged by One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, the motion had the numbers to pass...

The Malinauskas Labor Government is fast-tracking new heavy freight reforms to lift productivity and drive down costs, including by delivering a reduction in fuel usage of up to 18 per cent. The reforms will take effect immediately and will see 100 new network maps introduced across state roads in South Australia, unlocking access to more efficient truck and trailer configurations and providing increased operational flexibility.

April is 'Bee Blitz' month in Western Australia to highlight the importance of early detection and reporting to protect the State's bee industry and crucial pollination services from harmful pests and diseases. WA undertakes State and national bee pest surveillance programs...

Mallee residents can report fuel outages in their area using a new website, Dr Anne Webster MP, Federal Member for Mallee, said today, calling on residents to log fuel shortages on www.nofuelhere.com.au as communities across regional Australia feel the sting of the nation's fuel crisis.

More than 1.2 million litres of diesel every week could be back in the hands of our truckies and farmers if we had CopperString to Mount Isa, Robbie Katter, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader, and Member for Traeger has said. A survey of power-isolated mines in the North West Minerals Provence has revealed 13 triple road trains a week are needed to generate on-site electricity...

Tasmania’s peak body for farmers is warning that growers are now considering ceasing harvest as a lack of government planning, fertiliser shortages and high diesel prices make it increasingly unviable to continue this season ... “Given where fuel prices are at the moment, and with fertiliser becoming harder to access, farmers are seriously considering whether to harvest, “Mr Cox said.