Politics

A week after the May Federal Budget, the Government published changes to the visa category allocations ... Most surprising in the subsequent announcement was the decision to more than halve a skilled migration program reserved exclusively for regional areas from 33,000 to 14,110.

The nation-building Arafura Rare Earths Nolans Project has been declared the first Significant Project under the Territory Coordinator Act, supporting the coordinated delivery of the $1.6 billion development. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the project highlighted the critical role the Northern Territory is playing in supporting Australia's economy and national security.

A new and exciting tourism initiative, Retirees on the River – Seniors' Celebrations Echuca Moama, will bring a vibrant 12-day program of offers and activities to the Echuca Moama region from Monday 7 to Friday 18 September 2026.

Bernie Free. "We’re extremely disappointed with initial opening milk prices at a time when dairy farmers are facing skyrocketing on-farm costs. We must see this price stepped up in the coming weeks to ensure the viability of dairy farmers and processors in these turbulent times."

It has been more than a labour of love – artist Sally Joyce has transformed an upright piano into a work of art … “I wanted this piano to be a gift of unexpected beauty and a work beyond what was expected of me,” Sally said.

Following a record year in 2025-26, ABARES is forecasting the value of agricultural production to fall by 5 per cent to $98.3 billion in 2026-27, ($104.5 billion when fisheries and forestry are included). Agricultural export value is expected to fall, down $7 billion to $74.8 billion in 2026–?27 ($79.3 billion including fisheries and forestry exports). 

Michelle Wood. The Mining and Rehabilitation Demonstration Pit is designed to test GCM’s approach to mining and measure impacts across a number of key areas including how land can be rehabilitated. It enables evidence to be gathered in-situ and to gather data that informs better design for the broader project.

The test pit at the Fingerboards project site is now underway. Many in the community feel that it will not test very much at all.

One of the more interesting developments in modern journalism is that reporters increasingly seem to know the answer before they begin asking the questions ... The problem with Ros Thomas's recent Weekend Australian feature on paraquat and Parkinson's disease is that by the time you reach the end, you are left with the feeling that the destination was already known before the journey began.

Today, the Albanese Government announced it has secured the first vessel in its Maritime Strategic Fleet, the ANL Kokoda. The ANL Kokoda, a large cargo ship, will be the first to participate in the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program.

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has recently approved a further $2.4 billion in projects through the Development Facilitation Program (DFP).

Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster has taken Energy Minister Chris Bowen to task for his spin on Mallee battery rollout numbers, as the cost of the Government’s home battery scheme blows out. “I had to call out the Minister’s nonsense claiming Mallee has a home battery rollout ‘6 times Melbourne’ – which is very sneaky semantics...

The Minns Labor Government has delivered on its election commitment to employ an extra 1000 apprentices and trainees across the public sector, helping tackle skills shortages across essential services and create paid career pathways across NSW.

Shadow Minister for Racing and Gaming, Mr Lachlan Hunter MP, has called on the Minister to address serious concerns after two races at the controversial Lark Hill meeting were run over the wrong distance—an issue he had previously raised in Questions on Notice earlier this year.

A remote island off the coast of Tasmania has been declared free of feral cats after two years with no sign of the invasive species. Little Dog Island, an 83-hectare outer island of the Furneaux Group in Bass Strait, has been secured as a safe haven for wildlife including the estimated 500,000 pairs of short-tailed shearwaters that nest on the island between September and April each year.

A vacant block of land in Armidale Street, South Grafton owned by respected community and aged care housing provider, Clarence Village Limited, will soon house the largest modular social housing project in the nation ... “It will deliver 32 new self-contained one-bedroom social housing units designed specifically for older residents, with vulnerable single older women prioritised for the new homes,” Mr Williamson said.

...the trial of the $26.2 m bubble plume project is already making a positive difference by creating warmer temperatures throughout the Severn River’s Pindari Dam storage ... “This project aims to re-establish more natural water temperatures below dams for native fish breeding and growth. The project also ensures that water temperatures from environmental flow releases enhance the health of the river downstream”: Tara Moriarty.

The Nationals will fight to stop the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) by scrapping Labor's net zero agenda, which has driven the reckless renewables rollout across regional Australia. Speaking after a Farmers' Forum in St Arnaud last week, Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said farmers and the local community had made clear the disastrous impact Labor's net zero agenda was having on regional Victoria.

In the wake of National Volunteer Week, Volunteering Central Coast says proposed Commonwealth funding changes could dismantle the local volunteer support infrastructure that has enabled volunteering on the Central Coast for more than 40 years. Established in 1985, Volunteering Central Coast currently supports more than 60 local community organisations and promotes about 170 volunteer roles, many of which require multiple volunteers to meet community need.

Sean Cunningham. A push to breathe new life into the town's vacant main street shops was presented to Narrandera Shire Council, with a proposal to form a joint committee between the council and the Chamber of Commerce. Councillor Bob Manning submitted the Notice of Motion to last week's meeting...