Politics

The National Farmers Federation has welcomed recent announcements on the roll-out of the Future Drought Fund’s (FDF) Farm Business Resilience Program, a program that will provide practical training for farms on strategic business management, natural resource management, and personal and social resilience. "This program will be crucial in building our farmers fundamental business and strategic planning skills with respect to resilience and preparedness," NFF CEO Tony Mahar said.

Geoff Helisma. NSW Teachers Federation members stopped work at several schools across the state last week, including two in the Clarence Valley, in protest over staff shortages, and to express their concerns of being unable to find replacement teachers to fill casual and temporary positions. In two separate media releases, NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Henry Rajendra said teachers are angry the NSW Government has failed to properly staff local education centers. He said the impact at Grafton High School has resulted in a large number of classes being left without a teacher for many months this year, and during the past six weeks, 160 teaching periods have been left uncovered at the school.

Shire of Ashburton are thrilled that the Neil and Judy Baker Shell Museum opens this week in Onslow ... “Council has supported and worked hard to be able to showcase the impressive shell collection from residents Neil and Judy Baker so that it can be enjoyed by tourists and the community for decades to come”, said Councillor White. “Accumulated for over 60 years, most of the shells have been collected from the waters and islands surrounding Onslow, with others coming from Europe as collector items.

Council’s push for an improved planning approach to renewable energy developments has received a boost after gaining support from the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV). In a motion put to Friday’s MAV State Council, Moyne Shire Council called on the MAV to advocate to the Planning Minister and Energy and Environment Minister for a strategic approach to be taken on renewable energy projects and transmission lines.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is almost here and this year’s theme ‘More than a word, Reconciliation takes action’ is all about Australians making impactful social change. Events are happening throughout Geraldton as well as online from Wednesday 26 May to Thursday 3 June, and most of them are free.

Many Australians appear to be living in a fool’s paradise believing that they can continue to shut out the world whilst running up mountains of debt and participating in a property bubble which will one day explode. For those Australians, and there are many of them, who do not subscribe to the apparently dominant mind-set, these are deeply worrying times. Far more worrying than concern about what will inevitably be a transitory virus is the probability that our way of life will have been changed forever – for the worse.

The community of Newhaven will soon be the custodians of a significant sculpture, created by renowned Australian artist, Geoffrey Bartlett ... “My proposal for the sculpture draws a connection between the past and present of the Newhaven precinct, through the poetic interpretation of the local maritime history,” Mr Bartlett said.

'Paintings you probably haven’t seen' is a brilliant and surprising new touring exhibition from Ken Done, one of Australia’s best-known artists and 'Pen, Print, Paint & Pixel' an exhibition from Stephen Michael King, the award-winning author and illustrator whose career has spanned over thirty years.

The State of Queensland’s 162nd birthday is coming up and to celebrate Scenic Rim Regional Council will host events in Beaudesert, Boonah and Tamborine Mountain for the whole family to enjoy.

Australian Regional Tourism and convention partner, City of Ballarat, is pleased to announce that Ballarat, Victoria will be hosting the 2021 Australian Regional Tourism Convention (ARTC) to be held 11-13 October 2021 ... The ART Convention is a must-attend event for local councils, regional tourism organisations, tourism professionals and businesses, and government personnel wanting to contribute to the future of regional tourism in Australia, with the 2021 Convention theme ‘A Robust Visitor Economy – navigating our new future’

Central Goldfields Shire Council is one of forty-six Victorian Councils to sign on to VECO, the Victorian Energy Collaboration, the largest ever emissions reduction project by local government in Australia. VECO, led by Darebin City Council in Melbourne’s north, will provide 45 per cent of all Victorian Councils’ electricity requirements with 100 per cent renewables, reducing greenhouse emissions by 260,000 tonnes of C02-e every year.

Rockhampton Regional Council is excited to host the national touring exhibition Submerged – Stories of Australia’s Shipwrecks at the Northside Library from 24 May - 4 June and from 7 June - 30 June at Rockhampton Regional Library on the south side ... “68 shipwreck stories were nominated by 46 maritime museums and heritage institutions from around Australia with 14 of the most compelling stories selected to feature in the exhibition,” Communities and Heritage Councillor Drew Wickerson said.

The Kwinana Recquatic Centre is now a ‘Gold’ Waterwise Aquatic Centre, recognised by Water Corporation for demonstrating best practice water management ... Mayor Carol Adams said the City’s aim was to be a water sensitive and climate resilient community.

Residents will be able to view the works from some of Australia’s top astrophotographers when a travelling exhibition will be based at Kerang’s Sir John Gorton Library this June and July. Presented by the Central West Astronomical Society, the Museum of Applied Arts and Science and the CSIRO, the 2020 David Malin Awards Winning Sky Photos Exhibition features the top entries from this renowned astrophotography exhibition.

Whyalla’s ambitions to be a key player in both the State and Federal Governments’ hydrogen plans have been given a significant boost, with the State Government seeking expressions of interest (EOIs) to develop land at nearby Port Bonython. The Marshall Government has labelled the site ‘one of SA’s most prospective hydrogen export hubs’, which City of Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin said was fantastic news for the city.

A joint initiative between all levels of Government and the private sector saw the Australian Government contribute $3.3 million from the Roads to Recovery Program, the Northern Territory Government contribute $1.4 million, the McArthur River Mine Community Benefits Trust contribute $1.4 million, and the Roper Gulf Regional Council contribute $577,715.

"The NFF values the close relationship we have with our counterparts in the UK National Farmers Union," President Fiona Simson said. "The NFF was warmly welcomed to the UK in 2019 by NFU President Minette Batters and despite the distance and geographical differences our farmers share many of the same issues and challenges as our UK peers."

A recent Koondrook Development Committee meeting included discussions surrounding the Victorian Government decision to close down native timber harvesting in the remaining red gum state forest within the Gannawarra Shire. The forests includes Gunbower, Guttrum and Benwell State Forests. The importance of the red gum industry to the Koondrook community and the Gannawarra Shire was acknowledged by the attendants at the meeting.

Sophie Baldwin, SRI. The recent disallowance of Water Minister, Melinda Pavey’s floodplain harvesting regulations has been welcomed by Southern Riverina Irrigators and Southern Connected Basin Communities. While we support licensing and metering of a process that has been allowed to grow unchecked for 27 years, the regulations in their current form did little to protect southern basin communities – communities already hit hard by the implementation of the Basin Plan and poor water policy.