Offshoring of Australia’s food processing must be reversed: BCCM
The Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals today said the offshoring of Australia’s food processing capability must be reversed ... “The last three decades have seen more and more of our food processing offshored and a steady decline in Australian owned agricultural supply chains,” said BCCM CEO Melina Morrison.
Hamilton speaks out against pharmacy changes
"Having spoken at length to several pharmacists in my electorate, my greatest concern is for residents of small communities like Goombungee, Kingsthorpe, Cambooya and Westbrook," Mr Hamilton said. "The small local pharmacies in these towns simply are not large enough to sustain significant changes to their business model."
Why?
Every morning, busloads of students leave Naracoorte for their secondary education in schools in Mount Gambier and Lucindale ... Many other parents choose boarding schools in Victoria and Adelaide, where students live during each school term ... While this could be a matter of choice for many, why do you think this is happening, and what’s driving the parents to make this decision when we have a public school in Naracoorte?
Bold changes
An education union has called for bold changes in the way the South Australian Education Department manages education across the state, particularly in country schools. Australian Education Union (SA Branch) president Andrew Gohl says for over a decade, governments have banked on the goodwill of educators to keep their system running ... the Department’s own Country Education Strategy highlighted several areas that needed improvement, including the attraction and retention of staff, incentives, access to student support services, country housing, and conditions.
New soil practitioner accreditation hits the ground running: DAFF
Farmers and land managers can have more confidence in soil practitioner knowledge thanks to a new $1 million accreditation funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The Registered Soil Practitioner (RSP) accreditation, which was developed by Soil Science Australia in collaboration with soil scientists, industry, government and land and natural resource managers, opened for applications on 22 May.
Country mayors body defends regional councillors
Mayors and Councillors from across regional NSW have been accused of being incompetent and not worthy of the money they are paid to serve their communities in a recent speech delivered by new Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig during question time in State Parliament last week ... "My annual stipend for working an average of 50-60 hours per week is $37,000. Minister Hoenig is paid $315,000 per annum and he has the hide to deny Mayors a fair and reasonable stipend when our Queensland counterparts are paid $108,000. He's unworthy of his very privileged position and will damage this government and relations between Local Government and the Ministers. What a shame": Mayor of Narromine Shire Council, Cr Craig Davies.
Mitigate, prepare and plan – bushfire season is coming
Bushfire season is approaching! The Rockhampton Region is at its highest risk from July to February. Chair of the LDMG and Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said the region is at a higher risk for the 2023-24 season in comparison to previous fire seasons.
Shire of Broome and Nyamba Buru Yawuru sign historic Memorandum of Understanding
Reconciliation Week 2023 was a special one for Broome with the Shire and Nyamba Buru Yawuru signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday, June 1 at the Jiljirrgun Town Beach Night Market. The MoU ... recognises how a productive relationship would have mutual benefits for both parties and would promote the delivery of shared values for future generations.
Paul Kelly concert to help the Red Centre warm up this October: Kirby
Legendary music icon Paul Kelly is heading to Alice Springs this October to headline an exciting new event, The Warm-Up ... His performance will complete a program of activity for The Warm-Up, which will celebrate one-year-out from the return of the 2024 Alice Springs Masters Games.
Koala politics
Vic Jurskis. Since NSW koalas were declared endangered 12 months ago, they’re turning up everywhere. Here's the latest: "... uncovered a new population of 42 koalas at Coolah Tops, north west of Sydney, when the previous government only had five documented koala sightings in the area over the past 70 years." ... The new Minister says, “all estimates have koalas on track to be extinct by 2050” ... A few questions for the new Minister ...
‘The Winning Formula for Regional Victoria’ – How the 2026 Commonwealth Games can benefit all of regional Victoria
Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) launches ‘The Winning Formula for Regional Victoria’, a document outlining the group’s priorities to ensure a lasting legacy is created for the whole of regional Victoria as part of the 2026 Commonwealth Games ... The Winning Formula for Regional Victoria examines six key areas with recommendations that will ensure a lasting legacy for every regional city beyond the event period and across the whole state, not just for the five cities hosting events...
Pest animal control to help threatened species in the Tweed
Pest animal control works will commence across Tweed coastal areas from 6 June 2023 after a successful program in previous years. Recent camera monitoring has recorded pest animal activity in the coastal bushland areas at Fingal Head, Kingscliff, Hastings Point and Pottsville. Species recorded on the cameras have included foxes and European hares...
Final clean sweep planned for ‘Rum Jungle’
The four-year long community led rehabilitation of ‘Rum Jungle’ is nearing completion with a final clean-up and Boxthorn Blitz workshop taking place next weekend. To celebrate the successful initiative, members of the community who come out one last time will be treated to morning tea, giveaways and a couple of numbers from Geraldton’s Sea Shanty group aptly called Rum Jungle.
Meters, morons and monopoly
When a Senate Estimates Hearing in Canberra interviews the Inspector General (IG) of Water Compliance, Troy Grant, you would expect reference to meters, but not to morons and the game Monopoly. However during his interview with the Senators on Friday 26th May, Troy Grant used morons and monopoly to drive home the problems with the current water legislation ... "the legislation is rubbish".
Wheels turn on inclusive cycling
Fin Hansen. Elderly people and those with disabilities are being encouraged to sit back while someone else pedals. Wallaroo Community Development Association has launched a Cycling Without Age chapter and purchased a trishaw bike to transport people across the Copper Coast comfortably.
Crying out for accessible care
Australia needs a high-quality, universally accessible and affordable early learning childcare system, according to Thrive by Five. The organisation is calling on federal and state governments to reform early learning and child care to benefit more families and early education staff.
Remember to have your say: ARTC
We want to understand how we can better work with our communities to ensure you have the information you need and the opportunity to provide feedback as Inland Rail progresses. Now is your chance to provide anonymous feedback on how we can improve our future communication and interactions with you by completing this quarterly communication and engagement survey.
ANZ Clarkson branch to close
The ANZ Clarkson branch is set to close this week while the ANZ Joondalup branch will move to a new location. In letters to customers the ANZ said its Clarkson branch at Unit 2, 23 Ocean Keys Blvd would close at 4pm on Wednesday, June 7.
Charlton child care in limbo
Charlton families have been left in the lurch with the Buloke Shire’s exclusion from the Federal Government’s Community Child Care Fund (CCF). Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, has written to Early Childhood Education Minister, Anne Aly, urging her to intervene in Charlton’s Child Care Desert.
Meat Business Women – Gender Representation in the Meat Industry 2023
The independent, global Gender Representation in the Meat Industry 2023 report draws on international data from more than 50 major meat organisations ... Australia's OBE Organic - whose MD Dalene Wray is herself a notable woman in the meat business - featured as a case study in the report ... ARR.News asked some questions about women in the meat business of Dalene and Laura Ryan, Founder and Global Chair of Meat Business Women.
Rudderless PALM on the road to ruin: NFF
The NFF Horticulture Council has rung the alarm bells loud and clear that the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is now heading toward calamity ... Horticulture Council spokesperson Rachel Chambers said it was increasingly clear relevant ministers aren’t working together to ensure the scheme meets the long-terms interests of the Pacific and Australian industries it’s meant to serve. 
Fairy Hill identified for housing opportunity
Richmond Valley Council has welcomed the release of the draft Resilient Lands Strategy by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation. The strategy has identified Fairy Hill as a flood-safe housing opportunity.
