Wycheproof Wetlands Precinct to boost nature based tourism: Dimopoulos
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos announced construction will soon begin on the Wycheproof Wetlands Precinct – which is backed by the Labor Government. The project is helping to create a 70,000m2 wetland system, transforming the area into a world-class nature-based tourism experience while offering new recreation opportunities.
New Slade Point social housing complete: Scanlon
A local family in need of housing will soon move into a newly completed three-bedroom social home in Slade Point ... 98 new social homes will be underway in the Mackay-Whitsunday region by mid-2025 through a planned investment of $36 million.
Feds can’t rest on competition reform: NSW Farmers
Farmers are calling on the Federal Government to implement competition reforms that will tackle cost of living pressures. NSW Farmers CEO Pete Arkle said the ACCC had made a number of recommendations in its 2020 Perishable Agricultural Goods Inquiry that would bring food prices down for consumers, but so far they had been largely ignored.
Devil’s in the detail of new 10 per cent biosecurity tax: Barry Large, GPA
The devil’s in the detail of the federal budget’s announcement of a new 10 per cent Biosecurity Protection Levy ... Federal Agriculture Minister, Murray Watt, has proposed raising $47.5 million per year across all producers from the added 10 per cent levy, as part of a ‘sustainable’ funding model for biosecurity protections ... we don’t know what the value proposition is for grains and if it will actually deliver better protections.
Delay in timber contracts – $11 million to prop up Forestry Commission: SFI Roundtable
Questioning by the WA Opposition’s Mia Davies has revealed that the Forest Products Commission is not planning on issuing any timber contracts from 1 January 2024 until an indeterminant time in the future ... “It is a clear tactic to force businesses out of the sector”, said David Utting, convenor of the Sustainable Forest Industries Roundtable.
State of the Industry 2022: TRA
TRA has now published the State of the Industry 2022 report. This annual report presents a snapshot of Australia’s visitor economy in 2022.
Neglecting older Australians – A missed opportunity for workforce inclusion and economic progress: Hugh Christie, TFGA
Australia is now grappling with a labour shortage across multiple sectors including health, aged care and agriculture. And our policymakers seem to continue to overlook retirees as part of the solution to the crisis.
Aboriginal law firm to update ‘organisational policies and procedures’
North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency CEO Priscilla Atkins, who says she is currently on leave, discloses she was “excluded from the beginning” from an investigation by KPMG, a world-wide professional services firm which produced a scathing report about the law firm, the Territory’s biggest.
Atlas brings muscle to Australia’s clean energy future: King
An industry-led, wide-scale search through previously mined and discarded rock and earth could help boost Australia’s global position as a clean energy powerhouse ... Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the new Atlas of Australian Mine Waste, could provide industry with additional opportunities to extract valuable resources from previously mined rock and earth.
Tougher penalties for obstructing public places: Malinauskas, Maher
The State Government welcomes the passage through the Parliament’s Upper House of a bill to toughen the available penalties for people who intentionally obstruct public places. The Legislative Council passed the Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Bill. The bill increases the potential penalty for public obstruction from a $750 fine to a maximum of $50,000 or three months in prison.
Seen deer in a headlight? We want to know about it!
A new survey has just been launched to gather community support to better understand the prevalence, impacts and perception of feral deer in the Northern Rivers. Tweed Shire Council, in partnership with Kyogle and Byron Shire councils, has launched a survey to understand the community’s perception of feral deer, the impacts of feral deer, the presence or absence of feral deer in the Northern Rivers and the need to control them.
Let’s talk about a Voice to Parliament
This week is National Reconciliation Week, the crucial annual event observed in Australia to promote reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians ... The Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Maldon, on Djaara Country, is deeply committed to cultivating understanding, respect, and relationships with the Dja Dja Wurrung people, as well as with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Senator speaks on the “Voice”
Alison McEwen. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Senator for NT, addressed the Victorian Nationals State Conference held in Creswick ... The attendees were interested to hear that it is estimated that large numbers of the population do want the indigenous First Nations people to be included in the Preamble of the Constitution! This statement coming from an indigenous Senator who is a member of the Nationals, who in turn are saying Vote No to the Voice, was a surprise. Jacinta said this is the most divisive referendum ever held.
Another rushed change to Interconnector west
The Victorian Government has taken another step to accelerate the Victoria-New South Wales Interconnector West (VNI West) project at the expense of Mallee landholders. "State Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has used her powers to order the Australian Energy Market Operator AEMO to proceed with another new preferred route for the project, Option 5A, following weeks of tokenistic and rushed consultation that has frustrated concerned farmers and communities," says Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster.
Budget holes, crumble roads
“We don’t drive on the left side of the road, we drive on what’s left of them”. That is the strong message from the Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, after more roads funding cuts in a brutal State Budget. Road maintenance funding has been slashed by 25 per cent from 2022 to 2023. In total, it has been cut a whopping 45 per cent since 2020.
Rockhampton to host Queensland Country Rugby Union Championships
Queensland Country Rugby Union have announced that the 2023 Queensland Country Rugby Union Championships will be hosted at Victoria Park in Rockhampton, proudly sponsored by Rockhampton Regional Council. The event is expected to attract between 700-800 players and their families at the end of June this year and will be held in Rockhampton again in 2024.
Gannawarra Shire Council supports VNI West option 5A route
Gannawarra Shire Council has welcomed a proposed realignment of the VNI West route, which would involve constructing new high capacity electricity transmission lines that will pass through the Gannawarra ... “Council, along with the Murray River Group of Councils, has been advocating for VNI West to pass through the Gannawarra, and we have been promoting the benefits of these works to our residents for the past six years,” Mayor Charlie Gillingham said.
Lights upgrade nearly done
A final seal was laid on Lights Road last week signalling the end of the $700,000 road upgrade which is expected to be finished at the end of this month ... Local contractors and the Shire have faced weather delays, but the project is set to be delivered within budget and with minimal environmental impact on the community.
Farmers warned of new land tax
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) told a recent Victorian Parliament inquiry that using land tax to replace stamp duty on property sales is not a viable option. Speaking to the Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee’s Inquiry into Land Transfer Duty, VFF President Emma Germano said a move to abolish stamp duty should not lead to the imposition of land tax on farm properties.
Telstra’s “big project” rejected
Telecommunications company Telstra is seeking ratepayer funding to help build towers in the Limestone Coast region as part of a "big project". In a proposal to the Naracoorte-Lucindale Council, a Telstra SA and Tasmania area general manager Michael Patterson outlined Telstra's proposal for the South-East, asking for a five percent funding investment by the council.
30 flat tyres along one road
After around 30 flat tyres which were speared by stones, James Road is finally on the Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s list of things to do. Almost 13 kms long, 400 metres of James Road was resheeted around three years ago with material including the overburden of a porphyry mine in the Kingston District Council area.
VNI West: power line angst
As government policies lead to soaring energy prices, the Victorian Government is changing the preferred route and accelerating works on the 500 kilovolt double-circuit overhead transmission line between Victoria and New South Wales ... According to the AEMO report, councils have indicated there is a broader social licence for VNI West crossing the Murray River north of Kerang (option 5a) instead of the Echuca route, and therefore more likelihood of timely implementation.
