Money, power and guns
Money ... It's time to pull stumps on Metronet and accept we are not New York or London ... Power ... exploring the unforeseen consequences of over-investing in renewables ... Guns ... no logic in capping firearm numbers for recreational shooters, sporting shooters or primary producers ...
Leader of the Opposition visits The Barkly
Several of you would have seen a familiar face around town this week as Lia Finocchiaro, Leader of the Opposition joined Steve Edgington, Member for Barkly speaking with locals for updates from the Barkly region ... Lia stressed the importance of speaking to people on the ground to better represent them.
National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week
Friday is National Sorry Day, the annual event held on 26 May to acknowledge the pain, injustice and enduring impacts of the stolen generations on our First Nations communities.
No community consultation on bank closures
A senate Inquiry into regional bank closures has forced senior executives of the ANZ Bank into embarrassing admissions which reveals there is never any community consultation before branches are closed. In evidence before the Inquiry sitting at Ingham in Queensland, ANZ senior executives admitted all decisions about branch closures were taken by managers in state capital cities and local communities had no opportunity to voice objections about the impact of branch closures.
Radiation funds diverted
SA Health Minister Chris Picton says the government will be “undertaking a feasibility study and business case” regarding radiation treatment services in the Limestone Coast. The $80,000 inquiry comes despite documents revealing the embattled Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) plans to divert $4.3 million away from cancer patients requiring local radiation therapy.
Helping with housing rural workers
The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority is offering loans to help growers build small-scale rural workers’ accommodation. QRIDA Regional Area Manager for South East Queensland Brian Coe said providing accommodation for workers could give farm businesses a competitive edge with Australia’s low unemployment rate and rural housing shortage.
Gannawarra Shire Council adopts flag policy
The new policy governs the flying of flags ... locations in the municipality where flags can be flown on a temporary basis, and the process to apply for a request to fly additional flags ... My petition titled ‘Fly the flag, be the change’ was to highlight a grave inequity and discrimination that existed, one based on what appeared to be fear and phobia more than logic or science ... Council shelved the request, citing the need for a flag flying policy.
Ambulance mental health care enhanced
Toowoomba patients in crisis now have access to enhanced mental health services in their own home, thanks to the joint efforts of the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and Queensland Health. The Toowoomba Mental Health Co-Responder Service, which became operational last Wednesday, pairs a QAS senior paramedic with a senior mental health clinician from Darling Downs Health in order to deliver fast, collaborative specialist care.
Battling youth offending
With existing measures seemingly having minimal effect on perpetrators of youth crime, a 24/7 youth co-responder team was introduced to Toowoomba last weekend in an effort make a positive difference. In Toowoomba to launch the team last Saturday, new Youth Justice Minister Di Farmer said it was one of five new co-responder teams being established across Queensland, alongside Mount Isa, Hervey Bay, South Brisbane and Ipswich.
Timber industry chopped
The Andrews Government has announced the cessation of native forestry at the end of 2023, despite promises in 2019 to phase out native timber logging by 2030. The native timber industry represents a large segment of the state’s overall timber industry, creating 2,500 jobs and generating more than $770 million in revenue annually ... The Government will establish an advisory panel to consider and make recommendations on which forests to lock up as National Parks.
New deadline brings mixed response
The decision by the Victorian government to bring forward the end of native forest logging to January 2024 has been met with differing reactions ... "There are very few production systems on the globe that offer stronger sustainability credentials than well managed native forests. In fact, we know that well managed native forests can actually provide superior biodiversity, fire and climate outcomes": President of Forestry Australia, Dr Michelle Freeman ... On the other side of the coin, the Victorian National Parks Association ...
Learn, share and be a voice during National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week 2023 has been launched at TribalLink in Mapleton with a fire ceremony, traditional dance and presentations from Sunshine Coast Elders. Hundreds gathered on Jinibara Country to celebrate and learn more about First Nations’ history and culture.
NSW Farmers set target for EID
The state’s peak agricultural body says mandatory electronic identification tags for sheep should cost no more than $1 per tag, setting a clear target for state and federal governments ... farmers were still worried about how much the scheme might cost their businesses, and made it clear there must be financial support to implement traceability reform.
Energy Estate responds on Moah Creek Wind Farm
Energy Estate has provided a response to Australian Rural & Regional News regarding issues raised in the statement issued by David Littleproud, Leader of the Nationals, Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce and Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry concerning the impact of renewables ... "a commitment to minimising ongoing impacts to the environment ... to providing the opportunity for detailed public consultation ..."
It’s game on at the shire’s sports and recreation reserves
Planned sporting facility upgrades at the Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve in Maldon are one step closer following a recent meeting of Mount Alexander Shire Councillors. On Tuesday 16 May, Councillors unanimously voted to award a contract for the construction of a new all gender pavilion at the reserve to local builder BLR Provincial Pty Ltd.
Have your say on proposed rail trail
Mount Alexander Shire Council is partnering with Central Goldfields Shire Council and community group Castlemaine-Maryborough Rail Trail Inc. to determine the feasibility of a shared rail trail between Castlemaine and Maryborough. The proposed trail is 55km long and passes through the communities of Campbells Creek, Guildford, Newstead, Moolort and Carisbrook.
Limited tickets remain for River reflections – Narrabri: MDBA
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority's annual water conference River reflections is on in Narrabri on 14–15 June, and the final program is now available. The 2-day forum is a showcase of the communities, industries and ideas in water management and will include an address by MDBA Chair Sir Angus Houston.
Give a sheet ® for the planet with this one simple action
Single, doubles or queens – it’s time to dig deep into the depths of your linen cupboard to give those old sheets a second chance at life. To celebrate World Environment Day, Sunshine Coast Council and Noosa Council have teamed up with BlockTexx and St Vincent de Paul Society to hold a community textile recycling event, ‘Give a Sheet ® for the Planet’.
Livelihoods destroyed at the hands of the Victorian Premier: Wellington Shire Council
"In three years, we haven’t seen any evidence or sign that the Premier ever had plans to deliver on his promises to support the native timber industry with new pine plantations or any form of alternative supply. Now the livelihoods of hundreds of locals are shattered in an instant without a single word from the Premier or his government": Cr Ian Bye, Wellington Shire Council Mayor
Williamson pleads for help for struggling prawn industry
Newly elected Member for Clarence Richie Williamson has called on both the state and federal governments to step up and financially support the struggling Clarence River prawning industry. Mr Williamsons impassioned plea via a private members bill in NSW Parliament last week is a month after he joined forces with Federal National’s Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, to financially assist the industry where about 50 locals haven’t received an income for 18 weeks.
Rail trail proposal derails local enthusiasm
A substantial number of landholders and residents of rural communities between Glenreagh and Ulong are vehemently opposing a proposal by the Glenreagh Mountain Railway (GMR) and their newly established sister company Tallowwood Ventures Ltd (TVL) to develop a 35km section of the currently inactive Glenreagh to Dorrigo Branch Line and transform it into a rail trail ... several residents including former GMR members told the Clarence Valley Independent they are “frustrated, angry, and disturbed” by the proposal.
A budget for the ages – Grim, dark and deceptive: Bev McArthur
On 23 May 2023, the Premier Daniel Andrews said: “We’re doing everything we promised Victorians we’d do – and we’re not wasting a moment getting on with it”. What he perhaps should have said was: “We promised some things – we even promised to govern for all Victorians – but we will deliver only some things, dump plenty of others, and govern for a few.” For me there’s only one headline from this budget: Victoria is broke.
