Families left in the dark as Labor fails to raise alarm over cochlear implant issues: Speirs, Hurn
The Opposition is calling on the Malinauskas Labor Government to write to and engage with all families who received cochlear implant care at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital over the past decade ... It comes as more heartbreaking stories of South Australian children who have experienced issues with their cochlear implants come to light...
Replacement of Rockhampton Memorial Gardens Leichhardt tree
This week Council will be removing the Leichhardt tree at the Rockhampton Memorial Gardens and replacing it with two young trees which have been propagated from the original ... “This tree has been part of the Memorial Gardens landscape since the site was created in 1996": Communities and Heritage Councillor Drew Wickerson.
Forum to help in-home aged care providers prepare for major industry reform
Tweed Shire Council, with partners Social Futures and Boosting the Local Care Workforce Program, are inviting Commonwealth Home Support Program providers to attend a free educational forum ahead of major changes to the in-home aged care sector next year. Strategy In The Face Of Change – Community Aged Care Forum will inform the sector of changes coming into effect in July 2024.
Number’s up for wild dogs as 1080 baiting program begins
Scenic Rim Regional Council is set to put the bite on wild dogs with its biannual baiting program ready to roll out mid-April. The program, which uses sodium fluoroacetate baits more commonly known as 1080, assists owners of larger land holdings in managing pest animals which not only pose a threat to native wildlife but also pets and other domestic animals.
Senate inquiries are serious business and no place for spin
Contempt of the Senate is a pretty easy thing to get your head around. Witnesses at hearings who give false or misleading evidence run the risk of being hauled in front of the privileges committee for a “please explain” ... There’s a lot that could be considered as misleading in NAB’s testimony at Sale but saying they are “committed to being where its customers are” is the first outright fib given in evidence to this parliamentary inquiry.
Forestry Centre of Excellence Strategic Plan launches vision for SA: Scriven
The Strategic Plan for the Forestry Centre of Excellence has been launched by the State Government, laying out the vision behind this $15 million 10-year collaborative project. The Centre, the first of its kind in South Australia, is being developed to create long-term research and development capability to enhance the Green Triangle’s economic prosperity, generating more jobs and investment in the region.
Low emissions roadmap for Queensland agriculture launched: Furner
Queensland’s agriculture industry will play a big part in reaching the state’s 2050 net zero emissions target, with the pathway set out by the 21 March 2023 release of the Low Emissions Agriculture Roadmap 2022-2032 by the Palaszczuk Government. The Roadmap charts a clear route for Queensland to achieve even cleaner and greener food and fibre production, while remaining a world-leader in agriculture.
Say no to the lines rally: Property Rights Australia
"Landowners and farmers have made it clear at a rally held in Widgee on Friday 17 March, Powerlink and the State Government are not listening to the community ... The community has attended so-called stakeholder meetings in rural and regional Queensland only to discover that the consultation process is tokenism with little to no consideration of alternative power corridors on State owned land": Chair of Property Rights Australia (PRA) Rob Atkinson.
Park burns as war on buffel grass hots up
While the Centre is facing what experts say is likely to be the biggest bushfire season in recorded history, the question is not what the NT Government is doing about it, but what it is not. The first blaze is already under way, in the Ormiston Gorge area of the West MacDonnells.
Emerald set to supercharge by joining CQ big battery blitz: Furner, de Brenni
The new battery is one of the next 12 large-scale, electricity network-connected batteries that will help Queensland communities reap even more benefits from rooftop solar. Emerald is home to over 1,920 solar systems, and the battery will allow locals to capture cheap renewable energy and drive down power bills, easing the cost of living.
Japan’s largest online retailer delivers big SA food and wine boost: Champion
South Australian food, wine and beverage companies continue to reap the rewards from Japan’s largest e-commerce site, connecting with millions of new customers as sales keep surging. Rakuten – a platform described as the “Amazon of Japan” – boasts more than 100 million Japanese users and is home to 27 per cent of Japanese e-commerce, a figure that equated to $40 billion in 2020.
Minister visits flood impacted North West: Furner
The Minister met with locals, community leaders and primary producers in Burketown and Doomadgee who have been impacted by severe flooding, and inspected damage to properties and businesses ... Further assessments are currently underway to determine if higher levels of funding activations are required.
Local boat building industry now anchored in the heart of Geraldton: Saffioti
Ports Minister Rita Saffioti has officially opened a new boat building facility in the Geraldton Fishing Boat Harbour. The facility will be the new home of local boat building firm Dongara Marine and will form part of a new precinct within the harbour.
Flinders forges AUKUS partnerships in nuclear science and technology to deliver South Australia’s future workforce: Malinauskas
South Australia will become a home for international nuclear expertise ahead of AUKUS submarine construction, with Flinders University striking agreements with leading nuclear science and technology universities in the United Kingdom and United States ... These historic partnerships enable Flinders University to deliver a comprehensive suite of the world’s best nuclear education in South Australia as early as 2023...
Rosalind Park piazza transformed for Ring Cycle opera
A special installation featuring a dragon and fiery BENDIGO letters has been unveiled at the Rosalind Park piazza to celebrate Richard Wagner’s epic opera series, Ring Cycle, taking up residence in Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre for the next five weeks.
Award-winning maps promote accessible tourism
A clever project that makes it easier for people of all abilities to get out and enjoy the Sunshine Coast way of life, is being expanded ... “The project provides a clear solution for those with disabilities to plan and map their routes and is a comfort to travellers and visitors to our region with mobility issues in identifying where they can get to with ease": Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson.
An open letter to the Hon. Chris Minns MP and the Hon. Penny Sharpe MP: Forestry Australia
Despite the public perception that the only way to protect species is to create more conservation reserves, Forestry Australia’s view is that koala recovery can best be achieved through a landscape-wide approach to active management of these populations and their forest habitats across all land tenures. There is considerable evidence that the National Park estate is continuing to be degraded due to unnatural fire regimes, pests and diseases, and a lack of active management to mitigate their impacts.
Productivity Inquiry sets out priorities to advance prosperity
If Australia is to continue to grow its economy and increase individual prosperity, productivity policy should focus on key emerging trends like the shift towards service industries, according to the final report of the Productivity Commission’s 5-year Productivity Inquiry ... “Concentrating on five key themes can make a real difference”: Productivity Commission Chair, Michael Brennan.
Council meetings on the move
Nasik Swami. In a bid to re-connect with Lucindale and Frances, the Naracoorte Lucindale Council will meet at least once in both towns. The meetings are on the move following a motion by Cr Abigail Goodman to meet in these areas instead of holding meetings at the Naracoorte and Lucindale council chambers all the time.
Calls for action on housing shortage
Narrandera Shire ratepayer and former local government councillor Bob Manning believes that councils like Narrandera need to do more in regard to the lack of housing, especially in relation to independent living developments like the one proposed for the corner of Elwin and Crescent Streets near the Narrandera TAFE College ... "We need to drive this issue if we want to cater for the influx of people for various developments taking place in the town and shire and also to cater for our ageing population so that they do not have to move elsewhere," said Mr Manning.
Misleading Deceptive Bastards, Again…
Community members and representatives have been left aghast at the latest actions by a federal agency as they seek to drain more water from the southern connected region ... “I don’t think they could have structured it much better to make sure that they had people stay away from the meeting,” said local farmer and Wakool River Association Chair John Lolicato ... “I don’t think they care. I think they think we’re dispensable.”
Haines walks the tricky path
The 2022 McKinnon Prize in Political Leadership has recognised the power of sustained commitment to collaboration and relationship-building in advancing a political vision, with Senator Penny Wong and Member for Indi, Helen Haines, named as recipients of the prize. In a year of seismic change in Australia’s politics, the two recipients’ dedication to achieving genuine impact in their roles stood out among exceptionally strong shortlists according to the selection panel.
