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.
Mayor Tiley gags himself after radio interviews
Clarence Valley Council Mayor Ian Tiley says he will no longer discuss council meetings in radio interviews after admitting he disclosed confidential information in two separate interviews in December. Addressing the February Clarence Valley Council meeting, Cr Tiley said a code of conduct complaint had been made about disclosures he made about passenger services for Grafton Regional Airport.
Lister kicked out over youth crime stoush
"Premier Palaszczuk was telling parliament about how she listens to Queenslanders, so I called out and reminded her that she refused to send anyone to represent her government at the community crime forum I ran in Goondiwindi last week," said Mr Lister.
Cut the red tape – We need a new National Code to fix Australia’s broken landscapes: Mulloon Institute
"Farmers and landholders are keen to regenerate millions of kilometres of eroded and degraded watercourses throughout this country, but environmental and planning regulations are preventing many of them from undertaking this valuable work, due to the time and cost of submitting multiple applications, special reports and detailed designs to multiple government authorities for permission to undertake on-ground works," says Mulloon Institute Chairman Gary Nairn A.O.
Lemon Springs update
EPA Victoria. Clean-up of Lemon Springs continues. We have removed waste from 30 of the 32 burial sites. We have cleaned up 16 of the sites and filled them with clean soil ... We continue to remove acetylene cylinders. We have removed more than 43,000 cylinders to date. We are working with industry to create a new facility to dispose of the cylinders. This facility is the first of its kind and located in Stawell.
At-Home Support Program changes in Hindmarsh, Yarriambiack
At their most recent Council Meetings, Yarriambiack Shire Council moved to transition out of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Hindmarsh Shire provisionally moved (subject to consultation with staff) to exit out of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and the State Government funded Home and Community Care Program for Younger People (HACCPYP) program from 30 June 2023 ... Yarriambiack Shire Council Mayor, Kylie Zanker said "This is one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make, and with the significant changes being introduced into the aged care industry it has made it almost impossible for Council to continue to deliver the services".
Farmers reach agreement with Inland Rail builder: NSW Farmers
Landholders can expect better treatment during the construction of Inland Rail thanks to a landmark agreement between NSW Farmers and the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC). Inland Rail and NSW Farmers have worked together to develop a joint information pack that acknowledges and addresses issues of concern to property owners...
Lower Great Southern’s next major water source ramps up: McGurk
Work to ensure the long-term security and sustainability of drinking water in Western Australia's Lower Great Southern is gathering pace, with planning underway for the region's next major water source. Reduced rainfall driven by climate change and growing demand are placing pressure on existing groundwater sources that supply around 90 per cent of drinking water to the Lower Great Southern Towns Water Supply Scheme.
Service to commemorate 81st anniversary of 25th Battalion’s Spring Bluff departure
A special commemorative service will be held at Spring Bluff station on Friday, March 17, 2023 to remember the 1000 brave soldiers who left the station at night on their way to serve in World War II. The service marks the 81st anniversary of the historic day the Darling Downs’ 25th Infantry Battalion boarded trains at Spring Bluff station at the start of their journey to New Guinea.
Cooktown Discovery Festival 2023: Good for business, great for the community
Cook Shire Mayor, Peter Scott is looking forward to the upcoming festival, stating, "The Cooktown Discovery Festival is a celebration of our community's rich cultural heritage and the special place Cooktown has in Australian history. It is a time for us to come together and celebrate all that makes Cooktown and this region so special."
Research pays off in India avocado trade deal: Hort Innovation
Delivered through Hort Innovation using industry levies and funds from the Australian Government, some of Australia’s top scientists partnered with the avocado industry to develop phytosanitary data that shows the health and safety of Australian Hass avocados is in line with India’s import requirements.
