Westpac’s deception by omission will not be forgotten
I’m sure there will be beers all round tonight for the Westpac communications team who managed to flip the bird at six federal senators this week and pull off one of the most stunning PR subterfuges I have ever witnessed. It was stunning for the range of those who fell into the trap and the breadth of media who picked up and reported the story without question – from the senators themselves to seasoned journalists in national newsrooms.
Four staff, special facility, for one kid on the street a fortnight
The location of the facility in Alice Springs for children at risk, which between its opening on November 27 last year and January 10 has been used by just five youngsters, is a secret. So is its cost.
Little victory on rough road
The 22 kilometres of unsealed road that joins the two largest centres in the Murray River Council footprint will receive some much-needed maintenance through a recent $5.5 million investment in the Murray electorate from the NSW Government’s Fixing Local Roads program. The Perricoota Road will receive $1,398,477 for gravel resheeting.
Major recovery works funded
Three projects in the Upper Murray have received funding under the third and final round of the Local Community Projects Grants program. The sand scrape greens at the Corryong golf course will be replaced with state-of-the-art synthetic turf ... Tintaldra Recreation Reserve is thrilled to have received funding for the revitalisation of the community facility ... Upper Murray Region Community Catering Hub to construct a shed ...
Government blasted over regional roads
The Liberal Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, has used the first sitting week of State Parliament to blast the Victorian government on the current condition of roads in regional Victoria. Speaking during the adjournment debate to the new Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Melissa Horne, Ms Lovell described the condition of Victoria’s regional road network as “deplorable” and laid the blame squarely at the feet of Labor’s chronic underinvestment in road maintenance over the last eight years.
Ministers asked to fight for rural communities
“Don’t forget how hard we fought to get an effective socio-economic neutrality test.” That is the message from the community-based Speak Up Campaign, which is encouraging state water ministers in New South Wales and Victoria to ensure the agreed test is applied before any more water is recovered ... “All the indications suggest Ms Plibersek wants to reintroduce water buybacks, despite the massive social and economic damage from previous buybacks": Speak Up chair Shelley Scoullar.
Business Benchmark on Animal Welfare has no place in Australia: NFF
The peak body for Australia’s farm sector is calling on businesses assessed under the Business Benchmark on Animal Welfare to rethink their links to the scheme. A consultation paper released by the UK-based organisation, which is affiliated with some of Australia’s largest companies, proposes to rank companies based on their commitment to ‘reducing reliance on animal products’ – including a plan to halve the multi-billion dollar livestock industry by 2040.
Raising dam wall issue raises ire of councillors not ‘on the same page’
Councillor Danielle Mulholland’s report on her meeting with Deputy Premier Paul Toole was followed by a stir among some councillors at the Kyogle Council meeting ... She listed the issues discussed at the meeting with Mr Toole. The most contentious one was the raising of the Toonumbar Dam wall.
Woolworths Two Rocks minor changes valued at $10m
So called minor changes to the proposed Woolworths Two Rocks shopping centre to be built south of the King Neptune statue, which include shifting the main building slightly and a direct-to-boot service, have been approved. According to the Metro Outer JDAP minutes the minor changes are valued at $10 million which appears to be on top of the original proposal for 10 (Lot 9702) Enterprise Ave which was costed at $16m.
‘More of everything’ as dates revealed for unique festival
Get your calendars out and highlight these dates if you want to immerse yourself in a Sunshine Coast event like no other. Organisers have confirmed that the 2023 Horizon Festival, a 10-day showcase of culture, music, visual art, theatre, dance, comedy and creative workshops, will return in 2023 from August 25 to September 3.
Housing pods hit the ground in Eugowra: Cooke
Flood-impacted residents across the Cabonne Shire can now apply for modular homes, with the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government expanding its temporary accommodation program following last year’s successful caravan rollout. Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said modular homes are now being installed on the properties of flood-impacted residents.
A new Territory Worker Connect Portal and UK delegation to yield a boost for hospitality workforce: Fyles, Kirby
A delegation of Territory business will aim to recruit 100 hospitality workers when they visit the United Kingdom and Ireland next month to increase our skilled workforce through the Global Worker Attraction Program.
JEV vaccine stash could be up for grabs as mosquito threat looms: Hurn
The SA Opposition has been advised that there could be a precious stockpile of the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) vaccine up for grabs – but will soon expire – that could be used to protect South Australians from the disease as the flood recovery in the Riverland officially begins. Chairman of the Immunisation Coalition in Australia, Dr Rod Pearce, has indicated that the New South Wales Government is in possession of a surplus of JEV vaccines, with doctors based in the state telling him “they can’t give them away”.
Dinosaur dig returns after Covid-19 hiatus, as world-class dinosaur trail gains momentum
This week a team of ‘dino hunters’ will embark on the first ‘dinosaur dig’ at Inverloch since the Covid-19 pandemic, as Bass Coast Shire Council ramps up plans for a $40 million world-class Dinosaurs Trail to celebrate the area’s fascinating pre-historic heritage.
$1 billion to build better bush roads and rail: Toole
A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will invest $1 billion in the regions to upgrade the roads communities use every day, fast-track freight and rebuild transport infrastructure after disaster ... “We want a road and rail network built for the long-term with the capacity and strength to survive fire and floods, to meet the growing freight task and to get product to market cheaper and more efficiently": Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole.
Liberty Theatre to receive AV upgrade: Tuckerman
Chairperson, Friends of the Liberty Theatre and Cultural Centre Inc, Bimbi Turner said the funding will help the theatre show classic and current release films for the community to enjoy, having been denied such pleasure for far too long. "This $250,000 grant is extremely exciting for the Friends of the Liberty Theatre and Cultural Centre Inc. in bringing to life the entertainment for the broader community in this iconic 1939 cinema by once again being able to show films."
Unlocking the secrets of productivity – A monumental challenge for Australia’s future: Hugh Christie, TFGA
Whilst we are seeing positive changes with international freight capacity returning to levels pre-COVID-19, productivity issues at major Australian container ports identified in the latest Productivity Commission report cost the Australian economy an estimated $605 million annually. These inefficiencies directly impact Australian farmers and if not addressed soon will be a compounding cost for all primary producers as well as exporters more broadly.
Debt wiped for country practice: Butler
A doctor or nurse practitioner who lives and works in rural and remote Australia will have their HELP debt wiped ... The HELP debt reduction for a doctor or a nurse practitioner will depend on the length of their course of study, and the amount of outstanding HELP debt when they commence providing eligible services in an eligible location.
With its back to the wall, Commonwealth Bank halts closures
Junee is one of the first towns to benefit from a parliamentary call for banks to halt all planned branch closures until a senate inquiry reports back at the end of the year. The Commonwealth Bank is the first of the big four to act on the official request, sent Friday, with Junee and Bright closures put on hold.
Decision on Bird In Hand gold mine application: Koutsantonis
After careful consideration, the Minister for Energy and Mining, Tom Koutsantonis MP, has declined an application by Terramin Australia Ltd to develop the Bird In Hand gold underground mine at Woodside. Terramin’s concept for its proposed Bird in Hand mine, and related applications for a Mining Lease and a Miscellaneous Purpose Licence, have undergone comprehensive assessment by government, including an eight-week statutory public consultation.
Access to National Parks: Bev McArthur
The Victorian Government is overseeing the slow demise of National Parks, ignoring the very rules that established their existence and importance in the state. In State Parliament, the Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has asked the Minister for the Environment to immediately review a decision made last year to change public access rights to the Grampians National Park.
Towards World Heritage recognition for Murujuga: Whitby, Plibersek
The Australian Government has nominated Murujuga Cultural Landscape for inscription on the World Heritage List. The formal nomination was submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in late January 2023. If accepted, Murujuga would be the second site in Australia listed for World Heritage Status for First Nations cultural heritage.
