What about the war against vermin? The WA firearms debate
Where the line should be drawn between those who need firearms or use them for work, sport and recreation and community safety is a debate that's in full swing in Western Australia where the McGowan government is in the middle of a complete redraft of the laws as to who can have a gun and who can't, along with what size, number, ammunition stocks, property location, size and mental health.
Prime Minister must show leadership on regional WA’s crime crisis: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is calling for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to urgently visit the Western Australian town of Carnarvon while he is in the state this week. Mr Littleproud said the Prime Minister should spend a night in Carnarvon, rather than holding a $1,500 a head fundraiser in Perth to appreciate what’s needed in this community and others across regional WA.
SA’s primary industries continue to experience record-breaking growth: Scriven
The release of the Primary Industries Scorecard 2021-22 illustrates the resilience of the sector in overcoming Covid 19, extreme weather, floods and bushfire events, the Russian invasion of Ukraine along with Chinese trade tensions to generate a revenue of $17.3 billion in 2021-22, an increase of 12% and accounting for 51% of the South Australia’s merchandise exports: Claire Scriven.
SA Liberals need to get onboard Team SA on Murray-Darling Basin Plan: Close
The SA Liberals misguided opposition to voluntary water buybacks risks undermining South Australia’s position ahead of Friday’s Murray–Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting. A united South Australian position is crucial when dealing with the unwillingness of the NSW and Victorian governments to deliver the 450 gigalitres promised when the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was agreed to: Susan Close, SA Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water (SA).
CEO’s report advised leaving Guilderton café lessee out of tender process
The Shire of Gingin says claims the former Guilderton café lessee was discouraged from applying for a lease renewal are false but the Enright family was only invited to join the closed tender process when councillors amended an officer’s report to include them.
Election debate to tackle food future, 22 February 2023: NSW Farmers
Keeping food affordable, renewable energy zones and securing production will feature as part of a key regional debate for voters in Dubbo. Designed to focus on key agricultural issues ahead of the state election, the Dubbo debate on Wednesday night will feature Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders, Shadow Minister Mick Veitch, Greens spokesperson Sue Higginson, One Nation spokesperson Rod Roberts, and Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers spokesperson Robert Borsak.
New alliance calls for emergency funding for rural roads: ALRTA
The newly-formed Rural Road Alliance is calling for an emergency funding package totalling nearly $5.5 billion in the upcoming Federal Budget. The alliance ... been formed in response to the critical challenges facing Australia’s rural road network in the wake of recent flooding and high rainfall.
Flood study review set to start
The Echuca Moama Torrumbarry Flood Study currently underway will be updated with new data from the October 2022 flood event ... “This will enable potential future flood mitigation measures, warning systems and triggers to be developed based on the latest information”: Campaspe Mayor Cr Rob Amos.
Murray feels the ocean on his feet once again
Murray Stevens, 91, has long had a yearning to feel the sand between his toes and the ocean lap on his feet once more, and on Wednesday this become a reality. Murray was the first person to use an aided beach-walker and Mobi-mat at the U-Beach Community Beach Day at Nielson Park.
Sky is the limit for rare flightless bird: Griffin
NSW Minister for Environment James Griffin said the population of one of Australia’s rarest birds, the Lord Howe Island Woodhen, has increased five-fold in four years, and more than doubled within 12 months ... "The NSW Government’s rodent control program is a world first for a permanently inhabited island, and the results for the biodiversity on Lord Howe are remarkable": Minister Griffin.
People and industry must be at centre of Basin Plan: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says people and industry must be at the centre of discussions during next week’s meeting of state and federal water ministers on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan ... “The MDBA’s report card doesn’t look at the impact on jobs, on food production and on communities that have resulted from water buybacks and broader Basin Plan implementation”: VFF President Emma Germano.
Bushfire learning, policy and management opportunities: John O’Donnell
John O'Donnell finds that the Treasurer's recent essay opens up an opportunity to discuss whether Australia has in fact learnt and implemented lessons from the Black Saturday bushfires and ways to improve economic and management outcomes for Australia in relation to bushfires.
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.
