Haines bill will strengthen disaster communications
Warning that repeated communications failures in regional areas are putting lives at risk, Member for Indi, Helen Haines, on Monday introduced legislation to improve the resilience of Australia's telecommunications networks during natural disasters. Dr Haines said North-East Victoria has endured successive catastrophic events in recent years including the Black Summer bushfires, major flooding in 2022 and 2023 and the January 2026 bushfires that devastated parts of Indi.
Caught out thanks to Caught in the Current
The launch of Caught in the Current, The Dire Consequences of Politics Driving the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Barham, celebrated a long-awaited, community-driven historical and factual resource on Australian Water Policy ... The book is explicitly designed as a factual counter-narrative and practical tool for inquiries, libraries, and policy debate.
VFF warns government water buybacks are creating an unfair corporate water market
“It’s no longer a level playing field. Farmers trying to secure water to grow food and sustain communities are competing against taxpayer-funded buybacks and major investment entities with access to massive amounts of capital”: VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy.
Farmers disappointed no commitment on tax thresholds: NFF
Hamish McIntyre. The National Farmers’ Federation is disappointed the Federal Government has introduced its tax reform legislation without explicitly committing to review the outdated small business Capital Gains Tax (CGT) concession thresholds. In introducing the legislation, the Government signalled that this is the first tranche of legislation, with more consultation to come on small business and further legislation required for implementation.
The few funding the fight
I’ve just returned from a two-day National Farmers’ Federation members meeting in Canberra and the mood is dark. It is increasingly clear this Government has little affection for the productive capitalist class and is hunting for revenue, regulation and control from wherever it can extract it.
Federal environmental approval for new solar farm to power 160,000 Queensland homes: Watt
The Albanese Government has given environmental approval to another renewable energy project in Queensland, boosting the state’s energy security. Finalised in just 19 days, Blackbutt’s Tumuruu solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) has also been approved by the South Burnett Regional Council.
A plan for Queensland’s future – Crisafulli Government delivering new opportunities for Mossman farmers: Perrett
The Crisafulli Government is delivering $300,000 to support two local agronomy projects, helping shore up the future of agriculture in Far North Queensland after the local collapse of sugar cane when the Mossman Mill closed in 2024.
Cuttlefest Art Prize exhibition returns to Middleback Arts Centre
The creativity of local and regional artists will once again be celebrated as the 2026 Cuttlefest Art Prize Exhibition opens at the Middleback Arts Centre on Tuesday, 2 June at 6pm, featuring the exhibition launch, awards presentation and panel session.
Riverfront celebration marks PS Canally’s return to service
Christine Webster. The recommissioning of the PS Canally will be celebrated with the return of the Morgan Living River Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, at the town's riverfront reserve. A team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers spent 16 years restoring the 119-year-old paddle steamer.
There’s no social licence for Rushy’s sale: TasFarmers
The peak body for Tasmanian farmers has released its Rushy Lagoon Land Use North-East Community Impact Survey. TasFarmers said it had received concerns from numerous members regarding the proposed sale of Rushy Lagoon, and federal government support allowing a foreign-owned entity to purchase the property and convert it to a pine plantation.
Securing more fertiliser for Australian farmers: Farrell, Collins, Ayres
The Albanese Labor Government continues to secure essential fuel and fertiliser to keep Australian agriculture moving, with around 80,250 tonnes of additional urea now locked in through the Government’s $7.5 billion Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility. Through Export Finance Australia, the Government has partnered with Incitec Pivot to support the purchase of two shipments of urea from Indonesia.
Balranald council says it was never told: Questions mount over Mungo consultation
A draft strategic management framework for one of inland Australia's most significant World Heritage sites has prompted serious questions about the reach of its public consultation process. Balranald Shire Council says it has no record of being directly notified the document was open for public review. Concerned stakeholders are saying they only discovered the consultation was underway through a Google Alert.
MidCoast Council lodges submission on Sanderling Avenue State Significant Development
Council has now lodged its submission with the Department of Planning on the State Significant Development application for a proposed residential flat building development at Sanderling Avenue, Hawks Nest. The proposal involves the construction of three residential flat buildings up to four storeys, strata subdivision, and upgrades to the golf club parking area ... Council’s submission does not support the proposal in its current form.
City of Greater Geraldton teams up with CSIRO for Boxthorn Blitz
Boxthorn Blitz workshops are returning this year with a new addition aimed at strengthening the fight against the invasive African boxthorn. Following a recent partnership between the City of Greater Geraldton and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the first Boxthorn Blitz workshop will include a demonstration of the new African boxthorn biocontrol program.
Renewable energy projects on a fast track to nowhere: Griffin, Singh
The NSW Liberals and Nationals will oppose Labor’s rushed attempt to remove independent oversight, increase Ministerial powers and bypass effective community consultation on renewable energy projects in regional NSW, with the views of farmers and other stakeholders already being ignored by the Minns Labor Government ... The Energy Legislation Amendment (Prioritising Renewable Energy) Bill 2026 is a reckless concentration of unchecked Ministerial power...
Lower default power bills for NSW as renewable plan delivers: Minns, Sharpe
More renewable energy flowing into the system is helping place downward pressure on electricity prices, with the Default Market Offer in NSW set to fall from July. The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has determined the cap on default electricity prices for NSW households will drop by between 3.4 and 7.7 per cent from July, reflecting lower wholesale electricity costs as more renewable generation and storage enters the market.
Neighbouring mayors call for Basin Plan review fairness
The mayors of two neighbouring Victorian municipalities are calling on the Murray Darling Basin Authority to recognise the efforts of improved irrigation systems across the region when conducting its 2026 Basin Plan review.
One man walking 474km to visit six massacre sites from Ballina to Myall Creek
Geoff Reid is in his 70s and he’s walking from Ballina to Myall Creek to visit massacre sites along the way. It’s a long walk – 474km with a lot to think about on the way. Geoff started at East Ballina Cemetery and then went on to Goanna Headland at Evans Head.
Moonta heritage shutdown fallout tops $100k
Michelle Daw. Moonta Mines heritage volunteers say about $100,000 has been lost since National Trust of South Australia shut local sites in February, as they continue to fight the closure on multiple fronts.
Call for return to Christian values
Chantelle Thomas invoked the Bible, calling for a return to Christian values, and an end to abortions and "woke ideology" in her maiden speech as the Member for Narungga last week. Speaking in the House of Assembly on Wednesday, May 20, Mrs Thomas said Australia was built on strong Christian values of faith, family, respect, personal responsibility and helping neighbours.
News bargaining incentive legislation vital but it needs some tweaks
The introduction of the news bargaining incentive is vital to address information ecosystem disruption but the proposed legislation needs some tweaks, according to publishers’ groups and organisations such as Democracy Counts and the Public Interest Journalism Initiative.
Land sale for $1 to pave the way for new key worker village: Carey
The Cook Labor Government will sell 8.8 hectares of Crown land to the City of Greater Geraldton for $1, supporting the development of a new 140-dwelling key worker village. The sale, at a nominal consideration, follows the City being allocated $8.7 million...
