Politics

Bendigo Greens’ candidate, Dr Cate Sinclair, officially launched the Greens campaign last Friday at their View Street headquarters, overlooking the fountain. A resident of Castlemaine, Dr Sinclair is an occupational therapist and health researcher who is passionate about sharing the Greens’ messages to those in regional Victoria.

The founding members of Regional Community Vet Clinic (RCVC), Dr Yvette Berkeley, Robyn Slattery and James Mack, were delighted to receive official confirmation from State Member for Bendigo West, Maree Edwards, on the success of their grant application ... RCVC, as a Not-for-Profit community veterinary clinic, will support the elderly, socially and financially disadvantaged in our community, by providing them with access to affordable preventative veterinary care for their companion animals. This will enable the most vulnerable to continue to live in their own homes with their pets.

"There are a number of opportunities for the team at Narrandera’s Koala Reserve to seek financial support and I have actively encouraged them to do so" : Federal Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley ... With no sightings in the Narrandera area for decades, koalas were re-introduced to the area in the early 1970s and have increased their population from 19 to more than 200 in that location ... "Reading between the lines I'm confident they don't have an overall strategy" : Australian Koala Foundation CEO, Deborah Tabart.

The new clubhouse and changerooms at the Narrandera Sportsground were officially opened on Saturday with the Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke joining the Member for Farrer Sussan Ley, Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Neville Kschenka and members of the local community for the big event.

As the major parties’ promises, mudslinging and cheesy photoshoots flow thick and fast on the federal election campaign, real people are showcasing the spirit of their electorates. Nathan Free is a third generation fruit and vegetable grower from Tresco who can see a lot of issues that need addressing and has donated two crates of organic butternut pumpkins to Independent Mallee Candidate Sophie Baldwin to start the goodwill ball rolling.

Stephen Clarke, National Indigenous Radio Service. Central Australian Aboriginal Congress today added its voice to a growing chorus of concerns about the forthcoming end to Alcohol Protected Areas in the Northern Territory ... Central Australian Aboriginal Congress CEO, Donna Ah Chee, says the ending of protections will see a return to a “river of grog” flowing through communities.

If we wish to compare current observations with past performance, we need to establish a set of relevant data, or baseline ... Water Corporation’s advertisements claim that “Perth’s rainfall is declining due to Climate change” showing a graph of reduced stream-flows into the reservoirs as convincing proof that “Climate change is real”. Such claims deserve scrutiny.

Four minutes. That was the time people had to tell their story at the flood inquiry in Lismore on May 3. It was clear from the emotion in people’s voices that telling their story wasn’t easy ... For two hours, people used their four minutes on the microphone to tell the auditorium audience and the convenors who sat on stage what the flood meant to them.

Geoff Helisma. Clarence Valley Council (CVC) has signed up to the Australian Local Government Association’s campaign – Don’t Leave Local Communities Behind – to be conducted during the weeks leading up to the May 21 federal election. Councillors unanimously supported Cr Ian Tiley’s mayoral minute, to “support the national funding priorities of the ALGA, which would contribute an estimated $6.46 billion per year to Australia’s GDP and create 43,444 jobs” if successful.

Farmers have been left out of the Victorian Government’s pandemic repair plan in today’s Victorian State Budget handed down by Treasurer Tim Pallas. Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) President Emma Germano said the Treasurer’s speech failed to mention agriculture as one of Victoria’s key export industries and the 21,000 farm businesses that play a vital role in Victoria’s economy.

Local fiddlemaker Martin Scuffins is a creative artist who loves the natural world and finds joy in the expression of life through music and art. He has a passion for fiddle making and a special interest in Norwegian Hardanger fiddles which are fitted with ‘sympathetic’ strings that resonate in harmony with the played strings.

Tickets are now available for Classical Reimagined, where The Queensland Chamber Orchestra (Camerata) will premiere Alexander Voltz’s composition inspired by Emerald ... Central Highlands Regional Council is proud to be partnering on bringing this family fun event to the region with a free show in the Emerald Botanical Gardens from 5.30 pm, Thursday 12 May.

Lismore City Council has released a discussion paper that presents some broad brushstrokes for how Lismore can build back better ... Lismore City Council’s General Manager John Walker said now is the time for the community to have their say in how we plan for Lismore’s future.

Three Cape York communities will today be announced as recipients of federal funding as part of the government’s Regional Connectivity Program. Lockhart River, Seisia and Cooktown will all benefit from a combined $3.5 million to fix their broken or nonexistent telecommunications infrastructure. And the good news for locals in those communities is that it isn’t dependent on the election result – the funding is in the budget.

"From Australia’s next Parliament we’re seeking support to help agriculture go further. We want to transform the treatment of agriculture and its intersection with biodiversity protection and enhancement and further develop the developing natural capital sector" : NFF President, Fiona Simson. The NFF wants a commitment from both sides of politics for a minimum $2 billion fund to reward land managers who improve the health of their landscape.

“Now that we’ve rolled out the final chargers along the Barrier Highway, located at Wilcannnia, Cobar, Dubbo, Parkes, Orange and Lithgow, it means drivers travel no more than 300 kilometres to recharge their vehicles when making the 1000-kilometre journey between Sydney and Broken Hill”: Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole.

The Victorian Ministry for Agriculture has responded to a community-led petition by confirming that specialty timber from State forests is exempted from the 10 year phase out of native timber harvesting in Victorian public forests contained in the Victorian Forestry Plan ... James Kidman from Otway Tonewoods gave Australian Rural & Regional News some background on the 61-page petition he prepared and the Victorian Minister's confirmation of the exemption.

The Festivals of the Dry is kicking off in Katherine. See the full program.