Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement
Australia and Singapore are developing a Green Economy Agreement (GEA) to further accelerate both countries’ transition towards a green and sustainable future, and help to create good jobs and lower carbon emissions. The GEA will look at practical initiatives to promote and facilitate trade and investment, including lowering the regulatory burden on businesses. It aims to remove non-tariff barriers to trade in environmental goods and services and to accelerate the uptake of low emissions green technology.
State invited to co-invest in SA tourism with Tumby Bay jetty refurbishment
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has been presented with a ground-breaking opportunity for the State to work with the District Council of Tumby Bay on significantly refurbishing the Tumby Bay Jetty to benefit cruise ship tourism on Eyre Peninsula, as well as tourism and the community at large.
Beekeeping allowed to continue in Queensland national parks for now
The Queensland Government has approved the preparation of legislative amendments to grant a 20-year extension to allow beekeeping to continue in national parks until 2044 ... The decision will formally extend beekeeping permits for a further 20 years in certain national parks that were created as part of the SEQ Forest Agreement in 1999.
Training more doctors in the bush to benefit more rural communities
A program that provides young doctors with the experience of training in a rural general practice or Aboriginal Medical Services and provides more medical care to regional, rural and remote communities is being extended by the Federal Coalition Government. Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said extending the Rural Junior Doctor Training Innovation Fund (RJDTIF) for another year will mean 60 fulltime-equivalent rurally based interns and postgraduate doctors can undertake training in country practices.
Climate, inequality, integrity in politics top Cowper care list
Cowper locals care about climate change, inequality, integrity in politics initial findings from a Voices4Cowper (V4C) report has found. V4C convenor Gillian Anderson said: “We want local MP Pat Conaghan to understand the level of concern in his community about climate change and the environment."
Who has been dumping asbestos and rubbish in the Byron Shire? ”‹
Byron Shire Council and the NSW Environment Protection Authority are investigating two illegal dumping incidents in the Byron Shire ... In both cases the materials were remnants from renovations including fibro sheets, some of which were asbestos, tiles, timber and a fridge.
Outback Lifesavers are back!
The overwhelming success of the State’s first Outback Lifesaver program last summer will see the concept return to Wagga Wagga early next year. Wagga Wagga City Council and Royal Life Saving NSW will again partner in the delivery of the program which gives youngsters the chance to learn lifesaving water safety skills at pools and inland waterways.
Strategy to increase angling participation in Tasmania
Tasmania’s lakes and waterways are enjoyed by thousands of recreational anglers and their families and friends and the Tasmanian Government wants to encourage more Tasmanians to take up angling. The Government has released its Strategy to Increase Participation in Tasmania's Inland Recreational Fishery 2021-28 on national Gone Fishing Day.
New era for Kimberley beef processing welcomed
The McGowan Government has welcomed the announcement of a new co-operative of northern pastoralists to own and operate northern Western Australia's only abattoir. The Kimberley Meat Co-operative (KMC) will acquire the beef processing facility 100km east of Broome, operating the facility on a contract based with its members and processing at least 40,000 head of cattle per year.
SA harvest tipped to reach record $2.8 billion value
The SA State Government’s latest Crop and Pasture Report indicates South Australian grain production is set for 7.98 million tonnes, close to the 10-year average of 8 million tonnes. SA Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said South Australian farmers may be able to capitalise on unfavourable conditions in other world grain producing countries.
Birtinya-based business wins at Qld export awards
From their headquarters at Birtinya, Kilcoy Global Foods manages the production, distribution, and export of eight million cartons of premium beef annually to more than 35 global markets. KGF is also a major supplier to Australian supermarkets, food wholesalers, fine dining establishments and family restaurants including McDonalds.
Regional quarantine facility well under way at Wellcamp
Queensland’s first dedicated regional quarantine facility is moving ahead quickly with the first concrete poured at the Wellcamp site today ... “Construction is moving ahead swiftly and Wagner Corporation has confirmed we are on-track for the first stage of the quarantine facility to be delivered for use by the end of 2021": Steven Miles.
BHP opens iron ore mine of the future
Premier Mark McGowan congratulated BHP on the official opening of its South Flank iron ore mine. The mine adds to BHP's existing mine operations in the Pilbara to create one of the largest operating iron ore hubs in the world, expected to produce 145 million tonnes of iron ore each year.
Aboriginal flag fixed
Gabrielle Duykers. Tatiara District Council will permanently fly the Aboriginal flag, following a letter from a local woman condemning councillors over its absence. Council currently flies the Australian, South Australian and Tatiara flags at the Dukes Highway town entrances to Bordertown and its Bordertown Council office ... The City of Mount Gambier and Robe District Council are the only other Limestone Coast councils to permanently fly the Aboriginal flag outside their offices.
Whether Australia’s regions rise, or fall, depends on the stories we tell
Professor Andrew Beer. Across Australia, one in five regions is struggling, but the one-dimensional solutions we commonly look for don’t work ... the future prosperity of regions lies with those who live there, rather than those who govern, especially when they do so from a distance. Mobilizing regions is a matter of empowering regional leaders – making sure they have the tools needed to bring about change while enabling them to both listen to others and be heard across communities.
MoU to grow agricultural trade between Pacific Island Countries and Australia
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and DT Global will grow agricultural trade between Pacific Island countries and Australia, through improved food security, better market access and biosecurity outcomes.
Unpacking water allocations the next topic in MDBA webinar series, 12 October 2021
In partnership with Basin state governments, the Murray–Daring Basin Authority (MDBA) will detail water sharing arrangements in the River Murray system at a public webinar next Tuesday 12 October 2021. The webinar will run through the basics of how water is shared between New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and the factors that influence each state's allocation decisions.
More support arrives for state’s farmers
Almost 500 foreign workers will be added to NSW's agricultural workforce, joining the more than 2,000 whose arrival the NSW Government has already aided, to provide additional support to industry through the COVID-exacerbated labour shortage. Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said while this would be welcome news for the state’s farmers, the NSW Government was constantly reviewing its support measures to give industry the best help it can, and that continued today.
Sick hospital system fails to prepare
With all symptoms indicating that the Queensland Health System is sick and struggling, the question for the Queensland Premier and Health Minister is ‘what have you done to prepare for the inevitable arrival of COVID-19 in our community?’ Hospitals are full despite the lack of COVID-19 cases, nurses face being sacked if they don’t get vaccinated and preparation measures appear to be minimal. Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen put questions to both Mackay and Townsville Hospital and Health Services in August on preparation measures.
Calls for more emergency food relief in Barossa
The Barossa Food Security Network is calling on the community to support the emergency food relief initiative by becoming a supplier or distributor of cooked meals. Barossa Mayor Bim Lange says the network is currently distributing around 85 meals a week to people experiencing hardship, and demand is increasing.
City modelling used for regional roadmap
The Premier’s roadmap for regional Victoria to exit COVID-19 restrictions has more holes in it than the state’s country roads. Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has questioned the Health and Education Ministers in State Parliament about what modelling was used by the Premier to create the regional exit plan
Community led monitoring
The Murray Regional Strategy Group (MRSG), which represents eight organisations across the NSW Murray, is conducting a monitoring program to clearly communicate the risks and benefits of water delivery through our region ... In order to help stop repeating the meaningless destruction that we have witnessed on the Murray, MRSG has developed the NSW Murray Valley Adaptive Road Map, which aims to deliver solutions to existing problems with water flows and management.
