Turtle power your way to the hottest tickets in town
Visitors to the famous Mon Repos turtle-education and conservation centre will soon be able to book tickets to get up close to the ocean’s ‘heroes in a half shell’.
Mae she make her community proud
Emma Pritchard. Twelve of the state’s most inspiring and motivational leaders of the future have been appointed to the 2021-2022 Youth Advisory Council. Among them, is 13-year-old Mae Carroll from Grafton ... Deeply passionate about social justice issues and the vital importance of support for mental health services in regional communities, Miss Carroll said recognising the opportunity to speak openly about topics close to her heart motivated her to apply again.
Pollies: reinflate the border bubble
Geoff Helisma. A multi-partisan group of northern NSW politicians is calling “for a regional solution to the border crisis” ... Independent, Nationals, Greens, Labor and Liberal politicians in NSW and LNP politicians in Qld are calling for a border bubble.
Family torn apart by border closure
A Mummulgum mother-of-two hasn’t seen her four-year-old daughter for three weeks. Sharnee Van Mourik said the lockdown and border restrictions mean Haven-Rose is unable to come home. Sharnee has a one-week-on, one-week-off arrangement with her daughter’s father who lives in Queensland ... “It’s a joke, I’m so angry,” Sharnee said.
New ‘Disaster Ready’ resource to hit primary schools
This week Rockhampton Regional Council will be sending out copies of a new book full of age appropriate, tips and hints to help children be prepared and stay safe during a disaster.
Next step under way to protect Maldon’s heritage
Mount Alexander Shire Council is amending its planning scheme to introduce updated guidelines for building or altering buildings in Maldon’s heritage areas and precincts.
Fencing rollout in Maranoa communities underway by December
Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt today welcomed a commitment from Queensland to get to work reversing delays in rolling out a $7.5 million Australian Government program for fencing to strengthen river health in Queensland Murray–Darling Basin communities including in Maranoa.
Murray–Darling Basin Authority communique
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority met on 30 August 2021 by video teleconference. The meeting was chaired by Sir Angus Houston with all members present ... the Authority released the mid-year report card on the Basin Plan. This is the sixth report card produced by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and responds to community feedback seeking short and succinct updates on water reform progress.
Helping farmers benefit from soil management
The Australian Government has today released for public consultation a draft soil carbon method for the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the new method will support greater uptake of soil carbon projects by overcoming barriers to participating in the ERF by reducing costs and introducing new activities to store carbon.
Katter slams government purchase of Cape station
Katter's Australian Party leader Robbie Katter says he is concerned that the state’s bid to buy Bramwell Station is leading to an inevitable locking up of Cape York ... “We don’t have the cash to be spending money on pointless environmental exercises, that will arguably deliver poorer outcomes than if the land were to remain in private hands,” the Mount Isa-based MP said.
Parliamentary questions and no answers: democracy denied, again
As the Parliament of Victoria remains empty – again - questions remain unanswered. 430 unanswered questions asked in the Legislative Council alone relate directly to the Health portfolio during a pandemic ... Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said it represents a reckless and a belligerent snubbing of democracy.
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Annual Operational Plan 2021-2022
The ACIAR Annual Operational Plan for 2021–22 sets out the context and objectives of the work program throughout the Indo-Pacific region for the year ahead. ACIAR CEO Andrew Campbell says that it describes how we will continue to build the partnerships, knowledge and capacity required to achieve more productive, sustainable and resilient agrifood systems in our region.
Branching out to rebuild fire-damaged fauna homes
World-first technology is being used to rebuild natural habitats destroyed by bushfires, creating more than 800 new hollows that will provide displaced animals with a space to nest and roost for an accumulated 56,000 years.
Lord Howe Island stays in Port Macquarie electorate
Leslie Williams MP. Congratulations and thank you to all those who made submissions to the Electoral Commission Redistribution Panel in relation to the proposal to move LHI from the electorate of Port Macquarie to the electorate of Sydney!
Contract awarded to deliver purpose-built quarantine facility at Pinkenba
Progress continues to be made on the Morrison Government’s purpose-built quarantine facility at Pinkenba, with global construction company Multiplex selected to deliver the project ... Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the Centre at Pinkenba would support ongoing efforts to fight COVID-19 and will give Queensland extra capacity to manage potential future health crises or natural disasters.
More police powers, less protections
The Labor and Liberal parties have voted to pass the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020 which makes three new warrants available to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) ... “The Richardson review concluded that this bill enables the AFP and ACIC to be ‘judge, jury and executioner.’ That’s not how we deliver justice in this country.” said Senator Lidia Thorpe, the Greens spokesperson for Justice.
Farmers crossed in crosshairs of state-ism gone mad
As National Cabinet prepares to meet, farmers have accused state premiers of ‘arrogance’ over border arrangements, saying they seem to have forgotten that growing food and fibre is essential to public health. The National Farmers’ Federation is calling on National Cabinet to recommit to the National Agriculture Workers Code and focus on quarantine solutions for ag workers as a bumper grain harvest looms.
Mystery madness hits Sunshine Coast Museums
Sunshine Coast Council and Community museums have teamed up to offer a month of mystery madness.
A virtual Naked & Nude 2021
Manning Regional Art Gallery will throw open its virtual doors this Saturday 28 August from 4pm for its biennial art prize, ‘Naked & Nude’.
Voices of Martuwarra – Illiam Nargoodah
Illiam is a young Walmajarri Custodian. He describes the familial connection and spiritual sacredness of Martuwarra.
What impact is the border closure having on your business?
Gathering data in support of Tweed Cross Border Community Zone. Business owners are urgently invited to share the impact of the current Queensland border closure on their operations, as part of efforts to support the creation of a new border zone.
Elders enjoy a Seniors Month lunch at weekly Yarning Circle
After listening to a presentation on the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 by Syed Jan from Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, the Elders enjoyed a delicious lunch sponsored by local MLA Steve Edgington.
