A secure and sustainable future for the forestry industry: Collins, Watt, Ayres
The industry is of such strategic importance to the Australian community we today designate it a priority industry under our Future Made in Australia plans.
Global supply supports domestic structural timber availability: ABARES
Enough structural timber is expected to be available to build Australian homes until at least 2050, according to an ABARES Insights paper.
Preparing for a hotter, drier Basin: MDBA
The Murray–Darling Basin is virtually certain to become hotter, rainfall likely to become more variable, and droughts very likely to become more frequent and severe, a new publication from the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has found. The MDBA ... released the 2025 Murray–Darling Basin Outlook — a forward-looking assessment...
Country Mayors renew vows with LGNSW: CMA
The Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) and Local Government New South Wales (LGNSW) have a strong and mutually supportive relationship, according to CMA Chairman Mayor Rick Firman OAM. He and LGNSW President, Mayor Phyllis Miller OAM signed an extended and updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the first day of the 2025 LGNSW Annual Conference in Penrith on Sunday.
Farmers unite to protect a family legacy
In the David vs Goliath battle of farmers and industrial renewables, Colin Fenton didn't mince his words in a showdown with a Transmission Company Victoria attempting to gain access to the family's 102-year family farming legacy at Dingwell. "We've been through wars, floods and fire, by hell we're a bloody resilient group," stated Colin, who, in his 80s, stood firm with his wife Mary and a group of supporters, who had rushed to their side for one of two attempted property entries this week.
Football fever high as we welcome Matildas
Skaie Hull. The Central Coast will take centre stage this Friday, November 28, as the CommBank Matildas return to Gosford for a blockbuster international double-header at Polytec Stadium. The event is expected to deliver a major boost to tourism, local business and the region's growing reputation as a sporting powerhouse.
Fish for the future, not for votes
Western Australians love two things: arguing about politics and arguing about fishing — and not necessarily in that order ...
Crime down, victims down, public drinking in focus: Finocchiaro, Edgington
The Finocchiaro CLP Government today released its Banned Drinkers Register Review as the latest crime data is released across the Territory. Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the Territory’s latest crime statistics, covering January to September this year compared with the same period last year, show an 8.3 per cent reduction in victims of crime, with 1,635 fewer Territorians becoming victims.
Strengthening South Australia’s defence against H5 bird flu: Scriven
South Australia’s capacity to rapidly respond to emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreaks such as H5 avian influenza (bird flu) has been boosted with the launch of a new mobile biosecurity laboratory. The state-of-the-art mobile lab enables rapid processing and turnaround of samples - a critical factor during EAD outbreaks, where early diagnosis can significantly reduce economic and social impacts, as well as the risk of the disease spreading.
Farmers gearing up for fight: NSW Farmers Association
NSW Farmers Acting CEO Mike Guerin – who led a successful legal challenge against the federal government and mining giant Glencore in Queensland – said he was “getting the band back together” to fight Santos’ Narrabri Gas Project ... “The people who depend on the Great Artesian Basin for their water are living in fear that this project will go ahead and go wrong, like many of them do, creating tens of thousands of water refugees and forcing farmers to abandon half the continent because it’s been contaminated forever.
Liberals stand up to Labor’s ruthless attack on farmers: Patterson, Centofanti
The Liberal Opposition has listened to the concerns of regional landowners, farmers and stakeholders and have successfully moved significant amendments to Labor’s ill-conceived Statutes Amendment (Energy and Mining Reforms) Bill 2025. Labor had attempted to force the Bill through Parliament, which would have seen farmers indefinitely unable to access their own land.
Industry at catastrophe
Hugh Schuitemaker and Madison Eastmond. The region's peak wine industry representative group has issued an urgent open letter to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, warning that the state's largest producing area — the "backbone for thousands of family" livelihoods — is in the grip of a severe economic and social crisis ... Grape purchase prices remain at historic lows, with early indicators for the 2026 vintage, showing shiraz prices far below the cost of production – as low as $80 to $120 per tonne – which exceeds $350 per tonne.
Wrong time for a (vine) rest?
The Riverland's State and Federal MPs say an initiative promoting the resting of vineyards will have little benefit for the economic health of local wine grape growers. The State Government last week announced a rebate – of $40/hectare – for Riverland wine grape growers to rest red wine vineyards, through the use of the chemical Ethephon, for the 2026 vintage.
Petition calls for halt to National Parks land buy-up
An online petition by mayor of Bourke Shire, Lachlan Ford is calling for the NSW Government to stop purchasing farming land for National Parks in the western region. "In the last 20 years, the Bourke region has lost nearly half a million acres of agricultural land to make way for a suite of National Parks, Nature Reserves and State Conservation Areas - now totalling approximately 860,000 acres managed by the NSW Government," Mr Ford's online statement reads.
Council vote in support of: timber industry employees
A Notice of Motion (NoM) put forward by Clarence Valley Councillor Allison Bryant last week which called for the local government body to formally oppose the Minns Government’s September 7 announcement to end native forest harvesting and establish the Great Koala National Park during the Monthly Ordinary Meeting of Clarence Valley Council (CVC) was carried 7-2.
Seaweed industry update with the Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry recently announced the delivery of an $8 million grant program to support industry to scale up production of Asparagopsis, the red seaweed known for its significant methane-reducing qualities when fed to livestock. ARR.News asked Professor Catriona Macleod, ASSA Chair, for an update on the state of industry in Australia.
Wimmera Southern Mallee Alliance
Representing Buloke, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, and Yarriambiack, the Wimmera Southern Mallee Alliance was formed to deliver enduring social, economic, and environmental value for local communities through collaborative leadership and coordinated action.
Historic first tax treaty between Australia and Croatia signed: Leigh
The Albanese Government has signed a landmark tax treaty with Croatia – the first ever between our two nations – marking a major step forward in our growing bilateral relationship. Once in force, the agreement will make it easier for Australian and Croatian businesses to trade, invest and innovate together.
Creativity using cotton obtains federal grant: Littleproud
Lapunyah Art Gallery president Helen Dennis said ‘Reparative Threads’ will explore the cultural and material residue of cotton, while working with renowned artist Dr Karike Ashworth and communities across the Western Downs. Ms Dennis said it is a joint initiative between Dogwood Crossing at Miles, Lapunyah Art Gallery at Chinchilla, and Gallery 107 at Dalby, culminating in a multi-site community exhibition and the creation of a large-scale 3D wall.
Warning – Rushing environmental law reform could backfire: TasFarmers
Tasmanian farmers manage almost a million hectares of forest and are responsible for its fire safety, ecological integrity and long-term health. TasFarmers maintains that private native forests must be actively managed through fuel reduction, cool burns and evidence-based forestry practices that support their natural ecology and community safety.
Changes desperately needed so we can fish for the future
Michelle Daw. Gulf St Vincent should be used to trial new approaches to managing commercial and recreational fishing, says YP Country Times fishing columnist Greg James. In the wake of new fishing restrictions introduced in response to the algal bloom, Mr James said the crisis presented an opportunity to move beyond bag and boat limits, to help ensure sustainable fish stocks for the future.
Road speed limit cut quietly shelved after rural backlash, Coalition advocacy: Webster
Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, and Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says Friday afternoon’s quiet shelving of Labor’s proposed default speed limit reduction is a victory for Coalition advocacy and common sense.
