Politics

The NSW Government will spend an additional $80 million to protect the state from red imported fire ants, with the invasive and aggressive pest now on the march towards the NSW border. Minister for Agriculture, Tara Moriarty said red imported fire ants cause serious social, economic and environmental harm.

The current drop in crime in Alice Springs coincides with a decrease in tourism of around 40 per cent in several sectors, triggered largely by the nation-wide reporting of crime in Alice Springs ... Mayor Matt Paterson says following his speaking out the Stronger Futures was brought back and a $48.8m grant came from Canberra, partly to be used for more police.

Barkly Regional Council is keeping in line with most Territory councils and raising its rates by five per cent for the 2023-24 financial year. While news of higher costs is not welcome for ratepayers, Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin said the decision by Council at its 12 May Special Meeting was unavoidable to sustain adequate service delivery in the region.

One of a number of treasured works from National Gallery of Australia’s collection to visit. A $174 million masterpiece by French impressionist Claude Monet will be heading to the Tweed later this year, just one of many artworks shared with regional galleries under the Australian Government’s Sharing the National Collection initiative.

The Supreme Court of Victoria has announced its decision on VicForests appeal of last November’s landmark court decision in Kinglake Friends of the Forest and Environment East Gippsland vs VicForests, known as “The Glider Case”. The panel of three judges upheld Justice Richards’ findings that VicForests’ actions were in breach of environment laws.The orders limiting logging in forests that are home to endangered gliders will remain.

Representatives from the farming community and food manufacturers have united to express their concerns about Commonwealth water buybacks meeting with the Victorian Water Minister in Echuca on 28 June 2023. The meeting convened by the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) with Minister Harriet Shing included representatives from Northern Victoria’s major food processors...

Lockyer Valley Regional Council has approved a development application made by Preston Peak Events Pty Ltd to use a house in Preston as accommodation for its visitors ... The ‘Motel’ is to be available to be booked for guests’ stays for a maximum of 170 nights in any calendar year.

What makes our region’s ecosystems precious? The “big picture” answer has been revealed with the launch of a world-first mapping product for all to explore and understand the different services provided by our ecosystems.

Increased opportunities for local suppliers and a continuing commitment to environment and sustainability are a highlight of Sunshine Coast Council’s 2023-24 Procurement and Disposal Policy. Outstanding Organisation Portfolio Councillor Ted Hungerford said the new policy would continue to prioritise and support local businesses.

While communities continue to recover from the 2022 flood event, residents are concerned that at least 30 levee breaches on the lower Loddon remain unrepaired. Emergency services have already been called to respond to a flood risk this month when a recent rise in the Murray River threatened to spill from a levee bank breach in the Benjeroop area.

The system which protects and manages Aboriginal cultural heritage in Western Australia will be modernised and improved from July 1 to prevent another incident like what occurred at Juukan Gorge. The improvements include new practical exemptions and a simpler, fairer system to manage activities that may harm Aboriginal cultural heritage across WA ... The State Government has also announced the appointment of four new members to the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council, including former Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister and respected Yamatji and Wongi Elder Ken Wyatt.

Senator Lidia Thorpe and the Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia (IAPA) have joined forces to call on the NSW State Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris MP, to listen to the voices of Traditional Custodians, the Guringai, regarding the devastatingly destructive development proposal, by the Local Aboriginal Land Council, for land on Woy Woy Rd Kariong NSW, in the area known as Kariong Sacred Lands ... "Do we want to listen to First Nation’s voices or not? Or is First Nations input only relevant if it comes from a state sanctioned Aboriginal corporation?”

Thousands of Northern Rivers residents have been waiting anxiously for 16 months to see whether or not they would receive assistance via home buy-backs, retrofitting or house raising. This week, hundreds are being told they will receive no help from Government ...Members of A Way Forward are calling on the NSW and Federal Governments to urgently provide additional funding to the NRRC to extend their Resilient Homes program.

Australia’s largest regional writers festival explores the theme of 'Wild Imagination' - Featuring more than 120 writers, thinkers and commentators ... The festival also offers writers’ workshops, an engaging program for children and several feature and satellite events in venues across the Northern Rivers.