1,000 reasons to give water buybacks the flick: NFF
The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) and its member bodies have put forward a range of alternative projects to deliver the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) plan, with the potential to restore 1000GL or more without resorting to buybacks.
Doctors back 60-day policy
The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) has backed the Federal Government’s 60 day dispensing measure for selected medications, saying it is good policy for rural patients. RDAA has added that it doesn’t believe the plan will impact the financial sustainability of rural and remote pharmacies, as increased supports are being put in place to assist them.
Aboriginal cultural heritage laws off to a messy start in WA
New laws designed to protect and manage Aboriginal cultural heritage in Western Australia started on July 1 with the Cook Government saying they were modernised and improved to prevent another incident like what occurred at Juukan Gorge ... Prior to the implementation of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 almost 30,000 people signed an e-petition calling on the government to delay the start date by a minimum of six months.
NAB caught out in data lie over branch closures
The National Australia Bank (NAB) has been pulling a swifty on customers that have lost branches since September last year, using incomplete visitation data to justify the decisions ... The deception was revealed when the use of the phrase “over the counter interactions” on NAB’s West Lakes “branch closure fact sheet” was questioned, with information sought on what activities were being counted as foot traffic.
Despairing residents express anger over fudged flood figures
The gathered people were angry, frustrated and sad. Many took the mic and spoke and for some it was clearly uncomfortable to bare their sorrow as they shook and their voices broke ... Henry Luong told people to “use your rage and make it your power”.
New aerial imagery and terrain mapping takes flight on LHI
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and LHIB have partnered up to capture new high-resolution aerial imagery and terrain mapping of Lord Howe Island and Ball’s Pyramid. Aerial imagery forms the basis of the LHIB’s environmental field operations, helping us protect biodiversity, manage weeds, and implement effective biosecurity.
Rare beaked whale washes ashore
On 11 May 2023 a deceased beaked whale washed into shallow water at the Western end of Old Settlement Beach ... The preliminary identification is a male Blainsville’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), consistent with the two large tusks in lower jaw, with stalked barnacles growing on their exposed tips.
Chelsea Australian Garden now open at Olinda: King, Stitt, Dimopoulos
The original ‘Australian Garden’ exhibit, created by Designer Phillip Johnson, Horticulturalist Wes Fleming and the Trailfinders Team, was the first Australian entry to win Gold and Best in Show at the London Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in 2013.
Queensland Government is failing on fire ant eradication: Littleproud
Leader of the Nationals and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud has called on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to overhaul the state government’s efforts to eradicate fire ants from the Sunshine State. Mr Littleproud’s call comes after the potentially devastating pest was recently discovered on the outskirts of Toowoomba, meaning the fire ant has made it across the Great Dividing Range for the first time.
South Australia locks in international wine event: Bettison, Scriven, Champion
South Australia has secured the hosting privileges to an international wine event which attracts major purchasers from across the globe, in a coup for the State. Adelaide will host the November 2026 International Masters of Wine Symposium, bringing together around 500 delegates from premier wine importing nations around the world.
Cunnamulla to host Melbourne Cup Visit
The Melbourne Cup will be in Cunnamulla on Tuesday 19th September and Mayor Suzette Beresford is calling on the community to get involved and form a working committee to prepare and organise an event on the day ... In 2023, the $200,000 Cup will for the first-time visit Cunnamulla, former home to Darby McCarthy one of Australia's elite jockeys of the 1960s through to the 1980s.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act update: WAFarmers
Farmers beware! Come midnight tonight [30 June 2023], don’t think you can crank up your bulldozer, grader or continue building that new hay shed and not have to worry about the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage laws ... While some may think that the Premier's light touch and soft start might sound appealing, by law nothing has changed, and you could well find yourself prosecuted for any heritage damage you do in the coming months with no legal recourse despite the Premier's spin.
Basin Plan socio-economic test vanishes: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has written to Commonwealth Water Minister Tanya Plibersek this week following a key document setting out the socio-economic criteria under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan being removed from the government’s website. VFF Water Council Chair Andrew Leahy said farmers should be concerned by the Commonwealth’s moves to walk back from the socio-economic test for recovery of the 450GL up-water target.
Small holdings tree farm advice released: Forestry Australia
The final report of the Trials Review, Information and Genetics (TRIG) project, has been released along with advisory information and updated data. According to TRIG Steering Committee Chair, Dr Kevin Harding, the project sought to leverage the past work of Victoria’s farm forestry sector by accessing legacy information and datasets to ultimately deliver new, updated tools and information for the next generation of farm forestry plantings.
New biosecurity regulatory fees and charges take effect on 1 July: DAFF
Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity and Compliance Dr Chris Locke said new fees and charges for importers would better reflect the true cost of delivering Australian biosecurity services. “While some importers will experience slightly larger increases in the prices, the average increase across all importers is around 28 per cent,” said Dr Locke.
$80 million to protect NSW against red imported fire ants: Moriarty
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.
Frequent question: Is it safe to go to Alice Springs?
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.
Council initiates rates strategy for 23-24
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.
Buloke Times editorial: Implications of banning live sheep exports
As reported, the federal Agriculture Minister had the awkward task of confirming that the government intended to phase out sheep exports, but would do so in an orderly way “after consulting the industry”, although no action would be taken during the current term of government. The government has appointed a panel, which is part of the “phasing out”. The result so far of its “consulting the industry” is that the industry, backed up by the 3,000 people and their families dependent on the export, is against the ban.
Community feedback key for new transmission line
Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) is refining the 5 to 50 kilometre-wide area of interest to a 500m to 1km corridor in the next couple of months using valuable information from landholders, Traditional Owners and community members, along with extensive engineering and environmental assessments including ecology, cultural heritage, landscape and visual amenity, agricultural activities and proximity to settlements.
Little for Naracoorte
There is very little in the federal budget for towns like Naracoorte in regional South Australia. And with the new budget, the government has put the heavy lifting at the feet of the community, with very limited spending in the region to counterbalance the increasing costs. That’s how the shadow minister for finance and tax reform, Heidi Girolamo, has described the new budget, claiming it would only “bring economic hardships”.
Council heads for $2.9m loss
The Tatiara District Council is headed for a $2.9million loss this financial year, thanks to some “extraordinary circumstances”. The loss, which the council administration says is “largely due to grants not received yet,” was discussed at the council’s meeting in Bordertown on June 13.
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