Politics

The Australian Chamber Orchestra’s critically acclaimed string ensemble ACO Collective brings together musicians of the ACO with Australia’s most talented young string players, proudly mentoring and touring a generation of musicians since 2007.

Disheartened, disappointed and disillusioned – that is how Kyogle Council described its response to the break-in at the Mallanganee Lookout. The observatory was only officially opened 10 days ago and the council said it was a devastating blow to have equipment worth $20,000 stolen.

New South Wales is facing an increasingly parched winter outlook as latest data reveals a looming expansion of drought conditions across the northeast, southeast, and western regions of the state. The latest Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) map ... paints a sobering picture of the state's agricultural landscape.

Australia and Japan have reached an agreement to further strengthen energy security in our region ... will work together to support the flow of essential goods – including fuel and gas – between our countries.

The Crisafulli Government is restoring Queensland’s fuel security under a plan to drill, refine and store fuel locally, with plans to unlock additional fuel storage and refining at Queensland ports. The Government ... launched expressions of interest for the industry to bring forward fuel refining and/or storage proposals on Government owned sites and ports...

The Malinauskas Labor Government will introduce into Parliament this week new legislation to strengthen emergency powers should they be required in the event the fuel crisis worsens. Petrol, diesel and jet fuel continues to arrive in South Australia, with prices significantly lower than earlier in the crisis.

The State Liberals will introduce legislation to repeal the First Nations Voice when Parliament resumes this week. The First Nations Voice Repeal Bill will make way for its replacement - practical, targeted support for Indigenous South Australians and a revived Aboriginal Lands Committee.

... the approval of five additional export beef establishments for exports to Indonesia, including one establishment also receiving approval for sheep and goat meat ... is a boost for Australia’s trade relationship with Indonesia where more high-quality Australian halal red meat will now be available.

Hayley Primmer & Seth Carter. Foreshore erosion in Lancelin is becoming an increasing concern for the Shire of Gingin, with the Opposition warning ongoing changes to the coastline threaten the future of several businesses in the town, as well as the long-term safety of some residents’ homes. Lancelin Sands Hotel owner Glen Trebilcock said he had lost 40m of land in 12 months due to Lancelin’s increasing coastal erosion.

Twelve national organisations are calling for immediate reform to Medicare and pharmaceutical policy settings that are delaying diagnosis, fragmenting care and driving avoidable hospital admissions in the bush. The peak bodies representing nurses, nurse practitioners, endorsed midwives, and midwives, together with health system experts, have written jointly to the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport...

LHI Board. 17 April was International Bat Appreciation Day and this is an opportunity to reflect on the microbats that share the Island. Microbats are the only native land mammals on Lord Howe Island. Two species have been confirmed in recent decades...

“Mobile connectivity in the regions is not a luxury; it is a critical and essential service.” That was the tone set at the Senate inquiry into the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025 where the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA) gave evidence on behalf of remote families.

The Albanese Government is ignoring warnings of a deepening crisis in Australia’s wine sector, which is adding to the social and economic pressures on growers.

Renewable generation growth and rising battery participation continued to reshape Australia’s east coast electricity system in the first quarter of 2026, alongside a year-on-year decline in wholesale prices, according to AEMO’s Quarterly Energy Dynamics (QED) report published today.

Patrick Tucker. Towering murals, bold colour and a striking riverside sculpture are drawing fresh attention to the Murray, with the River Country Art Trail ... Spanning Barham, Mathoura, Moulamein, Moama and Tooleybuc, the trail transforms everyday infrastructure into a region-wide gallery.

The Albanese Government is supercharging the transition to faster, more streamlined project assessments and approvals under our historic environmental law reforms. The Government will provide more than $45 million over 4 years to progress bilateral agreements with states and territories that will reduce duplication.

Regional high school students have been given a hands-on look at the future of engineering, with a long-running Riverina program continuing to be a potential pathway to careers in the field ... Working in teams, they tackled problem-solving, applied engineering theory and gained first-hand insight into industry practices to construct a fully functional bridge...

"Governments are defined by their priorities, and at a time when Victorians are under real financial pressure, building an expensive new layer of governance and embedding identity-based processes into Parliament reflects, to my mind, a serious misjudgement."

The state’s peak farming organisation has called on the NSW Government to answer urgent questions about how it will protect groundwater, farm biosecurity, and landholders as it promotes new gas exploration. NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said farmers recognised the need for reliable energy but warned hasty exploration without strong safeguards could create unmanageable risks for rural and remote communities.

Michelle Daw. New Member for Narungga Chantelle Thomas says she will harness the "real power" of One Nation in state parliament to win a better deal for the electorate. Speaking in her electorate office in Kadina, Ms Thomas said she was busy interviewing staff and setting up ahead of being sworn in early in May.