Politics

Sarah Herrmann. A protest against the suspension of Yorke Peninsula Council elected member Adam Meyer preceded the council’s ordinary meeting last week. Yorke Peninsula Ratepayers Association members gathered on the steps of the Minlaton Town Hall, holding A4 printouts of Councillor Meyer’s face, as well as signs reading "What truths are the CEO and mayor hiding?"...

Renmark provided a rest stop for more than 50 trucks carrying hay to help South Australian farmers impacted by drought. A convoy of trucks carrying hay to be donated to drought-affected farmers, through organisation Aussie Hay Runners with support of the State Government, last Saturday passed through Renmark.

The 2025 Buloke Shire Council Awards celebration was held on January 23, in Wycheproof Town Hall, featuring buffet-style catering with an incredible selection of delicious food ... “These awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible people in our community,” Mayor Alan Getley said.

A tough new product has been launched in the fight against the potentially nationwide spread of the invasive Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA), while one expert warns that care should be taken to minimise the risk to other species and the environment from all fire ant treatments.

Roz Knights was cutting onions this morning for Kyogle’s Australia Day barbecue when State MP Janelle Saffin popped in to congratulate her. Roz has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her public service.

WA Labor has promised to build a career station in Yanchep if they are re-elected at the March 8 state election. When making the announcement this morning Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said if Labor was returned, planning for the new career fire station would take place after the election with it to be built in about the following 18 months or so.

Governments exist to serve the public good by ensuring critical services like emergency response are accessible to all. Yet in a scenario both tragic and absurd, celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Katy Pery and billionaires like Amazons Jeff Bezos hired private firefighters to protect their mansions during recent wildfires.

Proposed mining for rare earths elements in the Limestone Coast is facing opposition from local producers and residents. Many sections of the community are concerned about how mining would impact production in one of the state's key agricultural regions.

Businesses from all sectors in the Tatiara District—whether trades, diesel mechanics, car dealers, agricultural machinery and supplies, manufacturing, or engineering—with five or 500 staff are unable to grow, or in some cases operate at capacity, because there is no accommodation available to house the staff they need to attract. This is the situation facing the district, council chief executive officer Anne Champness has told The [Naracoorte] News.

News that the State Government had grouped health services into Local Health Service Networks was met with distrust and derision from members of the opposition parties, but our local health provider, Dhelkaya Health, responded positively ... The Tarrangower Times contacted Dhelkaya Health to try and understand the ways in which the changes would affect local patients and staff.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and while the barrels may be gone, the spirit of pork-barrelling is alive and well. Enter The Nationals WA, whose 2025 election manifesto is beginning to look like a masterclass in misguided political opportunism: starting with the proposal to uproot the DPIRD from Perth and plonk it down in Northam, population 7658.

Sean Cunningham. This Sunday, January 26, is a date that carries two vastly different meanings for many Australians. To many it is known as Australia Day and is a celebration, but for others, especially the indigenous population, it is a painful reminder of a day they call Invasion Day or Survival Day.

This year will feature a few highly important projects according to Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald. The appointment of a new Council CEO, ongoing advocacy for State and Australian Government funding and the new Councillor Community Engagement model rank as the most important items on the Mayor’s agenda.

Snowy Valleys Council (SVC) is continuing to seek input from the community about the possible de-amalgamation of the local government area. Around 25 people joined SVC Interim General Manager, Steven Pinnuck, and Councillors Trina Thomson, Hugh Packard, David Sheldon and John Larter in Tumut last Tuesday to learn more about council’s de-amalgamation Implementation Plan (DPI) and Financial Sustainability Plan (FSP).

Patricia Gill. The Shire of Denmark will gauge community sentiment this year about its support of future Australia Day and other major celebrations. Despite advertising twice last year for a group to run Australia Day celebrations in Denmark none was forthcoming ... Shire president Kingsley Gibson said a bigger conversation would be held with the community about Australia Day and other major celebrations.

Madison Eastmond. Riverland consumers are currently facing empty egg shelves and purchase limits as shortages continue to impact major supermarkets. Glenview Poultry Farm owner and South Australian and Tasmanian director of Egg Farmers of Australia, Darren Letton, told The Murray Pioneer the shortages are due to a range of consumer, governmental, and environmental factors.

Towards the end of this 2025 year, all Australians have been guaranteed continued access to using cash by special mandated legislation. This development at Federal level will be one of the most important advances facing each of us personally in the near future as it will hopefully deter those who set out to steal our hard-earned money.

Kaniva resident Kaye Bothe is West Wimmera Shire’s Australia Day Citizen of the Year. The award will be presented to Mrs Bothe at Kaniva’s Australia Day celebrations on Sunday, January 26.