State politics

Despite strong opposition from the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), the Country Fire Authority (CFA), and farmers from all corners of Victoria, the Allan Labor Government’s proposed Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund has today passed a vote in Parliament. The VFF is deeply disappointed by this outcome and remains gravely concerned about the impact this levy will have on farmers...

Floodway replacement and improvement works have been finished on Westbrook-Wyreema Road over Westbrook Creek. The $1.3 million project was the third to be delivered by Toowoomba Regional Council under the Betterment Program as part of the wider 2022 Flood Recovery Program.

Energy developers must fairly engage with the community and properly address the impacts of renewable projects on regions, NSW Farmers has told a state inquiry. On Tuesday the state’s peak farm body appeared at a NSW Government inquiry into renewable energy zones, saying its calls to improve community engagement around the renewable transition were still yet to be answered.

The Clarence Catchment Alliance CCA, local environmental groups and residents are calling for immediate action as mining exploration for antimony and tungsten escalates across the Wild Cattle Creek area near Dorrigo; a sensitive part of the drinking water catchment relied on by more than 80,000 people in the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions.

...Lots of SES boats, big trucks and volunteers in town ... Water is heading our way but many local people are commenting that the response is over the top ... The river is expected to peak at 9.6 metres in the next week or so.

Hugh Schuitemaker. A Riverlander says it is imperative the State Government is reminded about the need for a heavy vehicle bypass to be constructed at Truro, following the recent Federal Election result. Labor’s victory at the 2025 Federal Election earlier this month means the State Government will need to provide 50 per cent of funding for the proposed Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass...

More than 690,000L of drinking water can now be stored in newly-constructed tanks at Taplan, aiming to improve water supply and reliability for the Riverland town. SA Water has recently completed a $10m renovation on new water storage tanks located on Taplan Road, increasing storage capacity up to five-times compared to the previous structures, built more than 40 years ago.

Sarah Herrmann. Oyster farms in Stansbury have been forced to close while authorities investigate whether food safety is at risk from brevetoxins produced by the microalgae Karenia. At least six farms were closed from Monday, May 5, as a precaution under the Primary Produce (Food Safety Schemes) (Seafood) Regulations 2017.

The Coalition before the election planned to keep its nuclear power policy if it lost, but the huge election defeat may now put this intention under scrutiny. This comes as just days before the election, a nuclear expert reconfirmed that a nuclear station in the Latrobe Valley would cost $10 billion, and highlighted China's new status as the world's largest user of domestic nuclear energy.

Star of the South is confident of lodging the environmental approval applications this year for its proposed windfarm offshore from Gippsland. This follows the state government releasing the latest guidelines to implement the offshore wind projects.

A prominent Aboriginal spokesman gave an account of a chaotic and meaningless process deciding how Prime Minister Albanese’s $250m Alice Springs “rescue package” is being spent. The money, allocated two years ago, was “drastically needed” according to Graeme Smith, at the time the CEO of the local native title organisation Lhere Artepe.

A new sustainable food rescue program in Kyogle aims to bring together businesses, producers, and home gardeners to support people experiencing food insecurity. Foodbank’s 2024 Hunger Report reported that two million Australian households are experiencing severe food insecurity and do not have enough to feed their families.

Roughly two thirds of voters in those 39  seats in the House of Representatives defined as "rural" by the AEC gave their first preference vote to right of centre parties in the 2025 federal election ... No matter how many votes are cast and no matter how many seats are won in rural areas in favour of a particular side of politics it will not matter a fig if the majority of voters in the city and provincial electorates cast their votes in favour of the opposite side of politics.

Motoring body RACQ has welcomed the State Government's announcement of a parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility safety after years of advocating for electric scooter reforms. In 2024, there were 1,504 presentations to participating Emergency Departments in Queensland as a result of an e-scooter crash, an increase of 231 from 2023.

The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, is urging residents within the Mildura electorate to send a message to the Allan Labor Government to dump the controversial new emergency services tax. The Nationals have launched the "Scrap The Tax" campaign ...

If you’re headed to the Grampians, finding your way to iconic walks from the Halls Gap township is now even easier. Budja Budja is the latest trailhead that has recently opened in the heart of town, linking it to the world-class Grampians Peaks Trail and other popular walking tracks in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.

The Crisafulli Government has unveiled the results of a covert crackdown on youth crime in Townsville, with the State Flying Squad arresting 17 juveniles on more than 100 charges. The State Flying Squad targeted the worst juvenile and adult offenders during the week-long crime blitz between 29 April and 6 May.   

Ten renewable energy projects have been given the green light to connect to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), through agreements that will deliver enough power to supply more than half of NSW homes. The NSW Government has awarded groundbreaking ‘access rights’ to renewable energy companies ...

The Minns Labor Government has today released a new guide to strengthen consultation practices with regional, rural and remote communities across the state. This is part of the Government’s ongoing work to build stronger regional communities by delivering solutions tailored to local communities and informed by local knowledge. 

Ken Grundy, Naracoorte. To suggest we have not sufficient money for the economy is like saying we cannot measure a piece of timber because we haven’t sufficient feet or inches. The economists, financial advisers and Treasurers all offer advice. Usually, the recommendations from one will be criticised by others.