State politics

At a time when Australian farmers are facing a major fertiliser squeeze, Canberra has decided the priority is not supply, not affordability, and not domestic resilience—but underwriting a green ammonia export dream ... while farmers are being told to accept decile 10 nitrogen prices, or even decile zero availability, taxpayers—including those same farmers in the years they make money—are being lined up to help fast track a plant that will help foreign farmers access fertiliser.

The re-elected Malinauskas Labor Government will continue taking decision-making out of Adelaide and into regional South Australia, with Country Cabinet meetings set to remain a key part of how the Government listens, engages and delivers. Country Cabinet ensures regional communities have a direct voice at the Cabinet table, giving locals the opportunity to speak face-to-face with Ministers and senior decision-makers about the issues that matter most to them.

Landline’s segment about koalas last Sunday, "Need for Trees: Charity plants half-a-million trees to help save koalas" would have been better directed at the need for common sense. It referred to the preordained finding from the NSW Inquiry in 2020 that koalas were headed for extinction by 2050. This finding was ridiculous because koalas were invisible when Europeans arrived. Now there are many more koalas over a much wider area ... ARR.News asked a few questions of Vic too.

Carey Brennan. More than 100 farmers attended the recent VFF community meeting held by the St Arnaud branch on Thursday, April 9, to listen to legal experts speak about the effects of the new Victorian Treaty Act and the land acquisition procedures for transmission lines, all of which will adversely affect farmland in this district.

This year’s projected opening allocation for South Australian River Murray water users has reinforced the importance of a healthy and flowing Basin – and ensuring parties representing River communities put local interests ahead of upstream states.

Greater Shepparton City Council is intensifying its advocacy and engagement efforts to ensure local community and industry voices are heard as part of the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) review, with public submissions closing on 1 May 2026. As part of its water advocacy program, Council is undertaking targeted engagement activities to encourage community and stakeholder participation in the review process...

Sebastian Calderon. Riverland farmers are being urged to look closely at South Australia's newly opened drought loan scheme, with Riverland Lending Services agribusiness (RLS) senior manager Jeff McDonald warning the concessional finance could bring both short term relief and long-term complications.

Club stalwart Steve Graham officially opened Nhill and District Sporting Club’s new grandstand and changeroom facility on Saturday before a full crowd. The grandstand features 147 seats, including an all-abilities accessible ramp and seating areas, a large media room overlooking the oval, and a corporate room with a sink and storage.

The Western Australian Government has announced that it has secured a stockpile diesel. The Opposition is sceptical.

Caitlin Menadue. Algal bloom levels are shifting along northern Yorke Peninsula, with concerns growing for local marine life — including the region's well-known stingrays. Recent footage captured in Moonta Bay showed a large fever of rays moving through shallow waters late last month, with locals suggesting they may be trying to escape the bloom.

Parrtjima 2026 has celebrated its biggest opening weekend yet, recording the largest opening weekend attendance in the festival’s history, including the second-largest opening night, as visitors flocked to the Red Centre. Across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the festival attracted nearly 8,300 attendances, with a program that’s still got plenty for all to enjoy until 19 April.

A lizard known to Wiimpatja Aboriginal Owners as Kungaka “the Hidden One” has been formally described as a new species, acknowledged in research published today in Zootaxa. With fewer than 20 individuals of the species known to exist, the Kungaka is also now one of Australia's most threatened reptiles.

Miriam Torzillo. Just when we thought the Reconstruction Authority (RA) had got the message that the Big Scrub homes should be deconstructed, salvaged or relocated, reports are coming in from residents about the ramping up of demolition in Lismore. Locals have been recording the destruction and sharing it on social media. The community is not happy.

The biggest-ever AFL Gather Round attendance has led to record crowds beyond the boundary in Norwood and the Barossa, as footy fans and visitors made the most of everything on offer across the state.

The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland MP, says Victoria’s growing police vacancy crisis is leaving regional communities exposed, as reports of fuel theft surge across the region. Ms Cleeland said with more than 1500 Victoria Police vacancies and limited farm crime officers remaining, the Allan Labor Government had left farmers increasingly vulnerable to organised theft.

The Crisafulli Government is committed to unlocking productivity for Queenslanders with an inquiry into the impact of the Federal Government’s 2025 environmental legislation. Changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 have raised concerns with stakeholders about increased regulatory burden, compliance costs, uncertainty and delays. 

Victorians doing it tough are getting fresh food on the table thanks to produce grown by Marngoneet Correctional Centre. Participants in Marngoneet’s horticulture program grow and donate more than 30 vegetable boxes each week to help Victorians experiencing food insecurity.

The Member for Central Wheatbelt and Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food, Lachlan Hunter MP, says the Cook Labor Government is failing to manage the fuel crisis, with the town of Dowerin left without diesel for eight days. Mr Hunter said the situation exposes the growing gap between what the Government is saying and what is happening across regional Western Australia.

The State Opposition is calling for greater scrutiny of fuel retailers who appear to be using global events as an excuse to over-inflate prices. The RAA says unleaded pump prices are between 15 and 20 cents per litre higher than wholesale prices, which compares to margins of between eight and 13 cents per litre before the Middle East conflict began.