State politics

The resounding defeat of the Voice referendum demonstrates, once again, that far too much of day-to-day life in Australia is being dictated by remote and disconnected from the population elites ... The big lesson from the recent referendum is that people want to make their own decisions. They do not need ‘help’ from the elites, who know nothing about how life actually transpires in most of Australia.

Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt and Victorian Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence announced the Drought Resilience Plans for the Gippsland, Goulburn and Wimmera Southern Mallee regions have been finalised.  These are the first of nine regional communities across the state to develop community-led Regional Drought Resilience Plans through the Future Drought Fund’s Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program, jointly funded by the Albanese and Allan Governments.

Back in 2021, the Birchip Cemetery Trust received $22,000 from the Department of Health’s Cemetery Sector Governance Support Program to upgrade the original lawn cemetery and a further $18,000 from the “Cargill Cares Cropping for the Birchip Community” program ... concrete plinths could be installed in all six rows of the initial lawn cemetery to rehouse the plaques that used to sit on individual concrete blocks or directly on the lawn.

Minister for Water Harriet Shing announced that Southern Rural Water has issued Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) two licences for cultural water use – one of 200 megalitres at Buchan Munji, as well as 500 megalitres of water for the Tambo River ... The Labor Government is working with Traditional Owners to improve their access to water and their involvement in water management, benefiting  Traditional Owners and all Victorians through the release of  Water is Life: Traditional Owner Access to Water Roadmap.  

The Cook Labor Government has introduced the  Reserves Bill 2023  to the WA Parliament to enable 145,000 hectares of land to be added to the Helena and Aurora Ranges National Park. The protection of the Helena and Aurora Ranges is a strategic priority under the Cook Government's Plan for Our Parks initiative which aims to add five million hectares to the State's conservation estate.

Just as Transgrid has announced an expansion of the preferred corridor, an ‘Explosive’ energy report exposes serious flaws in the $20 billion Rewiring the Nation plan. Australia is on the verge of an energy crisis as politicians continue to close down traditional baseline power sources for the green dream.

Visitors at the Narrandera Fisheries Centre Open Day this Saturday will have the opportunity to see first-hand the important work done at the facility to research, enhance and protect native fish and fisheries in NSW. Activities will include kids fishing, hatchery and aquaria tours, research displays and the chance to meet Agro the famous Murray Cod.

Following the cancellation of Shenhua’s plans to mine on the Liverpool Plains, work is underway to regenerate the land for the benefit of the community and the environment ... While some land has been sold to farmers, a 6,300ha parcel of land has been kept in public hands and is being managed by Local Land Services under a biodiversity project known as The Waratah Project.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council has welcomed announcement by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on plans for a new desalinisation plant, saying it could free up existing infrastructure and water supplies for industrial and agricultural use and provide water security for our population growth. Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Cr Tanya Milligan said while the Premier’s announcement wasn’t specifically about water security for the Lockyer Valley and Somerset regions, the overall SEQ water plan put the local project in a favourable light.

Solutions to the nation’s growing energy crisis, which has seen Australian electricity bills rise by up to 20 per cent over the past 12 months, were debated by energy experts, industry leaders and rural and regional representatives in a first-of-its-kind outback energy forum in Mount Isa ... Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter’s Mount Isa Nuclear Power Forum saw dozens converge in the industrial city that is surrounded by “legally un-mineable” uranium deposits.  

It is the author’s belief that Australia is not adequately prepared for upcoming bushfires.   To be frank, we as a society have learnt very little following 2019/20, especially in regards to bushfire mitigation. Communities, firefighters and the ecosystems are highly exposed over the coming El Nino period and a lot of bushfire skills have been lost.   Disaster and insurance costs are going up every year and will continue to go up with current adapted approaches.

In the shadow of darkness, sometimes thieves are lurking down side streets, back roads and farm paddocks, checking for unlocked cars, sheds, houses and gates to steal whatever they can. “It is a sign of the times, driven by the high cost of living as a result of high electricity prices,” according to RM Electronics owner Rob Mutton who is currently selling a record number of security cameras, helping police catch thieves.

The Barkly Business Hub has officially opened after an almost $4 million refurbishment of the old Government building on Peko Road, which was a key initiative of the Barkly Regional Deal. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) and the Department of Chief Minister and Cabinet have already moved in and begun operations.

Robert Onfray. I am not sure many people are fully aware of the massive engineering changes currently underway in our rural landscape. The changes are on a scale never attempted in this country before, and it is swallowing obscene amounts of money for minimal benefit and, indeed, no proof it will improve the climate ... Australian Rural & Regional News will open a page for discussion on this comprehensive and provocative article on the renewable energy transition.

Police officers have an important, but sometimes dangerous job in the community; for this reason Police Remembrance Day marks those officers who have either been killed on duty or died whilst serving. First commemorated in 1989 it occurs on 29 September each year.

Local state Member for Condamine Pat Weir has revealed he will be voting no at the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. In the past, when asked how he will vote Mr Weir has said he would take time to look at both sides of the debate before making an informed decision. Among his concerns was if the issue warrants amending the Constitution.