State politics

Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love says if growing unrest to Labor’s demersal fishing bans is any indication, the Cook Labor Government has bitten off more than it can chew and badly underestimated the strength and unity of Western Australia’s fishing community ... "The fishing community is ropeable, and rightly so," Mr Love said.

Indigenous Cultural Fire Practitioners and Queensland farmers are working together to improve grazing landscapes using First Nations land management practices, including Cultural Burning - transforming the way food and agricultural systems work.

Denice Barnes. The dumping of Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch as Shadow Minister for the Central Coast has resulted in a public backlash, forcing newly-appointed NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane to defend the decision. Mr Crouch lost his role as Shadow Minister for the Central Coast in the recent reshuffle of the NSW Shadow Cabinet.

Mat Dalby. More than 120 people rallied in Denmark on Saturday, calling on the State Government to halt a planned summer prescribed burn in the Walpole–Nornalup National Park. The rally of people from Walpole, Denmark and across the Great Southern followed days of escalating concern of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attraction's plans threatening the last remaining ancient red tingle forest.

The State only aims to promptly suppress 80 per cent of bushfires, effectively allowing one in five fires to grow beyond initial attack. According to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Annual Report 2024–25, the government’s target for “fires contained at first attack and/or within five hectares” sits well below what frontline agencies have actually achieved in each of the past five years.

Love it, hate it or don’t even understand it, Bendigo Bank’s multi-million dollar “Better Big Bank” marketing campaign has raised a lot of questions since its launch seven years ago ... A review of the “last bank out” of regional towns across Australia since 2020 has revealed that Bendigo has left more communities without banking services than all four big banks put together.

“I was in a grazier’s chopper being shown around, and he made the clear observation that like the surviving cattle, wild pigs are corralling on the islands that have formed in the inland sea that is the flood water. While the flood water presents many challenges, one opportunity would be for real and effective management of the feral pig numbers throughout the Gulf,” the KAP Leader said. 

After seeing the devastating flooding firsthand, it’s clear the only new dams in Queensland are to be found against Queensland Rail (QR) tracks! The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader, and Member for Traeger has said. Large swathes of built-up rail line with poor drainage in the flood affected areas around Julia Creek are acting as dam walls, preventing flood waters from receding. 

A major milestone in construction of the future Alkimos seawater desalination plant has been achieved, with Western Power installing 5km of 132kV underground cabling between the project site and the existing Yanchep substation.

Liberal member of Victoria's Legislative Council, the Hon Wendy Lovell, announced on Monday 5 January her decision to not contest the seat of Northern Victoria Region in the November State Election. The Northern Victoria Region is one of eight electoral regions in Victoria.

Premier David Crisafulli shared a schooner with residents and local member Pat Weir during a visit to the district over the holiday break ... The December 19 event allowed the politicians, stakeholders, industry leaders and locals to mingle, and share their experiences and concerns...

We now have a bumper crop, a tax windfall for government, and broad agreement across agriculture, transport and local government that the system is stretched. The buy-back was presented as a serious response to a real capacity, efficiency and safety problem. The only question left is whether the government is prepared to act.

The fully refurbished John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool is more than a safe place to swim. It is more than being the largest capital project in Council history. In her official address during the opening ceremony on December 19, Hay Mayor, Carol Oataway said the pool complex was a community hub, a place where families gather, friendships are forged, and active, healthy lifestyles are encouraged.

Michelle Daw. Stansbury oyster growers have cautiously welcomed the reopening of their harvesting area, which had been shut since early May. Growers were informed of the reopening mid-afternoon on Wednesday, December 31 — too late for them to sell for the lucrative Christmas and New Year's Eve markets.

In a marathon pre-Christmas session that stretched into the early hours of December 24, 2025, the NSW Parliament passed the most significant tightening of firearm legislation since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. The Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was fast-tracked by the Minns Government following the horrific Bondi Beach terrorist attack earlier that month.

The debate about buffel needs to be broadened to take account of the weed's current and future commercial as well as social consequences. The pastoral industry, in love with the irresponsibly introduced plant, has leases over half of the NT, land that is owned by the people of the NT. From 31 December they will have just 43 days to comment on how the government should be dealing with the scourge, declared a weed in 2024, yet still expanding in the region's prime tourism areas.

Narrandera mayor Neville Kschenka has returned from a visit to the site of the Western Sydney International Airport convinced that while regional shires struggle to receive funding for important road infrastructure to provide access to markets and ports, city projects appear to have almost unlimited funding ... "Premier Chris Minns spoke about affordable housing, but the conversation was mainly centred around Sydney and suburbs. He did not take any questions on the day," Cr Kschenka said.

A Riverland MP is urging locals and visitors to show their support for the region's wine industry while enjoying the summer holiday season. Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone launched his Local Labels campaign last week, highlighting the range of Riverland wines available from wineries, liquor stores and venues like hotels, clubs, cafés and restaurants. "This summer is the perfect time to celebrate and the exceptional wines that our region produces, while also sending a clear message that this is an industry worth fighting for," Mr Whetstone said.