Stronger police powers to tackle knife crime: Fyles, Worden
Amendments proposed to the Police Legislation Further Amendment Bill 2023 will authorise police to use handheld scanners to detect, seize and destroy weapons being carried by individuals. Carrying a controlled weapon without reasonable excuse is an offence which carries a penalty of 12 months imprisonment, this term is double if the offence occurs at night time.
Smarter justice to tackle youth crime: Worden, Paech
In November 2022 the NT Government passed legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 years old. This legislation will now come into effect from 1 August 2023. If a child 11 years or under engages in concerning behaviour, they will be dealt with by NT Police and Territory Families through referring the child and their family to the On The Right Track program.
New Cape York Special Fisheries Working Group established: Furner
On a visit to the Torres Strait, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner announced the composition of the new 10-person Cape York Special Fisheries Working Group to provide advice on fisheries issues in the region.
New compliance unit to protect Territory’s aquatic resources and sea country: Kirby, Uibo
The Territory Labor Government is investing $2.2 million in the 2023/24 budget to establish a dedicated Fisheries Compliance Unit, comprising of one manager and eight officers, within the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade ... the unit’s core duties will include the monitoring of fishing activities in Territory waterways including catches of high-risk fish stock, such as black jew fish.
Report questioned
The state government has been accused of using a landmark Victorian climate report, which was written without any input from forestry researchers or the forest industry, to prematurely close the native forestry industry. These forestry groups resent the lack of consultation and have attacked the intellectual content of the report ... The report was written without any contribution from leading forestry experts – Forestry Australia, which represents forest scientists, forest managers and timber growers; Forest & Wood Products Australia, the sector’s chief research and marketing arm; the Victorian Forest Products Association; and leading forestry academics.
Alice Springs alcohol restrictions working and extended: Fyles
Government has decided to extend takeaway alcohol restrictions in Alice Springs. Evidence has shown alcohol-related emergency department presentations at Alice Springs Hospital have reduced by a third, and domestic violence has halved since the restrictions were introduced.
Securing the future of the iconic Overland service: Carroll
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll confirmed the Labor Government has entered a new $11.5 million three-year agreement to fund the historic service, guaranteeing a future for the Overland train, which has run between Melbourne and Adelaide since 1887. This Government investment will ensure the twice weekly service – which stops at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong will continue to run for the next three years.
More GPs, specialists needed
A new strategy is being looked at to attract and retain general practitioners and specialists in Naracoorte. Limestone Coast Local Health Network Board chairman Grant King says the strategy will focus on retaining medical graduates in the region.
Housing – It’s a post – Covid mess
Viv Markham. There’s a serious problem in the community at the moment, and that problem is housing ... Those even further down on their luck are camping out in tents, caravans and cars - out in the bush and on the outskirts of our towns ... And what is being done to help those doing it tough?
First look at planned bypass route
The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has released the planned location of the proposed Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor, which will direct traffic away from the New England Highway through Toowoomba.
Regional roads left crumbling as Games cash goes elsewhere: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says it was a missed opportunity to not redirect any money from the cancelled 2026 Commonwealth Games to Victoria’s crumbling regional road network. VFF President Emma Germano welcomed the funds from the $2.6 billion earmarked for hosting the Games being spent in regional Victoria, but says it was a mistake to not spend any on our crumbling regional roads.
VNI West, Transgrid Moulamein meeting
It was a packed house at the Moulamein Recreation Reserve as community members from across the region gathered for the landholder information session on the proposed 500 kilovolt double circuit transmission line ... It was fantastic to see a town hall meeting ... the ultimate ‘pub test’.
South Australia leads the nation through feral deer eradication program: Watt, Scriven
South Australia is leading the nation in removing feral deer, with the 10-year South Australian Feral Deer Eradication Program aiming to eradicate the pest from the state by 2032 ... There were an estimated 40,000 feral deer estimated in South Australia in 2022, and since the program’s commencement in May 2022, over 8,000 feral deer have been removed.
Commonwealth Games costs too high at over $6 billion: Andrews
With significant planning work and extensive market soundings completed, it is now certain that the cost of hosting the Regional Victorian Commonwealth Games will exceed $6 billion – more than twice the estimated economic benefit the Games would bring our state. In the face of these numbers, the Victorian Government has made the decision not to proceed with hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
Angourie locals’ anger over stranded yacht
Angry Angourie locals have taken it upon themselves to clean up kilos and kilos of debris from the 15-metre steel ketch Chinook that ran aground on Saturday July 8, on rocks near Spooky Beach, after the boat’s owner abandoned the vessel ... Angourie local Kim said as the yacht was left scattering debris for six days in the ocean and surrounds.
Support for Overland Rail Service
Last week the Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora and Member for Ripon Martha Haylett wrote a letter to Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll calling for continued support of The Overland rail service. Both MPs are calling for continued Government support to ensure the twice-weekly service – which also stops at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat, and Geelong’s North Shore – is funded beyond 2023.
Learning about virtual fencing
South-west Victorian dairy farmers have learnt about the potential benefits of virtual fencing to manage herd grazing and movement, during a New Zealand study tour. Farm consultants Angus Drummond and Fiona Smith organised and led the tour of the SW Farm Business Discussion Group (SW FBDG) to Christchurch, New Zealand.
Mothers’ group scales up CaFHS campaign
A southern Yorke Peninsula mothers’ group has had to buy its own scales to weigh newborn babies because of what members say is a lack of local services provided by Child and Family Health Services ... "The wait time for a face-to-face appointment was three months. We have had babies up to 7 months old coming to the group who had only been seen by a CaFHS nurse once as a newborn": Katie Hughes, facilitator of Yorketown's new Mama Meet Up group.
Milky Way sphere design listed for world architecture prize
The ambitious design for the Mallanganee Lookout has been shortlisted at the World Architecture Festival in the Future Projects category ... The description on the festival website says “Mallanganee Lookout is an iconic destination – a place that has the centre of the galaxy crossing overhead”.
BWC questions value of landscape board
Michelle Daw. Barunga West Council says its ratepayers are not getting value for money from the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board levy ... " ... no Landscape SA staff members are stationed within the Barunga West local government area. Moreover, the council receives infrequent visits from officers and there is minimal engagement regarding the board’s activities or support for the Barunga West region": Maree Wauhope, council CEO.
Gingin Brook to be assessed for Aboriginal cultural heritage
Part of the Gingin Brook will be assessed under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 by the Aboriginal cultural material committee when it meets on August 25. The Gingin Brook is accorded cultural importance and significance due to a creative dreaming narrative, according to consultation information available on the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage website.
$13 million to tackle feral pig problem: Minns, Moriarty
The NSW Government is ramping up efforts to tackle rising feral pig populations across the state, providing an $8 million boost to help fund a new coordinated control program ... The one-year program will bring the NSW Government spend on control of feral pig populations to $13 million in the 2023-24 financial year.
