Grafton and Maclean hospitals 40 nurses short
Between Grafton and Maclean Hospitals another 40 nurses are needed to provide adequate staffing levels say the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association as the Local Health District tries to fill 180 nursing vacancies across the region. NSW Nurses and Midwives Association Clarence Valley branch secretary Thea Koval said without agency nursing staff being called in, who are paid significantly more than NSW Health nurses, Maclean and Grafton hospitals would struggle to operate.
Confusion over extra police commitment
The Minister for Police, Anthony Carbines, appears to be at odds with the Chief Commissioner of Police, Shane Patton, around the delivery of extra police officers. In Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearings at the weekend, Mr Carbines claimed that Labor’s commitment to deliver 502 extra police officers would be met by 30 September, but failed to factor in the 800 current vacant positions across the state.
Shining a light on Victorians’ biosecurity efforts: Tierney
Victorian hobby farmers are sharing how they are safeguarding the state against emergency animal diseases by implementing biosecurity measures in their backyards. Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney launched the Andrews Labor Government’s ‘Biosecurity - it’s up to all of us’ campaign, which features a series of videos from four small-scale landholders, demonstrating the critical role everyone has in protecting Victoria’s biodiversity from disease threats.
80 new purpose built 4WD ambulances will reach patients in challenging terrain: Park
The NSW Government has rolled out 80 new four-wheel drive ambulances across the state, which will allow paramedics to access patients in challenging terrain, the NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park announced on 13 June 2023. These purpose built 4WD ambulance vehicles are used to access patients in situations where standard ambulances would not be able to, particularly in regional and remote areas.
More out-of-control burns heat up pressure on Gov: Katter
Not even one month after an uncontrolled fire on Government land triggered Traeger MP Robbie Katter to request an inquiry into the State Government’s aggressive take-up of land without properly resourcing it, several more blazes have broken out. Katter’s Australian Party Leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter received complaints that constituents were left to battle two grass fires in about two weeks 30 kilometres east of Hughenden that were likely caused by cattle train activity and nearby high fuel loads.
Palaszczuk Government makes Kindy free for families: Palaszczuk, Dick, Grace
The Palaszczuk Government is making kindergarten free for all Queensland families from 1 January 2024. The Premier announced the $645 million investment which will help every Queensland child get a great start in life and support parents in their return to work.
Is government failing Australians on fire ants?: Canegrowers
CANEGROWERS is calling on the federal, state and territory governments to redouble their efforts to halt the march of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA), following the release of a damning report on the failure of the current eradication program. The report, which has been kept under wraps for two years, makes clear that the current strategy will not only fail to eradicate RIFA, but will be unable to stop the global super-pest from spreading beyond south-east Queensland.
Mitchell Fwy extension to Romeo Rd set to open in July
When the Mitchell Fwy extension to Romeo Rd opens next month motorists using Wanneroo Rd will be able to access the freeway via Romeo Rd while the duplication of Wanneroo Rd continues.
Property ownership returns to Aboriginal organisations: Williams
The Andrews Labor Government is supporting self-determination and giving Victorian Aboriginal communities economic opportunities, handing ownership of five properties back to Aboriginal organisations. Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Gabrielle Williams announced five properties owned by three Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations are the latest to have their first mortgages removed as part of the First Mortgage and Community Infrastructure Program.
Regional plans to control wild deer population: Stitt
Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt launched the East and West Victoria Deer Control Plans, which are regional strategies aiming to reduce the threat deer pose to Victoria’s natural environment, Aboriginal cultural heritage and farming. The East and West Deer Control Plans are five-year plans that focus on preventing new populations from establishing, along with measures on how to effectively protect native species, waterways, national parks and reserves from deer.
Conservation efforts lead to reopening of fishing for Torres Strait species: Furner, Watt, Lui
A fishing season for a high value sea cucumber in the Torres Strait has reopened for the first time in 20 years thanks to a concerted conservation and stock restoration effort ... Torres Strait Islanders will have exclusive access rights to black teatfish, which is estimated to be worth $380,000 to the local economy.
Neo barley variety ‘the one’ to elevate Australia grains production: Jarvis
A new barley variety launched by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis is being touted as 'the one' to take Australian barley production to the next level. The high-performance variety named Neo - the Greek word for new - is set to increase yields by 10 per cent, generating a potential $110 million per annum boost to the value of the national barley industry.
Rookwood Weir water flows for Central Queensland farmers: Butcher
Economic opportunity has been unlocked in Central Queensland with the completion of the second tender for water from the soon-to-be-completed Rookwood Weir, as 21 successful bidders secured a total allocation of 6000 megalitres for productive irrigation use. Strong interest from across the region resulted in 21 successful bids, with 6082 megalitres sold from an available 7500 megalitres.
Better energy and infrastructure for Victoria: D’Ambrosio
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio has launched the Victorian Transmission Investment Framework (VTIF) ... The Victorian Government body, VicGrid, will lead transmission project planning and development, and ensure local communities, landholders, Traditional Owners and other key stakeholders are consulted on these major projects from start to finish.
Private property rights speak louder than any Voice: John Hassell
John Hassell. The system of land title in Australia that currently proves and protects our right to property is called the Torrens system, which was first introduced in 1858 in South Australia ... one could argue that Native Title has failed to deliver for the simple reason that, unlike freehold title, it does not confer a real property right, a right that the banks place a value on.
The safest way to travel
The State Government is being urged to provide funding certainty for the Mode Shift Incentive Scheme (MSIS) to encourage more freight on to rail. The MSIS is an incentive program providing financial support to rail freight companies to make the cost of transporting goods on rail more competitive ... Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy, said the MSIS program allowed regional rail freight operators to offer competitive transport options for exporters, encouraging them to use rail instead of road transport to get their goods to the Port of Melbourne.
Public health alert – Murray Valley encephalitis: NT Health
The Northern Territory (NT) is currently experiencing an outbreak of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), with 7 confirmed cases this year, including 2 deaths. This is the highest number of cases ever recorded in a single year and compares to 2 cases over the previous 5 years across the Territory.
Why?
Every morning, busloads of students leave Naracoorte for their secondary education in schools in Mount Gambier and Lucindale ... Many other parents choose boarding schools in Victoria and Adelaide, where students live during each school term ... While this could be a matter of choice for many, why do you think this is happening, and what’s driving the parents to make this decision when we have a public school in Naracoorte?
Bold changes
An education union has called for bold changes in the way the South Australian Education Department manages education across the state, particularly in country schools. Australian Education Union (SA Branch) president Andrew Gohl says for over a decade, governments have banked on the goodwill of educators to keep their system running ... the Department’s own Country Education Strategy highlighted several areas that needed improvement, including the attraction and retention of staff, incentives, access to student support services, country housing, and conditions.
Country mayors body defends regional councillors
Mayors and Councillors from across regional NSW have been accused of being incompetent and not worthy of the money they are paid to serve their communities in a recent speech delivered by new Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig during question time in State Parliament last week ... "My annual stipend for working an average of 50-60 hours per week is $37,000. Minister Hoenig is paid $315,000 per annum and he has the hide to deny Mayors a fair and reasonable stipend when our Queensland counterparts are paid $108,000. He's unworthy of his very privileged position and will damage this government and relations between Local Government and the Ministers. What a shame": Mayor of Narromine Shire Council, Cr Craig Davies.
Paul Kelly concert to help the Red Centre warm up this October: Kirby
Legendary music icon Paul Kelly is heading to Alice Springs this October to headline an exciting new event, The Warm-Up ... His performance will complete a program of activity for The Warm-Up, which will celebrate one-year-out from the return of the 2024 Alice Springs Masters Games.
Koala politics
Vic Jurskis. Since NSW koalas were declared endangered 12 months ago, they’re turning up everywhere. Here's the latest: "... uncovered a new population of 42 koalas at Coolah Tops, north west of Sydney, when the previous government only had five documented koala sightings in the area over the past 70 years." ... The new Minister says, “all estimates have koalas on track to be extinct by 2050” ... A few questions for the new Minister ...
