Don’t make decisions about us without us: NLC
The Northern Land Council (NLC) has called on the Territory Government to stop making decisions without it. NLC announced this week it supports the call by the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) that a safe reopening of the Northern Territory must be based on a number of key principles and actions ... “This is about our lives, our people and our country. Governments have to think beyond the big cities when making important decisions about our mob out bush – don’t make decisions about us without us”: Samuel Bush-Blanasi, NLC Chairman.
Taxpayers funding locum doctors
Chris Oldfield. The SA Government is using taxpayer funds to pay fly-in locum doctors up to $3000 per 12-hour shift at country hospitals. And it is claimed it pays our local Naracoorte GPs as little as $285 per 24-hour shift to cover accident and emergency. Seven SA country hospitals including Millicent and Mount Gambier are now reliant on taxpayer funded fly-in locums – when they are available.
Food van up and running
The Narrandera Youth Council’s Food Trailer ‘Take A Bite Into the Future” project’ has now come to fruition ... The project will see the Youth Council providing a variety of food and drinks at community and Council events ... The design of the trailer showcases some of Narrandera’s beautiful landmarks and landscape.
TAFE closure claim denied
TAFE NSW has denied claims that it plans to sell off the Narrandera and Deniliquin campuses. The denial was in response to claims by the Member for Murray Helen Dalton that a secret briefing note ... revealed TAFE NSW wanted approval to sell off 19 TAFE campuses across regional NSW ... “We should be investing more in TAFE, not less. I sometimes wonder if this Government want to kill off all of regional NSW and force us all to move to Sydney.”
Beetle care a dung deal
Shaun Ossinger. Regional Development Minister Alanah MacTiernan has announced a grant of about $35,000 to help colonise winter-active dung beetles in the Wilson Inlet catchment. Part of the natural ecosystem of cattle, dung beetles have evolved alongside the animal throughout Europe and Africa, breaking down cattle dung and recycling nutrients.
When it comes to EVs, a picture is worth a thousand words
This map is demonstrative of the unrelenting push by Australian bureaucrats and politicians to force rural and regional Australians out of the bush and into the cities and large regional centres.
Division decision
Segregation of the community based on vaccination status is now the norm after Gannawarra Shire Council (GSC) implemented the Andrews Government roadmap. The unvaccinated 16 years and over will now be excluded from Gannawarra Library Service branches and swimming pools, despite being able to mingle in many other retailers, essential services and localities.
“Locked out” council divided
Kendall Jennings. The trio of councillors said the Zoom meetings have been difficult from their residences due to service connectivity and wanted to use the council offices for the scheduled meetings for the day. However, the councillors have been told that the offices are not a working space because there is no disability access, and to use the space would be against the anti-discrimination act.
Tasmania prepared for upcoming bushfire season
Preparations for the upcoming bushfire season are well advanced, with more than 150 people taking part in a multi-agency pre-season briefing in Launceston ... This year, a total of 217 fuel reduction burns treating over 32,000 hectares have to date been completed, and a successful “Red Hot Tips” Program has also supported farmers and large landholders to conduct 229 burns covering over 5,300 hectares.
Regional Housing Taskforce recommendations released
An independent report with recommendations for how the planning system can address housing supply and affordability in regional communities has been released by the NSW Government.
‘Bunyip Bird’ takes centre stage at 2022 Australasian Bittern Summit
The iconic Australasian Bittern is the focus of a summit in Leeton on 1-4 February 2022, designed to advance the conservation of this cryptic species ... “The Bittern holds a special place in Indigenous culture and Australian folklore, with its booming call thought to be behind the legend of the bunyip,” said Senior Local Land Services Officer and conference lead Anna Wilson.
Minister Hinchliffe MP visits the South Burnett, opens bicycle museum
Queensland Government Minister for Tourism and Sport, Stirling Hinchliffe MP visited the South Burnett on Saturday 6 November 2021. Minister Hinchliffe opened Blackbutt’s new Bicycle Building School and Museum, the brainchild of renowned Penny Farthing historian, Mr Brett Richardson.
New air service to Brisbane
Wagga Wagga will have regular airline services flying direct to a third Australian capital city from early next year. Riverina travellers will have direct flights to Queensland when QantasLink starts flying between Wagga Wagga and Brisbane from 28 March, 2022.
Land purchased for $300 million high purity alumina industrial plant in Gladstone
A $300 million high purity alumina industrial plant is a step closer for Gladstone with Alpha HPA purchasing a 9.2 hectare site in the Queensland Government’s State Development Area.
Lord Howe Island’s Sydney air services extended for another three years
Air services critical to the Lord Howe Island community are set to continue, with the NSW Government extending the existing QantasLink licence for another three years from 2022. Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the air service is vital for keeping the Island’s 350 residents connected to Sydney and to support the tourism industry.
SA Labor to appoint River Murray Commissioner and prepare for High Court action
SA Labor: A Malinauskas Labor Government will appoint a Commissioner for the River Murray and prepare for High Court action to defend South Australia's water rights against upstream states’ greed. Labor has released its six-point action plan for the River Murray.
New frog species ‘hopping’ into protection
A new frog species has been discovered in Wollumbin National Park in northern New South Wales, and is one of only two known species that store their tadpoles on their bodies. Researchers from University of Newcastle and the South Australian Museum recently identified the species as distinct from its close relation, another ‘hip-pocket’ or pouched frog Assa darlingtoni, after genetic analysis.
New Queensland strategy to bring wild dogs to heel
Minister for Agricultural, Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the Queensland Dog Offensive Group (QDOG) developed the new five-year strategy in consultation with stakeholders. “The Queensland Wild Dog Management Strategy 2021-2026 provides state-wide coordination and direction to wild dog management,” Mr Furner said.
Wild dogs terrorising Gwydir Shire farmers stopped in their tracks
Two elusive wild dogs, which had been terrorising farming operations north of Coolatai for the last 12 months, have now been successfully controlled, Minister for Agriculture and Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has announced ... “Over the last year, this wicked pair of wild dogs wreaked havoc on local landholders, including one farmer who lost around 200 sheep,” Mr Marshall said."
Vaccination certificates
The streets of Maldon are bustling once more as visitors from Melbourne are free to travel the state. While cafes and retail stores happily welcome the increase in trade they now have the unenviable task of checking each customer's vaccination status. The Tarrangower Times interviewed local business owners and employees, many of whom have found the government mandates to be unclear, and at times difficult to implement.
Labor’s permanent power grab under fire
The Bill to amend the Public Health and Wellbeing Act has drawn fire from expert legal minds and politicians. The Bill would allow Premier Andrews alone, the ability to declare a pandemic empowering the Minister of Health effectively unlimited power to rule the state by decree, for an indefinite period, and without effective judicial or parliamentary oversight ... Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, said democracy has already gone out the window in Victoria, with Daniel Andrews ‘drunk on power’ and determined to entrench himself in a position where not just the parliament itself is at risk, but the individual liberties of every Victorian.
Native foods business blossoming in the Mallee
The Victoria Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas visited the Belar Nursery and Bioculture Resources Centre to announce the Labor Government’s $2 million Djakitjuk Djanga Program in partnership with the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations ... The Djakitjuk Djanga Program has supported 13 Aboriginal native plant businesses to overcome key resource-related barriers towards the commercial production of native foods and botanicals.
