State politics

Visitors to the famous Mon Repos turtle-education and conservation centre will soon be able to book tickets to get up close to the ocean’s ‘heroes in a half shell’.

Emma Pritchard. Twelve of the state’s most inspiring and motivational leaders of the future have been appointed to the 2021-2022 Youth Advisory Council. Among them, is 13-year-old Mae Carroll from Grafton ... Deeply passionate about social justice issues and the vital importance of support for mental health services in regional communities, Miss Carroll said recognising the opportunity to speak openly about topics close to her heart motivated her to apply again.

Geoff Helisma. A multi-partisan group of northern NSW politicians is calling “for a regional solution to the border crisis” ... Independent, Nationals, Greens, Labor and Liberal politicians in NSW and LNP politicians in Qld are calling for a border bubble.

A Mummulgum mother-of-two hasn’t seen her four-year-old daughter for three weeks. Sharnee Van Mourik said the lockdown and border restrictions mean Haven-Rose is unable to come home. Sharnee has a one-week-on, one-week-off arrangement with her daughter’s father who lives in Queensland ... “It’s a joke, I’m so angry,” Sharnee said.

Katter's Australian Party leader Robbie Katter says he is concerned that the state’s bid to buy Bramwell Station is leading to an inevitable locking up of Cape York ... “We don’t have the cash to be spending money on pointless environmental exercises, that will arguably deliver poorer outcomes than if the land were to remain in private hands,” the Mount Isa-based MP said.

As the Parliament of Victoria remains empty – again - questions remain unanswered. 430 unanswered questions asked in the Legislative Council  alone  relate directly to the Health portfolio during a pandemic ... Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said it represents a reckless and a belligerent snubbing of democracy.

World-first technology is being used to rebuild natural habitats destroyed by bushfires, creating more than 800 new hollows that will provide displaced animals with a space to nest and roost for an accumulated 56,000 years.

Leslie Williams MP. Congratulations and thank you to all those who made submissions to the Electoral Commission Redistribution Panel in relation to the proposal to move LHI from the electorate of Port Macquarie to the electorate of Sydney!

As National Cabinet prepares to meet, farmers have accused state premiers of ‘arrogance’ over border arrangements, saying they seem to have forgotten that growing food and fibre is essential to public health. The National Farmers’ Federation is calling on National Cabinet to recommit to the National Agriculture Workers Code and focus on quarantine solutions for ag workers as a bumper grain harvest looms.

Gathering data in support of Tweed Cross Border Community Zone. Business owners are urgently invited to share the impact of the current Queensland border closure on their operations, as part of efforts to support the creation of a new border zone.

After listening to a presentation on the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 by Syed Jan from Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, the Elders enjoyed a delicious lunch sponsored by local MLA Steve Edgington.

National Indigenous Radio Service. The shadow minister for Indigenous Australians says the federal government is ill-equipped to deal with the level of food insecurity in COVID hit First Nations communities.

A dedicated regional quarantine facility will be built at Wellcamp, Toowoomba under a joint agreement between the Palaszczuk Government and the landowner, Wagner Corporation.  

Progress continues to be made on Western Australia’s Centre for National Resilience, with global construction company Multiplex today selected to deliver the project. Following the finalisation of various independent feasibility studies and negotiations, the centre will be built at a site on Commonwealth-owned land within the Bullsbrook Training Area.

“With the current limit for seasonal workers expected to be met by October – and a forecast shortage of up to 24,000 workers in the horticulture industry – Labor’s Agriculture Minister can’t afford to delay ... The time is now for the government to roll out rapid testing. It’s a way to keep Victorians safe. It’s a way to help reopen this state and keep us open, and that’s what Victorians need as much as anything else,” said Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Peter Walsh.

After four months of delivery in the metropolitan area, the Heavy Vehicle Driving Operations Skill Set will now be delivered through South Regional TAFE to address the shortage of truck drivers in regional WA.

Under the proposal, a portion of the site will be transferred to the Grafton Ngerrie LALC to support better outcomes for the Aboriginal community, and successfully resolve an Aboriginal land claim. Another parcel of land adjacent to Grafton Base Hospital will be transferred to NSW Health ... the SE portion, which comprises significant heritage items, will be set aside for future adaptive reuse with heritage protections in place ...

Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the Federal Court will recognise the Warrgamay People’s long-standing rights to more than 185,000 hectares of land and water at a virtual hearing ... the decision covers an area from Lucinda on the coast, up to and along the Seaview Range and into Girringun National Park.