Critical Minerals Bill raises questions about agriculture’s future: Property Rights Australia
Queensland farmers are warning that the State’s quick-fire series of legislation amendments aimed to facilitate projects considered strategically important to Queensland have the potential to provide negative consequences to the future protection of agricultural land and regional communities.
Investing in regional jobs and RFS fleet management: Dib, Hoenig
The Minns Labor Government is backing regional communities with a $470 million investment in the 2026-27 NSW Budget to modernise management of the NSW RFS fleet ... The Minns Labor Government will also introduce legislation to transfer ownership of the State’s ‘red fleet’ of more than 6,000 firefighting vehicles from councils to the RFS.
Puppy farm withdrawn after online campaign
An application was lodged on Tuesday 14 April to Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC), for the establishment of a ‘Domestic dog breeding centre and rural worker’s accommodation’ in Elphinstone. The MASC’s online Public Planning Register shows that a determination was made relating to the matter on Wednesday 3 June and the decision shows as: ‘Withdrawn’.
Top award for Gordon Country
Located in the Goomburra Valley, Gordon Country is officially the best Camping/4WD in Queensland. The Queensland Day Awards...
Erosion of local media
Regional journalism has been dealt another blow with news that NBN Television will cut back broadcasts across the Northern Rivers region while staff remain uncertain of how many jobs will be lost. Last month WIN Corporation purchased NBN Television from Channel 9 for almost $15 million. Since the early 1970’s NBN Television has broadcast an hour-long news bulletin from its Newcastle base.
Nationals demand Labor Ag Minister finish the State Barrier Fence: Rundle
Member for Roe Peter Rundle MLA has raised a Grievance with the Minister for Agriculture over the Cook Labor Government’s continued delays to the Esperance Extension of the State Barrier Fence - a critical piece of infrastructure designed to protect Western Australia’s agricultural and livestock industries from invasive species and agricultural pests.
Call for calm
Michelle Daw. Member for Grey Tom Venning has called for a truce in the dispute between the National Trust of South Australia and members of the suspended Moonta branch committee, who are backed by more than 100 locked-out volunteers and many concerned locals. "In the background, certainly we’ve been talking to all parties involved to show support in terms of de-escalating the situation," Mr Venning said yesterday (Tuesday, June 9).
Budget ‘comes up short’ for Riverland, says Tim
"Meaningful" support to keep Riverland communities viable was missing from the latest State Budget, according to a senior local politician. Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said last week's State Budget lacked direct support for struggling local primary producers, and funding to improve safety conditions on the Sturt Highway.
$60m announcement
Minister for Climate Change and Minister for Energy, Penny Sharpe will be in Hay this morning to announce $60 million in community benefits unlocked by the South West Renewable Energy Zone. The Office of Minister Sharpe said the initial $60 million will soon begin flowing to communities in the South West Renewable Energy Zone to deliver local infrastructure, services and employment opportunities that will support long-term regional prosperity.
Budget relief, big projects missing
The Limestone Coast is set to benefit from a range of cost-of-living, education, and health measures announced in the state government’s first budget since the March election - but member for MacKillop Jason Virgo says the region continues to miss out on the major investment it deserves.
Negotiations underway for sustainable Tasmanian forestry: Watt, Collins, Ellis
The Albanese and Rockliff Governments have officially committed to work together towards a bilateral agreement to support sustainable forestry in Tasmania into the future. From July 1 2027, the Albanese Government’s historic environmental law reforms will bring forestry operations covered by Regional Forest Agreements (RFA) under Federal environmental regulation.
Growers must not become collateral damage of disaster funding reforms: QFVG
Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) is seeking assurances that Queensland growers will not become collateral damage in proposed changes to Australia's disaster recovery funding arrangements.
It’s official! Dark Sky Reserve declared for Sunshine Coast hinterland
The Sunshine Coast hinterland is now officially home to Queensland’s first internationally recognised Dark Sky Reserve, uniting the community, levels of government, agencies and businesses to preserve our star-filled sky. The Sunshine Coast International Dark Sky Reserve’s official designation by DarkSky International comes after a community push to preserve our starry nights...
Young people lead the way as volunteer value hits $45 billion: Hildyard
South Australian volunteers delivered $45 billion in value to the local economy last year with younger South Australians leading the way and volunteer numbers surpassing one million for the first time. According to the 2025 State of Volunteering report, released today by Volunteering SA&NT, volunteers created $45 billion in gross social and economic value across 294.8 million hours.
A century of racing under threat: the fight to save Broken Hill’s greyhound track
Greyhound racing has been part of Broken Hill for more than a century. On 30 June 2026, Greyhound Racing NSW intends to end it. The decision to close the Broken Hill Greyhounds Club was made earlier this year as part of a broader restructure recommended by an independent Deloitte report, which advised GRNSW to reduce the state's racing footprint to a sustainable number of tracks.
Government must release shark safety advice following latest tragedies: Warr
Shadow Minister for Fisheries Kirrilee Warr MLA has urged the Cook Labor Government to release shark safety advice, following the tragic news of another fatal shark attack off Albany which she said was "deeply distressing". "Two fatal shark attacks in just a matter of weeks is deeply concerning and has rightly shaken confidence across ocean loving Western Australians," Ms Warr said.
Cash mandate exemption requests piling up at regulator
Supermarkets and fuel retailers are trying to get out of obligations to accept cash payments under new industry codes introduced by the Federal Government, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has confirmed. The commission (ACCC) says “multiple” applications for exceptional circumstances exemptions have been received from retailers in both regional and metropolitan areas, but none have yet been accepted or rejected.
Lovell demands Labor rule out compulsory flood easements
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has demanded that the Minister for Water rule out introducing legislation to more easily enable the compulsory acquisition of flood easements, and confirm the previous commitment not to use existing powers to flood private land without consent.
Indigenous-led conservation confirms return of guraban (koala) across Wadbilliga National Park: Firesticks
On the far South Coast of New South Wales, Gadhu Bagan, the Southern-Yuin Firesticks team, is celebrating the persistent presence of Guraban (koala) across multiple locations in Wadbilliga National Park, following on-Country survey and monitoring work undertaken in partnership with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
NSW Government’s new brumby estimates don’t pass the pub test
Colleen Krestensen. New estimates of brumby numbers in Kosciuszko National Park imply a dramatic and biologically impossible increase of up to 315 per cent over a 12 month period ... The concern for the community is the government is accepting this alleged increase without question as a basis to resume aerial culling of brumbies, commencing in the coming days.
Major fertiliser breakthrough gives farmers confidence: TasFarmers
TasFarmers has welcomed the State Government's announcement of a new fertiliser supply agreement, saying it provides much-needed certainty for farmers preparing for the coming season. The agreement, facilitated through Indonesia and fertiliser manufacturer Incitec Pivot, comes after months of concern about global fertiliser availability driven by conflict in the Middle East and disruption to international supply chains.
Shocking scale of WA’s short-term rental boom exposed: Shelter WA
There are almost three unhosted Airbnbs for every long-term rental available to rent in Western Australia, with the ratio in regional areas blowing out to 15 to 1, new research has found. Shelter WA’s ‘Death By 10,000 Cuts’ report analysed 88 localities across the state between March and September 2025...
