Councils feel the crunch
A cut in fuel excise to make petrol more affordable and a push for more Victorians to use public transport instead of driving are welcome measures to help navigate the fuel crisis, according to Rural Councils Victoria. The 50 per cent excise cut will mean immediate relief at the bowser for rural residents and business operators including farmers.
Regional cities bearing the brunt of the fuel crisis – Minns Government last Budget must act: RCNSW
Regional Cities New South Wales (RCNSW) says the Minns Government’s final Budget before the election is a defining moment to address the growing inequity facing regional communities, inequity now being accelerated by the growing national fuel crisis ... RCNSW’s 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission highlights a widening gap between rapid regional population growth and the infrastructure needed to support it.
Petition calls for stamp duty relief for regional buyers
Residents across Yorke Peninsula are being encouraged to support a petition calling for stamp duty to be waived on existing homes for first homebuyers in regional South Australia. The initiative, led by the City of Victor Harbor and supported by Barunga West Council and other regional councils, aims to reduce upfront costs for buyers and improve housing access in country areas.
Local landholders to benefit from new biofuel plantation
Council has welcomed the Queensland Government’s plans for a cutting-edge biofuel plantation near Emerald. Mayor Janice Moriarty joined state government, education, business and industry representatives at an initial tree planting of 16,000 Pongamia trees recently to mark the commencement of the project.
I am ready to get to work
“I am deeply humbled and incredibly grateful… It’s a historic result, and I don't take this trust lightly. I’m ready to get to work.” That was the message from One Nation’s Jason Virgo after a stunning election result delivered a massive swing across the MacKillop electorate - with Naracoorte emerging as a key signal of change.
Thomas wins Narungga recount
Caitlin Menadue. One Nation's Chantelle Thomas has been elected in the seat of Narungga following a nail-biting recount, as part of a broader SA election that delivered a decisive win for Labor ... Ms Thomas said she was eager to begin work representing the community ... Joining One Nation in parliament is former Yorke Peninsula local Rebecca Hewett, elected to the Legislative Council.
Bee Blitz kicks off to protect the WA bee industry: Jarvis
April is 'Bee Blitz' month in Western Australia to highlight the importance of early detection and reporting to protect the State's bee industry and crucial pollination services from harmful pests and diseases. WA undertakes State and national bee pest surveillance programs...
Dr Anne Webster MP launches tool to track Mallee fuel shortages: Webster
Mallee residents can report fuel outages in their area using a new website, Dr Anne Webster MP, Federal Member for Mallee, said today, calling on residents to log fuel shortages on www.nofuelhere.com.au as communities across regional Australia feel the sting of the nation's fuel crisis.
CopperString critical to save million litres of diesel per week: Katter
More than 1.2 million litres of diesel every week could be back in the hands of our truckies and farmers if we had CopperString to Mount Isa, Robbie Katter, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader, and Member for Traeger has said. A survey of power-isolated mines in the North West Minerals Provence has revealed 13 triple road trains a week are needed to generate on-site electricity...
Nursing body demands urgent Medicare overhaul for remote Australia
The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) has formally called on the federal government to overhaul Medicare structures, claiming current policies are restricting equitable access to primary care for millions of residents in rural and remote Australia.
Questions about waste collection services if fuel crisis escalates
The City of Wanneroo, Shire of Gingin and WALGA have been asked if local governments have any concerns about not being able to provide services such as waste collection services as the fuel crisis potentially escalates in coming weeks.
Tasmanian farmers win as accelerated breeding gets the green light: TasFarmers
TasFarmers welcomes the Tasmanian Government’s decision to update its gene technology policy, enabling farmers to access advanced plant breeding technology. TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said the decision reflects a practical, evidence-based step forward for the state’s agricultural sector.
Farmers hit hard by food waste – New national trial targets $2.5bn in losses: Hort Innovation
Australian fruit and vegetable growers are missing out of sales of up to one million tonnes of produce that never makes it to market, estimated at up to $2.5 billion a year. In response, a new national research program aims to help farmers keep more value from every harvest by tackling surplus and losses on-farm.
NSW Government introduces temporary freight measures to keep goods moving and help ease fuel pressure: Minns, Sharpe, Graham, Mookhey, Scully, Aitchison
The NSW Government is boosting freight efficiency to keep goods moving and help reduce pressure on fuel supply in NSW, working closely with the Commonwealth and other states under the new National Fuel Security Plan. In line with Level 2 of the Plan - Keeping Australia Moving - these measures will increase access to the road network for larger trucks that can carry more goods in a single trip, and ease restrictions on operating hours.
CLP takes unprecedented action to hold fuel companies to account: Yan
The Finocchiaro CLP Government has enacted the Price Exploitation Prevention Act for the first time, since its inception in 1949, in an unprecedented move to manage the on-going fuel crisis.
Narungga still a nailbiter… recount expected
Michelle Daw. The Liberal Party has requested a recount in the seat of Narungga, with the result still undecided after a knife-edge finish. As of 10am on Monday, March 31, One Nation candidate Chantelle Thomas was leading by just 77 votes, holding 12,078 votes (50.2 per cent) on preferences, ahead of Liberal candidate Tania Stock on 12,001 votes (49.8 per cent).
Irrigators face tighter rules as NSW lifts Menindee threshold for floodplain harvesting
Irrigators in the northern basin will face tighter conditions for floodplain harvesting under new rules introduced by the NSW Government, which has raised the threshold at which water access is permitted. Under the previous framework, irrigators could capture water from floodplains once the Menindee Lakes system held 195 gigalitres. That trigger has now been lifted to 250 gigalitres, meaning harvesting cannot proceed until the lakes are more substantially filled.
Blanket clearance for buffel weed after import
The controversial buffel grass permits announced by Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne last week apply only to its importation from outside the NT. Once here, the use, propagation, selling and transport of the declared weed has blanket clearance on pastoral lease land, nearly half of the NT, as the Minister is due to approve.
Being up in the air
I went to Adelaide yesterday. This is very naughty given that NT Tourism Minister Marie-Clare Boothby had just announced a strategy aiming at making more money for our travel industry ... My booking with Qantas triggered an avalanche of texts and emails...
NSW Government issues formal notices seeking fuel information: Sharpe
The NSW Minister for Energy has issued formal information notices to a number of liquid fuel companies, as NSW responds to fuel distribution challenges arising from the conflict in the Middle East. Last week the NSW Government sought voluntary information from major fuel companies about historical stocks and sales as well as future orders and forecasts.
Katter continues 14 years of calls for National Fuel Security via robust ethanol mandate: Robbie Katter
...the Premier stood on Labor’s position and refused to commit to taking tangible action on fuel security by implementing a robust ethanol mandate, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader, and Member for Traeger has said. In opposition the LNP put three bills into Parliament to implement an ethanol mandate, then refused to support the KAP bill in 2014.
NSW Nationals demand fuel guarantee for regional communities and businesses: Singh
The NSW Nationals are calling on the Minns Labor Government to use its emergency powers to guarantee diesel and fuel supplies to regional NSW.
