Delivering for Queensland – Lower debt, no new or increased taxes, and relief you can rely on: Crisafulli, Janetzki, Bates
The 2026-27 Budget delivers lower debt, $73.5 billion lower than it would have been under Labor, based on MYFER 24-25, by 2029-30, and delivers a surplus in 2029-30.
Queensland farmers welcome retention of critical mechanism to protect prime agricultural land: QFF
The Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) welcomes the Queensland Government’s reintroduced Regional Planning Interests (Condamine Alluvium) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (the Bill), which has adopted the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee in full.
Farrer One Nation MP votes against regional jobs and communities: Canavan, McDonald
The new One Nation MP for Farrer has blindsided families and farmers, by voting with the Teals and Greens in Parliament House against Australian regional jobs and communities. The amendment, moved by a Teal MP, demanded the Labor government cap the fuel tax credit – a scheme which allows for a rebate to businesses that use heavy machinery for the fuel tax they pay.
Final rejection of PEP 11 in Federal Court
Terry Collins. In a landmark decision on June 18, the Federal Court dismissed Asset Energy's application to overturn the Federal Government's rejection of the controversial PEP 11 application. Petroleum Exploration Permit (PEP) 11 has long been a point of controversy, as it sought to pursue offshore petroleum exploration over a large expanse of the eastern coastline including the Central Coast.
Mayor seeks better deal from renewable boom
Patrick Tucker. Gannawarra Shire Mayor Garner Smith said communities hosting major renewable energy projects should receive more in return for the changes they will bring to the district. The comments come as projects including VNI West, solar farms and battery developments continue to expand across northern Victoria.
Broad agreement on the need to move forwards in MDB: National Irrigators Council
Today’s publication of the ‘What we Heard’ Report following public consultation on the Basin Plan Review shows a clear united message: priorities have shifted, move on from “just adding water”.
What we heard report reflects voices from across the Basin: MDBA
The MDBA today released the What we heard report, reflecting the key themes and perspectives raised during the public consultation on the 2026 Basin Plan Review. MDBA Chief Executive, Andrew McConville said people have plenty of different views about how water should be managed, but there was a clear message underneath it all: the Basin Plan matters, and people want it to work better.
NSW Budget 2026-27 – Regional measures and responses
The statement of the Minister for Regional NSW and responses from Regional Cities NSW and the Member for Oxley highlight the NSW Budget 2026-27 measures aimed at rural and regional NSW, and the strengths and shortcomings of those measures.
Money to support rural communities becomes free cash for Chinese textile giant
Independent Member for the seat of Murray, Helen Dalton is calling on the NSW Government to take back a $10 million grant it gave to the Chinese textile giant that owns Gundaline station. "This grant should never have been made, and the Minns Government needs to get our cash back from this company immediately."
Leeton courthouse carpark to be handed to Aboriginal Land Council after court ruling
A central Leeton carpark is set to be handed over to the Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Land Council, after the NSW Land and Environment Court ruled the NSW Government had wrongly rejected a land rights claim over the site. The court has ordered ownership of the gravel lot on the corner of Oak and Church streets, next to the Leeton courthouse, be transferred to the Land Council within six months.
Disappointing outcome
Naracoorte Lucindale ratepayers could wait an extra five months to elect their next council under extraordinary state government legislation ... Speaking to The [Naracoorte] News, Mr Ross said the five-month delay left councils facing uncertainty around budgets, governance, and election planning.
The APVMA decision on paraquat and diquat and responses to this
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has delivered its long-awaited regulatory decision on the herbicides paraquat, and diquat. The APVMA announcement of the decision, together with the responses collected here, from Grain Producers Australia, Parkinson's Australia, Graingrowers and NSW Farmers, show that the decision has been neither universally approved nor condemned.
Data centre boom sparks farmer debate: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says Victoria’s $25b dollar agriculture sector must not be forgotten in the face of a rapidly expanding data centre infrastructure boom sweeping the state. The VFF has today released an issues paper outlining the scale of potential development and competition for resources like land, water and energy.
Bird flu surveillance to keep ahead of the spread: Malinauskas, Scriven, Bourke
Wildlife and livestock surveillance activities are underway in South Australia following the detection of H5 bird flu in two vagrant migratory seabirds in Western Australia. Ground-based surveillance and drone surveys are being undertaken at sea lion breeding sites along the state’s west and far west coasts, as part of a coordinated response to the ongoing risk of H5 bird flu spreading to SA.
2026 Top End bushfire season begins as Fire Danger Period is declared
Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service (NTFRS) and Bushfires NT (BFNT) have declared a Fire Danger Period across parts of the Top End from 22 June to 4 October 2026, marking the commencement of the 2026 Top End bushfire season.
Decades of community advocacy earns State Heritage listing for MV Beardmore: Williamson
The formal listing of the historic MV Beardmore on the NSW State Heritage Register marks a significant milestone for the Clarence Valley community and recognises decades of tireless advocacy to preserve an important part of the region's maritime and industrial heritage, according to State Nationals Member for Clarence Richie Williamson.
Superbikes leaving Phillip Island – Statement from the Mayor
Cr Brett Tessari. The loss of the Superbike World Championship from Phillip Island is another devastating blow for our community, coming only months after the announcement that MotoGP will also leave the Island. My heart goes out to our local businesses, tourism operators, volunteers and community members who have supported these events for decades and who rely on the visitors they bring to our region each year.
Building a better NSW: Mookhey, Houssos
The 2026-27 NSW Budget delivers cost-of-living relief now, while continuing to rebuild the essential services and economic strength NSW relies on. Households are under severe pressure. Mortgages, rent, groceries and fuel costs are a constant challenge.
Salt shock: salinity shift raises questions
Ned Thomas. Scientists and government authorities are at odds over what a noticeable shift in desalination monitoring data is really showing. The Adelaide Desalination Plant at Lonsdale has come under renewed scrutiny following months of debate about the cause of the harmful algal bloom which has affected South Australian waters.
NT law about straying stock applies on Aboriginal land
The Federal Court has determined that a Territory law allowing the retrieval of livestock that strayed onto a neighbouring property operates concurrently with the NT Land Rights Act.
Bird flu mainly affects birds and some other animals
As H5 bird flu has spread around the world the wild birds most affected have included waterfowl, shorebirds, seabirds and birds of prey or scavengers. H5 bird flu has also been detected in domestic pets including cats and dogs, farm animals including dairy cows and sporadically pigs, sheep and goats, marine mammals including dolphins and seals and wild animals including foxes and polar bears.
First case of H5 bird flu confirmed in Western Australia: Jarvis
The Cook Labor Government is responding to the confirmed detection ... of H5 bird flu in a single wild seabird found in the remote Cape Le Grand area, east of Esperance. Testing by CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness has now confirmed Australia's first case of the highly infectious bird flu in a brown skua, a subantarctic species rarely found on the WA south coast.
