State politics

Tasmania's peak body for farmers says fears of a new biosecurity incursion have been realised after the Tasmanian Government announced the detection of the potato mop-top virus in the state's North West. The mop-top virus is a plant disease that affects the leaves, shoots, and tubers of potato plants...

AUSVEG is alerting growers and industry stakeholders to the detection of Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) in Northwest Tasmania. This marks the first time this virus has been found in Australia.

More than 200 residents and concerned citizens from neighbouring municipalities turned up on Sunday at the Corryong Memorial Hall to protest against the redevelopment of the Albury Hospital and to continue the fight to have a new facility built on a greenfield site to meet the future needs of Albury Wodonga and surrounding communities.

An Australian grape-export company was fined more than a million dollars last week for deliberately trying to bypass controls to export table grapes to New Zealand. The Grape House Pty Ltd pleaded guilty on 3 June to 6 counts of making false representations with the intention of dishonestly influencing a Commonwealth Official.

Since 2023, the Clarence River prawn trawl industry has been on its knees, with fishermen locked out of their livelihoods due to a White Spot Control Order costing countless millions in income. White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) was detected by the NSW Department of Primary Industries DPI in August 2022 at a Palmers Island prawn farm…

Angourie residents came together on Sunday as they traditionally have a family to discuss serious concerns about the escalation of crime in the village. The meeting at the Blue Pools carpark was convened by resident of 30 years, Lindsay Hunter, who said the situation escalated last month when carloads containing 12 people came to the town and threatened residents.

It’s not every day you get to meet a living legend, let alone hear their personal reflections on an event that gripped the entire world ... The captivating figure at the heart of it all was none other than Dr. Richard "Harry" Harris OAM… "My Underwater World," his first foray into filmmaking, passionately showcases the world-renowned underwater cave systems of the Limestone Coast...

Sunrise Christian School Naracoorte principal Aaron Haines says there is a lot of misunderstanding about how independent schools are funded and is calling for a clearer, more balanced discussion. Mr Haines said school funding was incredibly complex, and all stakeholders had a responsibility to help teachers, parents, and the wider public understand how the Australian education system worked.

Hugh Schuitemaker. The chairman of Renmark's Olivewood museum says she is "fed up" with a lack of support and consultation from National Trust SA ... "It's almost as if they are trying to bleed the branches dry." Ann Ryan said volunteers had been directly responsible for raising money to purchase, and maintaining, many of Olivewood's major exhibits.

South Australia has much to learn from New Zealand's trade and export strategy, says Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone. Mr Whetstone, also opposition spokesperson for trade and investment, recently made the trip overseas to meet with his New Zealand counterpart, who has committed to doubling NZ's export value within the next decade.

Fresh data from the Lake Tyrrell digital kiosk, installed in early June, reveals active visitor engagement throughout June 2025 – a time that traditionally sees a lull in regional tourism ... With around 260 interactions recorded and up to 68 unique users per week, the kiosk’s analytics offer a clear indicator that Sea Lake’s investment in art, storytelling and nighttime experiences is paying off.

Bob Dooley. Nimbin is truly blessed to have always had beautiful art around the village. Thanks to Julie De Lorenzo for her latest piece on the newly-built amenities block which adjoins Peace Park, the swimming pool, the skateboard park and the Aquarius Walking Track.

Rob Doolan. In the beginning of the 1980s, I had escaped the Queensland Bjelke-Petersen regime and moved to the Northern Rivers desiring some rural land to build my home and live differently. In 1983 we were building the first roads on the property at Whian Whian where we planned to have a small Multiple Occupancy (MO).

The State Government is rolling out a suite of measures to back South Australia’s recreational fishing community, helping them weather the impacts of the unprecedented algal bloom and setting the stage for a strong recovery of fish stocks. The algal bloom presents a real challenge for fishers, causing foamy and discoloured water in some areas and has impacted about 400 types of fish and marine animals.

Sarah Herrmann. Independent Narungga MP Fraser Ellis says he has been approached by the Liberal Party to rejoin their ranks at the upcoming state election ... In October 2021, Mr Ellis sought the Liberals' endorsement to run as a candidate for Narungga in the 2022 state election, but they declined and ran an endorsed candidate against him. Mr Ellis was successful as an independent.

Grain Producers Australia is calling for a rigorous investigation of the recent acceleration of Australian farmland purchases, by US-owned foreign investors with serious financial clout, emboldened by major tax breaks. 

Yorke Peninsula National Trust of South Australia branches are refusing to pay a new fee which would take 10 per cent of their gross annual revenue, warning the move could force museums to close. Of the several YP branches protesting, the Moonta branch — one of the NTSA's largest — is facing a $47,365 fee, which chair Graham Hancock has called unfair.

NT Hearing Services has developed a cutting-edge tool that combines AI-powered geospatial mapping with analytics to track the prevalence of ear conditions and hearing loss across 93 communities and outstations in the NT.

A stop work order has been issued covering operation of the Boera Dam river regulator in Toorale National Park following an extensive investigation by the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR). Chief Regulatory Officer Grant Barnes said NRAR issued the order yesterday (Wednesday, August 6) because the operation of certain water infrastructure allegedly did not fully account for water use, as required by the Water Management Act.

“Don’t talk to mining companies one-on-one. Don’t sign anything without a lawyer — not even an access agreement to your land.” This advice to landholders came from solicitor Belinda Rayment from the Environmental Defenders Office who was at a community meeting at Drake Hall on July 28 talking about mineral mining exploration licences.

The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments have officially opened the Kimberley Cotton Gin in Kununurra, which is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs over the next decade in a new billion-dollar industry for the State's north ... The $60 million high-tech processing facility is owned by Kimberley Cotton Company...