CATEGORY

State politics

Walking plan for Allora

Allora is set to take a major step toward a more walkable and connected future, with Southern Downs Regional Council securing $20,000 in funding to develop a walking network plan that will support healthier, more active lifestyles in the community.

Blooming success for 41st Queensland Garden Show in Nambour: Powell

Now in its 41st year, the Queensland Garden Show is a four-day celebration of all things gardening. This year the Queensland Garden Show will feature Chef Ambassadors in the Cooks Garden Stage – helping to promote the Curated Plate Festival to be held this month on the Sunshine Coast. 

Steelworks administration benefiting community

Mayor Phill Stone and Whyalla City Council CEO Justin Commons met with steelworks and mining administrators KordaMentha at this week’s OneWhyalla community meeting, receiving an update on the administration process and the flow-on benefits it’s providing for the local community.

Katter calls for State to back piston-engine helicopters in disaster response: Katter

Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter, is calling for urgent reform to Queensland’s disaster management policy to formally recognise and financially support the vital role of piston-engine helicopters—particularly during major fire and flood emergencies in rural and remote communities.

$500 per ratepayer: Cost shifting blowout exposed in new report

Local government councils across NSW are now absorbing a staggering $1.5 billion in cost shifting from State and Federal governments each year – a cumulative $11.3 billion over the past decade – according to a new report commissioned by Local Government NSW (LGNSW).

Act now if you fish for Mulloway

Clarence Valley fishos are concerned the draft Mulloway Harvest Strategy could be extreme and potentially impact tourism but the community has until July 31 to make its feelings heard ... there are fears the Harvest Strategy could prevent taking any Mulloway.

Shire comment on convicted offender

Monica Revell. Hindmarsh Shire Council is deeply saddened and concerned following the conviction of Mr Ronald Marks, Indigenous Elder, only learning of the conviction through media reports. We acknowledge the distress this news has caused across our community, particularly for families and those who engaged with Mr Marks through his cultural programs...

Dalton’s water Bill progresses – environmental water is “a mess”

"It matters because, as of December 2022, governments held over 2.5 million megalitres, which is 2,505 gigalitres, of water licences across New South Wales, yet there is no central, transparent record of what has been done with it. There is no way to track trades": Helen Dalton, Member for Murray.

Family calls for Alicia’s Law to create a national DV database

The family of former Hay student Alicia Little have launched an appeal for co-operation between courts across state borders. The family says the Justice for Alicia Little Campaign focuses on urging Australian authorities to work together to roll out a national domestic violence offender database.

Mobile tower funding

Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross has set the record straight by explaining why the council chose not to allocate ratepayer funds to Telstra’s Limestone Coast Connectivity Project which had only two mobile base stations earmarked for the district ... it was not prepared to use limited public funds to subsidise infrastructure that Telstra—a major telecommunications provider—had a responsibility to deliver.

A WIN for people power, says MP

The sudden backflip on withdrawing Channel Seven programming from South-East free-to-air TV screens is a testament to the community’s determination, a local MP says ... “I am livid that communities across the Limestone Coast and the Riverland were used as pawns in a commercial negotiation and I have made my disappointment clear to the chief executive officers of both organisations,” said Liberal member for Barker, Tony Pasin.

Property owners face homelessness

Christine Webster. The owners of a Mount Mary property, who were told by Mid Murray Council they were breaking the law by living on their vacant land in a motorhome and bus, have left the area in frustration ... Mr King believes he and his friend have a right to live on the property in their registered bus and motorhome.

Fishers’ plea for lifeline

Michelle Daw. Commercial fishers are calling for the South Australian Government to waive licence and quota fees as they continue to struggle with low catches amid the devastating impact of the prolonged toxic algal bloom on marine life.

SA first: All hours ambos

Copper Coast is set to become the first regional area in South Australia to host a 24-hour ambulance crew. A team of 12 SA Ambulance Service career paramedics will begin operating from Moonta from Monday, July 14, before relocating to the Wallaroo Ambulance Station later this year once major upgrades at that site are complete.

A $6.3 billion solution hiding in plain sight

Picture this: you're watching the NSW Treasurer deliver a budget that cuts transport spending by 34 per cent, slashes education infrastructure by 41 per cent, and offers zero additional cost of living relief to struggling families. Meanwhile, sitting in government reservoirs across the state is something that could change everything – 450 gigalitres of surplus water worth a potential $6.3 billion.

Backing our farmers through the drought: Tierney

The Drought Response Taskforce has been listening directly to farmers and regional communities across Victoria – making sure their voices shape the support they need to get through tough times ... the Labor Government is investing an additional $75 million to help farmers through the drought, bringing the total support package to $144 million.

Regional landholders under threat from Labor’s transmission takeover: Cleeland

The Nationals' Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has slammed new legislation proposed by the Allan Labor Government that would allow government officials and transmission companies to enter private farmland without consent, and hit landholders with steep fines if they object.

Merger will not restore deleted emergency capability

Victorian Fisheries Media Centre. On May 20, 2025, the fisheries authority (VFA) finalised an organisational restructure, under which it has since shed 30 (44 per cent) of the state's 69 Fisheries Officers; leaving just 39 officers to patrol Victoria's 2,512 km coastline, 10,000 square km of ocean waters and 170,000 km of inland water frontage along 85,000 km of rivers and creeks. Then in a separate decision, on Friday, June 13, 2025, the VFA stripped the remaining officers of their duties to "respond to any emergency" by deleting these duties from their Position Descriptions ...

More opportunities for deer hunting in Victoria: Dimopoulos

The Allan Labor Government is expanding recreational hunting in East Gippsland – boosting tourism, supporting local jobs and helping control wild deer. Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos today announced that the National Parks Act will be amended to allow seasonal deer hunting in Errinundra and Snowy River National Park. 

Government must act to stop South West spread of shot hole borer: Eatts

The Shadow Minister for Forestry and Member for Warren Blackwood, Bevan Eatts MLA, has called on the Cook Labor Government to urgently invest in public awareness and collaborative monitoring efforts to prevent the spread of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) beyond the Perth metropolitan area and into the South West.

New fire ant failure detected: NSW Farmers Association

Farmers are calling for a government crackdown to stamp out fire ants in NSW after the pests were discovered in Tweed Heads this week. On Wednesday the NSW Government confirmed an immature Red Imported Fire Ant nest was detected on a property in NSW, where it was later destroyed by authorities.

Outdated career myths holding Ag back, says TasFarmers

TasFarmers is calling on all political parties in the upcoming state election to support a $500,000 investment into funding an independent Agricultural Career Coach, designed to connect young Tasmanians with fulfilling careers in agriculture regardless of their background.

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