State politics

As part of the Finocchiaro CLP Government’s year of Growth, Certainty and Security, Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill is leading a targeted government delegation to Taiwan this week, advancing the Territory’s position as a trusted and competitive partner for one of our most important trading partners.

Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has secured a delay to the decommissioning of the Albany Gas Distribution System, giving the community more time to navigate the transition. Provider ATCO has decided to exit the market in Albany, with the three-year decommissioning process originally set to begin in the second half of 2026.

The Barmah Narrows trade provision will start the 2026–27 water year with around 24 gigalitres (GL) available for downstream trade. A restriction on the trade of water downstream of The Narrows (previously referred to as the Barmah Choke) has been active since 2014 to protect water delivery to existing entitlement holders and to maintain the local river environment.

Grain Producers Australia (GPA) has secured a national emergency permit allowing grain growers to access stronger mouse bait as significant mouse numbers plague several states. Australian grain growers have been desperately calling for permits to access stronger mouse bait to tackle the growing problem, with the standard available bait proving inadequate. 

Michael Balderstone. There was a good vibe at MardiGrass everyone agreed, but what does that mean? People were smiling, there were no altercations, or very few, people were happy, and even the police agreed it was a "good vibe". The vibe of thousands of people getting high together, that's what it was.

What will happen to land made vacant from buybacks? The NSW Reconstruction Authority said it will work with local councils to plan the future of buyback areas as parklands, community hubs, or environmental projects. In specific cases where flood risk is strictly managed, some sites may also be used for commercial or industrial purposes.

The Commonwealth Government has formally issued a Native Title Determination for the White Cliffs opal fields, bringing to an end a period of administrative gridlock that had threatened the economic viability of the historic mining outpost. The declaration of the White Cliffs Main Field as an "Approved Opal or Gem Mining Area" under Section 26C of the Native Title Act 1993 now provides a legal framework for the granting and renewal of mineral claims.

A Menindee resident has raised concerns about water releases from the upper lakes of the Menindee Lakes system, warning they could contribute to ongoing environmental deterioration in the Lower Darling-Baaka River system.

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has signed off on the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Warracknabeal Energy Park – marking the most significant milestone in the state approvals process. Once complete, the 219-turbine wind farm would deliver more than 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy – enough to power up to 1.2 million homes.

TTV met with six parties yesterday, calling for pre-election commitments on three policies, one of which proves technology that has already detected 90 unplanned fires across Victoria in two seasons.

South Australia’s $16 million Forestry Centre of Excellence is now complete, putting Mount Gambier on the international map of forestry research, innovation and collaboration. The centre is a key project of the Malinauskas Labor Government in its long-term commitment to deliver stronger forest and timber industries for South Australia.

The Brisbane major parties need to get over their egos and remember they govern for Queensland, not for political point scoring, Leader of the KAP and state Member for Traeger Robbie Katter has said. Mr Katter praised the KAP’s Member for Hill, Shane Knuth, for tabling a biofuels mandate bill that would force big oil companies to use more ethanol and biodiesel, kick starting a revitalisation of the biofuels industry in Queensland.

BCG was pleased to welcome Victorian Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Michaela Settle to Birchip last month. Minister Settle was eager to visit BCG, the leading agricultural research organisation in north-west Victoria, to learn more about the work we are doing to support farmers across the region.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food and Member for Central Wheatbelt Lachlan Hunter has slammed Labor for siding with the Greens and the Animal Justice Party in support of a radical anti-farming agenda that would cripple wild dog control across regional WA ... The motion, moved by Hon Amanda Dorn MLC of the Animal Justice Party, called on the Government to remove dingoes as declared pests and end critical control measures including 1080 baiting and trapping.

Bosisto’s today launched its new purpose-built, sustainable eucalyptus oil distillery near Wedderburn, Victoria. The more than $10 million investment will strengthen local manufacturing capability and enable significant expansion of Australian eucalyptus oil production capacity.

Eight months after the death of 46-year-old Naracoorte man Cody Williams, his family says they are still searching for answers - and demanding accountability so no other family experiences the same heartbreak. In a confronting and deeply personal letter to The [Naracoorte] News, local resident Donna Armoogum details the final days of her brother’s life...

Mark Banasiak MLC has slammed the Minns Labor Government’s $39.3 million Firearms Registry announcement as a taxpayer-funded bailout for a system collapsing under the weight of Labor’s own bureaucracy. “This is not reform. It is damage control,” Mr Banasiak said. “Labor created the mess, buried the Registry in red tape, and now hardworking taxpayers are being forced to pay $39 million to keep the system afloat.

Ten new trainee Fisheries and Marine Officers (FMOs) are now on deck to help boost fisheries compliance efforts across Western Australia. The new officers graduated this month after completing a comprehensive four-month training program with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and will join more than 100 fisheries officers across the State.

More than 2,700 delegates including 730 travel buyers from 32 countries have converged in Adelaide this week for the nation’s largest ever tourism tradeshow - the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE26). Attendees have been meeting with 1,400 Australian industry representatives from more than 700 tourism organisations at the vibrant event held in the Adelaide Convention Centre.

The 11 influential importers and buyers from China and Hong Kong last week visited South Australia to experience the state’s world-class wines first-hand and to agree to new export deals. The four-day program, hosted by renowned wine experts Tony Love and Kate Spain, saw the diverse group of wine buyers take part in an immersive experience of South Australia’s world-class wine...

Residents are invited to take part in an upcoming Fire Wise Planting Bus Tour Workshop, designed to provide practical tips on landscaping in fire-prone areas. The workshop is one of four initiatives being delivered by Council in partnership with community organisations, funded through the Victorian Government’s Safer Together Program – Strengthening Local Government Partnerships.