Gallery on half the ANZAC oval carpark
The Aboriginal art gallery, now known as ATSIAGA, will be placed on about half of the present Anzac Oval car park ... ATSIAGA stands for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia, suggesting the plan still has ambitions for national status ... there was no mention of the assertive campaign by traditional custodians who want the gallery to be built south of The Gap.
Overhaul needed in truck wash biosecurity gaps: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is urging the Victorian Government to consider a complete overhaul of the state’s truck wash network to plug major gaps in Victoria’s biosecurity preparedness safety net. VFF Livestock President Scott Young said the recent closure of the truck wash facility at the Pakenham saleyards has exposed how fragile the state network is.
$4m increase queried
Health Minister Chris Picton has defended the increase in budget allocation of $4million to the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) last financial year ... “The fee-for-service expenditure for the Limestone Coast Local Health Network last financial year was $28,164,000, an increase of $4million from 2023. Can the minister explain exactly what fee-for-service relates to and whether that is the amount spent on employing locum doctors?” asked Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride.
Seven hundred thousand
Two salaried doctors in the region, employed by the Limestone Coast Local Health Network, are paid yearly salaries of around $700,000 each. But why, Independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride questioned Health Minister Chris Picton in the House of Assembly last month. Mr McBride quizzed the minister about what these roles were that were paying that amount and where they were based.
Rail sale: Council and VicTrack respond
A property leased by the Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) is being sold by the Victorian Government, raising questions about zoning and community consultation around the sale of a heritage asset that has been a green buffer around Maldon Station since the gold rush era. The Tarrangower Times ... requested information from Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) to ask about the zoning for 14 Reef Street, which was understood to have been changed to make way for the sale ...
Two-in-five city dwellers looking to make a regional move: RAI
New research commissioned by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) shows the number of city-dwellers looking to relocate to the regions has doubled over the past 18 months, demonstrating an urgent need for solutions to regional pressure points. The results of a nationwide survey shows 40 per cent of capital city residents are considering a move to regional Australia – up from 20 per cent in May 2023.
Holiday levy from January: Stress for BnBs
The Victorian State Parliament has passed the contentious ‘AirBnB Tax’ law to impose a 7.5 per cent levy on short-stay accommodation platforms ... Michele Waddington, owner of Fairbank House holiday home rental, believes the levy will have an impact on local accommodation providers and beyond: "The legislation, which taken with other recent taxes, has significantly impacted Maldon’s economic recovery."
Riverina landholders hear legal perspective on river flows and easements
Helen Castles. Landholders are voicing their concerns about proposed environmental easements on properties along the Murrumbidgee River under the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Rivers and Landholder Negotiation Scheme (LNS). The draft LNS Regulation and negotiation guidelines outline the approach the NSW Government will take when negotiating voluntary agreements with landholders affected by future environmental water deliveries at higher flow levels, or under different regimes, than current operating practice.
Fire training boosted on land and in the air
The CFA is enhancing its driver training capability across Victoria thanks to 10 new driver training trucks along with additional driving educators. Deputy Chief Officer Operational Doctrine and Training, Rohan Luke, said the new custom designed driver training trucks will be delivered to CFA training grounds across the state ... The CFA has also created a world-first mixed reality fire aviation simulator ...
Fire money funnelled to the city
Member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, has called for greater parity in funding the state’s fire services from the fire service property levy. Victorian Treasurer, Tim Pallas, released data in response to Mr Tilley’s Question on Notice in early September and said the revenue was going to Victorian firefighting. However, Mr Tilley claims that a review of the State Budget shows the bulk of the money goes to paid firefighters in Melbourne.
NSW Water Minister abandons state’s farmers
It’s not only media requests that get dodged by NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson, but the plight of NSW family farmers is just as inconsequential. Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has called on NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson to stand down unless she can fix the water crisis facing rural NSW. “The role of Water Minister is one of the few ministerial positions where, if you get it wrong, people’s lives can be ruined immediately,” Helen said.
Scale of big renewables laid bare
The Federal Government’s push to go ‘green’ appears to be spiralling out of control, with new costs estimated that the transition will take $1.3 to $1.5 trillion … What do we get for our money? Cheap, reliable, centralised power generation, with technology that will last for more than half a century? Or expensive, decentralised, precious metal intensive, unreliable, short-lived technology that will carve across some of Australia’s most precious landscape?
Action Gerard’s ‘key to prosperity’?
Hugh Schuitemaker. The current Gerard Council will again appear before the Berri Court, in January, with a "reset" in its management needed to help the community, according to a wellknown local figure ... In response to last week's article, a State Government spokesperson said "the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Kyam Maher) has been made aware of the concerns that have been raised by Mr Lindsay".
New Misinformation Bill “an attack on free speech” claims Hogan
"The Albanese Labor Government has introduced a new Bill to the Federal Parliament that gives the government and its bureaucrats extraordinary powers to regulate speech and decide what is classed as misinformation ... We have seen the Bill opposed by the Victorian Bar Association, the NSW Solicitor-General, Human Rights Commission, and the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties": Member for Page, Kevin Hogan.
Floodplain flashbacks
A not so well-known bard once remarked that one cannot learn the lessons of the future until you thoroughly know and accept the history of the past. These prophetic words came to mind when I attended a recent meeting in Yamba and most of the people present were relative newcomers to our town. I soon realised they had not experienced the original fears suffered by most local ratepayers over the then first attempts to develop our controversial floodplain areas…
Singapore Sling – Government backs distillers’ Southeast Asian vision: Szakacs
Six South Australian businesses will take part in the delegation led by the industry’s peak body, Distillers SA, and will showcase their award-winning gin, whisky, brandy, vermouth and liqueurs for Singaporean importers and consumers at targeted business meetings, tasting events and site visits...
Donations ban to cut ‘cash for access’
Sarah Herrmann. The Federal Government is set to follow the South Australian Government in introducing a bill to ban political donations this week. SA’s legislation was discussed in the Upper House last week, and the government said it had secured support from the Liberal Party, minor parties and other MPs.
Fire ants failure a former Queensland Labor Government legacy: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the latest detection of fire ants in northern New South Wales shows the former Queensland Labor Government was too slow to act on the Senate inquiry report "Red imported fire ants in Australia – ‘don’t let this come back to bite us’" … the Clunes discovery … comes after previous findings of fire ants in Murwillumbah and Wardell.
Health inquiry goes ahead
Michelle Daw. Yorke Peninsula residents are being urged to contribute to a long-awaited inquiry into health services in the region launched on November 14. The inquiry was triggered by a petition signed by nearly 11,000 people. It was led by Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis, who lodged it with State Parliament in November 2023.
Koala Park panel reps selected: City of Coffs Harbour
City of Coffs Harbour will be represented as the NSW Government moves toward the creation of a Great Koala National Park on the Mid North Coast ... The consultation process - as it works toward the park’s formation - includes establishment of three advisory panels (Aboriginal groups, community and industry) ... Coffs Harbour Council resolved to nominate Cr Jonathan Cassell to the Great Koala National Park Community Advisory Panel.
NFF condemns Greens’ reckless proposal on environment laws: NFF
The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) vehemently opposes the Greens' proposal to remove continuing use provisions and ban native forestry in exchange for passing the Albanese Government's Nature Positive bills. NFF Deputy CEO Charlie Thomas slammed the proposal as a dangerous overreach that threatens the viability of Australian agriculture.
Getting killed in the Territory: Netflix series
In the opening sequence we’re told by the central character, played by Anna Torv: “Everything up here is trying to kill you.” Not long after we see an already injured man getting mauled to death by a pack of feral dogs … That’s the start of the Netflix series Territory into which the NT Government has sunk $1.3m of taxpayers’ money and on the back of which our tourism promoters want to boost the industry, currently running at half its normal speed.
