Backing Victorian business by abolishing stamp duty: Pallas
The commercial and industrial property tax reform will progressively abolish stamp duty and replace it with a more efficient commercial and industrial property tax ... ARR.News asked a question about primary production property, answered by a government spokesperson.
Investment in education
A South Australian education union has slammed the 2024 Federal Budget for failing to deliver the much-needed investment in education. SA Branch of the Australian Education Union says public schools, including the ones in areas like Naracoorte Lucindale District, are not currently funded to the minimum school resourcing standard. “The current resourcing agreement for South Australia is set to expire at the end of this year…”: branch president Jennie-Marie Gorman.
Community views ignored by IPART in approval of rate rise
Former Narrandera Shire councillor and mayor Wesley Hall, who led a community revolt against Narrandera council’s proposal, said IPART’s decision to allow the Narrandera Shire Council’s substantial special rate variation to proceed showed that community views don’t matter. He said the group had put a lot of work into the submissions only to see the community views ignored which was very disappointing.
Community stonewalled over hospitals
Member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, says the Victorian government’s ongoing refusal to provide vital planning papers for hospitals in Wodonga and Albury is either contempt or incompetence. "Last Wednesday marked 10 weeks since the request for the documents was passed unanimously in the upper house of the Victorian Parliament," Mr Tilley said.
Outrage after public hearings scrapped
Public hearings before the committee of the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the Planning system and the impacts of climate change on the environment and communities will not be conducted on the NSW mid and north coasts from Port Macquarie to the Tweed ... The Northern Rivers area, and particularly the Clarence Valley has the highest flood risk hazard of all, as outlined in the NSW State Disaster Mitigation Plan 2024 – 2026. Surely this triggers the necessity for the committee to provide hearings in the mid-north and north coast regions of NSW, Yamba CAN Inc members said.
Helping timber workers transition to new opportunities: Spence
The Allan Labor Government’s Forestry Transition Fund has helped an East Gippsland timber worker to successfully transition from working in a mill to running his own small business ... Riverview Installations installs flatpack kitchens, including those from Bunnings and Ikea, in Bairnsdale and the surrounding area. The business also helps homeowners to measure and design their own kitchen.
Airborne survey the next step in AROWS project: Lawler, Worden
The Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) project is continuing to take shape with an Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey taking place to help streamline infrastructure design investigations for AROWS. AROWS is a sustainable approach to water security.
AgZero – The Power Shift: WA Farmers
Tickets are officially on sale for The Power Shift: Transitioning Farm Communities to Renewables ... Supported by Western Power and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, AgZero 2030 is bringing together a range of quality speakers to cover all topics of the energy transition and how it impacts farms, agriculture and our communities.
Hydrogen Jobs Plan to power up in the nick of time for energy security: Koutsantonis
The electricity generator being built as part of the Hydrogen Jobs Plan is critical to energy supply in South Australia, a new Australian Energy Market Operator report on energy reliability reveals. The State Government-owned generator being built in Whyalla must connect to the grid as soon as possible to counterbalance the impacts of early closures of privately operated gas-fired generators...
More power pain for SA as major projects delayed: Patterson
South Australians face increased risk of power blackouts over the next decade despite paying some of the highest electricity prices in the world, according to a new report. The Australian Energy Market Operator report shows increased power grid reliability risks across the country over the coming years due to delays in major energy projects such as the SA-NSW interconnector...
2024 Banff Mountain Film Festival
The 2024 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is a celebration of the mountain and adventure sport world. Sharing over 2 1/2 hours of the most exhilarating short films from explorers, runners, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers and climbers from around the globe.
Regulations to be enhanced to further protect iconic koalas: Linard
The Miles Government has released the findings of a review of the government’s koala habitat protection regulations. The regulations were introduced in 2020 to better protect South East Queensland’s iconic koala population and the habitat they call home ... The consultation confirmed the regulations had been effective, however some elements have not worked as intended.
Bush buildings boom: Where does the balance go?
Araluen’s Independent Member has pressed the NT government to disclose the construction costs of dwellings in the bush after media statements last year indicated there may be a flood of $1.5m mansions across remote regions ... Ms Lambley, following a request by the [Alice Springs] News, submitted what’s called “written questions” to the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, which happens to be Chief Minister Eva Lawler.
Showground user groups offered same fees for one year as council considers future fees
The Casino Showground and Racecourse has had a massive makeover and was officially opened on April 20 ... The new facility includes a large undercover arena, an outdoor sand arena, turfed areas and covered stables, a new racehorse stable complex to accommodate up to 80 horses, and new car, truck and float parking areas.
About time government reps speak up on GAB CO2 project: WQAC
The 24 councils of Western Queensland have welcomed recent public comment from state and federal representatives which add a boost to the growing call to shut down Glencore’s proposed injection of industrial waste into the Great Artesian Basin. The Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) is encouraged by responses from Premier Steven Miles, Senator Murray Watt and earlier Minister Glenn Butcher regarding the Glencore-owned carbon capture and storage project.
600 greyhounds and still going strong
Sparrow the greyhound took all the fuss in her stride last Thursday when she was feted as the 600th greyhound to graduate from the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) at Tarrengower Prison ... The program works like this: four retired racing greyhounds are delivered to Tarrengower and four women are given the responsibility of training each dog over a four week period ... "You have to remember that these dogs have never been inside a house..."
TCV’s new approach to Land Access Payments
Transmission Company Victoria. Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) has actioned stakeholder feedback on Land Access Agreement (LAA) payments, increasing the payment to landholders who provide larger areas for survey areas. Landholders can discuss land access agreements for VNI West, which start at $10,000 to a maximum $50,000, with their dedicated landholder liaison officers. TCV spokesperson, Claire Cass, said the change in the LAA payment reflects the project’s ongoing engagement with landholders who communicated the potential impost of survey access on their time.
Strengthening Territory liquor laws: Potter
The Lawler Labor Government is cracking down on alcohol related anti-social behaviour. Last night, The Liquor Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 passed in the Northern Territory Legislative assembly. This bill increases the punishment for those who refuse to leave a licensed premises when asked from $176 to $880.
WA Labor bows to community pressure with Firearms Act changes: Love
The Nationals WA have labelled the Government’s last-minute amendment to allow select firearms to be authorised for more than one licence purpose as a win for firearms owners ... "this move is a sensible concession from WA Labor and the first sign they are acknowledging some of the concerning aspects of this legislation": Shane Love.
IPART says Yes to raising Shire rates
IPART has approved the Narrandera Shire Council’s request for approval of a permanent special variation of 48.1 per cent over two years from 2024-25 to 2025-26. This includes an increase of 25.5 per cent in 2024-25 and 18 per cent in 2025-26. It is intended to apply this increase across all rating categories.
Emergency Services Open Day a success
Around 400 people gathered on the day to watch live demonstrations and displays of vehicles and equipment ... All of Narrandera’s emergency services were present, including the SES, the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA), Fire and Rescue NSW, the Rural Fire Service (RFS), Police Force and the Rapid Relief Team.
History made on $1.2 billion new Bundaberg Hospital project: Miles, Dick, Grace, Fentiman
The Miles Government has made a landmark investment of $1.2 billion towards a new Bundaberg Hospital which will transform healthcare for patients, carers and staff for generations to come ... The new hospital will have more than 400 beds, including 320 overnight beds, expanded emergency department, additional operating theatres and a wider range of outpatient and diagnostic services.
