State politics

A large area of crown land near the village of Drake, in the upper reaches of the Clarence River catchment has been returned to the Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council following a successful land claim. The NSW Aboriginal Land Council NSWALC made the claim on 104.4 hectares of crown land across two adjoining blocks on the western side of Drake, which will be returned as freehold land to the Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council.

The Malinauskas Labor Government and Greens have joined forces to block pastoralists from making up 50 per cent of the Pastoral Board membership in a disgraceful move. The disappointing alliance gave Labor and the Greens power to vote down the crucial amendment to safeguard the Pastoral Lands Management and Conservation Act against hands-off land management.

Victorian and Tasmanian farmer peak bodies have produced a policy for developers who want to build infrastructure, such as transmission lines for renewable energy, across their farmland. They warned that since the year 2000, Australia’s available arable land had been reduced by 15 per cent, much of it lost to infrastructure development and urban sprawl. The policy has been released as Gippsland farmers face plans for pipelines and transmission lines across their land as part of the state government’s energy policy, which aims to link offshore wind farms to the Latrobe Valley energy network.

Shaun Hollis. One third of South Australian boats checked by marine authorities across the summer did not comply with safety regulations, seemingly throwing caution to the wind. Marine Safety SA conducted close to 2200 checks across the state in December, January and February, including more than 400 in Yorke Peninsula coastal waters.

Harvesting of Tasmanian blue gums on Kangaroo Island can now resume after the State Government approved a new koala management plan submitted by timber company, AAG Investment Management (AAGIM). Regulations introduced by the Government following the release of footage showing koalas being killed and injured within the plantations mean timber companies on the island cannot fell blue gum plantations without an approved koala management plan.

Newmerella-based businesses Dahlsens Steel Truss and Frame and partners Built QA have received a $500,000 Forestry Transition Fund grant to expand their operations and directly employ up to 16 local native timber workers.  The business has begun employing former sawmill workers, with the grant supporting new roles in steel truss and frame manufacturing, fabrication, labouring and administration.

"This retrograde choice will take us back to the bad old days, of savage attacks, extensive stock losses, and financial and mental anguish for the farmers who just want to protect and care for their sheep. While entitled animal justice warriors claim the ideological high ground wearing their ‘save the dingoes’ badge, they fail to acknowledge the animal welfare of sheep, especially lambs, family pets and small wildlife": Bev McArthur, Member for Western Victoria.

Minister for Education Blair Boyer says he is keen to discuss the district’s public education system with Member of Mackillop Nick McBride. In an interview ... Mr McBride questioned if the district’s public education system was meeting the needs of our children.