State politics

Fire Minister Nikki Boyd has reassured rural fire brigades that local funds and assets will stay local following legislative change currently being considered through a committee process ... "The policy framework will make it clear that local assets like trucks and local funds will continue to solely benefit those local brigades and be accessed by local brigades for local purposes."

Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) intends to take advantage of favourable weather and forest conditions across the state to reduce the risk of bushfires on the community and environment ... This year 111 planned burns covering an area of 56,486 hectares are prepared and ready for ignition in north east Victoria.

In the lead up to World Water Day on March 22, SOURCE Global has reported on the success of its partnership with the NSW Department of Education, which installed 100 SOURCE ®Hydropanels across 10 drought-impacted schools to provide accessible drinking water for children and teachers, in compliance with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Monique Dawson. Recent public commentary about the closure of VicForests has included numerous false and misleading claims.  VicForests knows there are individuals and organisations who are opposed to native timber harvesting who will be celebrating VicForests’ closure ... The most offensive category of false claims being made is the suggestion VicForests is “rogue” or a “cowboy agency”.

Enthusiastic city-driven support for renewable energy infrastructure is in direct contrast to the majority feeling in the Allora district where a public meeting on Thursday night demonstrated strong opposition to any idea that a wind farm should be established in the Goomburra Valley area.

Today (Tuesday 19th) in parliament I tabled a question to the Energy Minister Mick de Brenni about what’s going on. What plans discussions has the state government had with Wind Prospects Pty Ltd about renewable energy projects in our back yard?

Yamba resident and proud Yaegl woman, Diane Randall, has been elected to the NSW Aboriginal Land Council as the North Coast representative, one of two new faces on the council elected to protect the interests and further the aspirations of its members and the Aboriginal community ... Ms Randall said she will represent 13 Local Aboriginal Land Councils...

Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, and husband, Mr Dennis Wilson visited Hay ... Dennis and I are excited to be travelling out west to Wentworth, Balranald, and Hay Shires in the Riverina, the heartland of Australia’s food-bowl, to meet community and business groups, volunteer organisations, schools, and councils,” Her Excellency said.

Saturday 16 March 2023 was an exciting day for the Nhill community with the official opening of the Nhill Cane Ball court by Dr Anne Webster MP, Member for Mallee, and Cr Brett Ireland, Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor. Approximately 100 people attended the official opening ... Karen community members provided a demonstration of Cane Ball ...

A $26.2 million initiative to tackle regional crime launched last week by the NSW Government that aims to address the increased rate of offending and community safety doesn’t go far enough claims Clarence MP Richie Williamson, who has called for locals to share experiences of crime on a new website.

Walk out your front door and look down the street.   If you are in the regions or in suburbia, then you will look at a tall wooden pole that carries the cables that gives you electricity. Have you taken much notice of them?   Probably not, but the pole is native hardwood harvested from a native forest where, through the application of science, it was encouraged to grow that straight.   Timber power poles are selectively harvested from regrowth or working forests.

Neither the Shire of Gingin nor the Department of Local Government will clarify if the shire is being investigated due to complaints and issues raised by ratepayers and residents ... “This means we cannot comment on whether there is an active investigation or complaint or provide any details on progress of matters being looked into,’’ a spokeswoman said.

VicForests, the Victorian Government’s own forestry agency, is being treated deplorably as it braces for a June 30 shutdown ... Peter Walsh, Leader of The Nationals, said it seemed the government was intent on wiping VicForests from the history books.

Premier Roger Cook has deserted farmers and shown his true intentions after admitting in Parliament last week to talks with Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to end the live sheep export industry. Deputy Nationals WA Leader and Member for Roe Peter Rundle MLA asked the Premier … to explain why the Minister for Agriculture had been in secret talks with Canberra around a transition package for farmers.

Michelle Daw. Tens of millions of dollars will be spent upgrading Upper Yorke Road, following a determined five-year campaign by locals ... Member for Narungga Fraser Ellis hailed the announcement as a tremendous boost for YP’s road network.

Let’s go solar. Across the world, in Australia and NSW, there is a push for alternative energy including wind and solar power ... IndyNR.com spoke to a resident ... She is opposed to the Richmond Valley Solar Farm. She has many reasons for her opposition including the fire risk of the proposed large BESS.

More $10,000 tagged barra have been changed to be worth a million dollars each, taking the grand total of Barramundi worth a million dollars to more than 80. There are still $10k fish waiting to be reeled in, but from today the chances of hooking a red tagged barra worth a million dollars are through the roof.

Effective from 14 March, the dingo unprotection order will conclude in north west Victoria - this decision follows new research, strong advice and the effectiveness of non-lethal dingo control methods to protect livestock. Farmers in this area will be  supported by a  $550,000 investment to adopt alternate non-lethal control methods via a  pilot of measures ...