State politics

The NSW Government has made exempt development for outdoor dining permanent on private land for cafes, clubs, and restaurants. Venues can continue to operate outdoor dining in locations including private laneways, bowling greens and car parks without planning approval, providing they meet safety rules.

Sukhvinder Pal (SP) Singh. Floodwater is known to be a carrier of biological, chemical and physical hazards affecting food safety during production and processing of fresh horticultural produce. Runoff from livestock, industrial, residential and sewage treatment areas into waterways and their overflow can contaminate water sources, production fields and postharvest processing facilities.

The State Government’s reckless rush to renewables is threatening Australia’s energy grid and the livelihoods of farmers and their communities, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. In its draft 2024 Integrated System Plan (ISP) … (AEMO) has brought forward the expected exit of the network’s coal-fired power stations to 2038 - five years earlier than the 2022 ISP.

SFF is calling on the Minister for Agriculture to refer the inhumane actions of the National Parks and Wildlife Service during aerial culling trials over Kosciuszko National Park to NSW Police for investigation ... chasing an animal for several hundred yards whilst delivering as many as 15 shots into it, to induce enough bleeding to euthanise the animal, would be a reportable offence under the POCTA Act.

Jack Bradshaw. Australia, along with 16 other countries, has recently committed to the “Initiative for Greening Construction with Sustainable Wood” at COP28 in Dubai ... How will Australia support this initiative with insufficient forest resources to service even the present demand?

Bill Moore. As you walk along the verandah of the 1960s brick building that was the former Shire of Maldon offices, have you noticed the two round metal plaques attached to the wall near the main door? These plaques are a part of Maldon’s recent history...

Year 2 student Lucy Tarca was recently awarded the Chief Minister’s Literacy Achievement Award in the Most Improved category. The seven-year-old was ecstatic with the prestigious nod. Proud mum Maria Carmody said she was so proud of her daughter.

Yesterday Elders and community members met with the Community Justice Centre (CJC) to discuss establishing community-led mediation and peacekeeping across the Barkly ... In early 2024, stakeholders will reconvene to co-design the model to be implemented through the Barkly Regional Deal Community Mediation Initiative.

Staff from Mangalore-based business, Kestrel Aviation, were recently recognised with The National Emergency Medal for their services during recent fire events across the country. The National Emergency Medal is awarded to persons who rendered sustained or significant service during nationally significant emergencies in Australia.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is concerned not enough is being done to protect the rights of landholders when it comes to the development and operation of transmission lines across farmland … newly released Land Access Code of Practice falls short of offering farmers the protections they need.

Graziers are urged to keep an eye out for pasture dieback, which is continuing to spread to new areas of Queensland. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has produced a fact sheet to help graziers identify and manage the condition, which causes the death of otherwise healthy pastures.

Cass McCormack was re-elected unopposed as president of the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria (MCAV) last month. Ms McCormack, who is now in her second term as president, said it had been a steep but rewarding 12 months.

Victoria’s native forest industry officially closes at the end of the month, but Radial Timber in Yarram is going nowhere ... it’s in survival mode. “We’re looking to source what local plantation material we can get – we’ve got two signed up at the moment and one should be starting to harvest,” said Radial’s managing director, Chris McEvoy ... Radial will concentrate on its new peeling plant and its bioenergy plant, which operates by pyrolysis.

Graham Kennett has had to deal with his shock sacking as Kyogle Council general manager at the council meeting ... “My time at Kyogle Council ended last night after almost 25 years, and without any warning or reason,” Mr Kennett said.

Anyone tracking the media will see the Albanese government is in trouble, from the failed referendum through to promises to reduce power bills by $275 by 2025, to get wages growing faster than inflation and not to raid peoples super, it has a growing list of failed and broken promises ... You can see why the hard heads in government are quietly looking for a way to kick the live sheep trade issue down the road just as they have done with the Murray Darling promise.

The South Australian Government welcomes the Chinese Government’s decision to lift suspensions on the Naracoorte abattoir – along with two other Australian facilities. Eased restrictions will enable the Teys Australia meat facility to recommence sending its products to China.

Basin states and the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) are jointly celebrating 20 years since the historic ‘first step’ decision to establish The Living Murray program. A forerunner of the 2012 Basin Plan, The Living Murray (TLM) program was initiated in response to compelling evidence of severe and long-term decline in the health of the Murray River system.

Two Rocks Primary School is one of five public schools named in the 2023 WA Education awards. This week Education Minister Tony Buti announced Two Rocks Primary School was the winner of the excellence in school leadership category.

Diana Cantrell. Tuntable Creek Public School finally closed its doors after a century of teaching ... Small rural schools are precious, and they are an endangered species ... Hundreds of people turned up to remember and relive their time when the school was the bustling centre of a small rural community.

Relocation, demolition and site rectification works are powering ahead on Lockyer Valley properties purchased under the Voluntary Home Buy-Back (VHBB) program ... 21 contracts of sale have now been settled in the Lockyer Valley, with more to come, allowing families to move on with their lives out of high-risk flood zones.

Regional and rural Queenslanders are seeking access to voluntary assisted dying (VAD) services at a rate that is almost double their inner-city counterparts – a revelation that should send a shiver down the spine of anyone who cares about the equitable delivery of healthcare, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter has said.

The Victorian Government has launched a review of the current approaches to dingo management and conservation to quell its radical left-wing backers. At the same time, it has extended a legislative rule allowing control of dingoes by only one year, as opposed to five years in previous instances...