In a stunning act of betrayal, the Liberal and National parties have back-flipped on a commitment made in the Senate just seven days earlier and voted with Labor to scuttle a motion that would have relegated the Government’s problematic cash mandate regulations to history ... Senator Michaelia Cash stood up last Tuesday and, speaking for both the Liberals and National parties, ridiculed the proposal and accused One Nation of trying to “ban cash”.

Anyone trying to understand why regional Australians are turning their backs on the major parties need only look at what happened when a motion to disallow the Government’s problematic cash mandate regulations came up for vote in the Senate this week. Lodged by One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts, the motion had the numbers to pass...

“Expect shenanigans.” This ominous warning was included when news came on the morning of Tuesday 24 March that the debate on the motion to disallow the Albanese Government’s controversial cash mandate regulations had been scheduled to continue in the Senate that day. This Tuesday, Australians were treated to a lesson in filibustering 101 by two grown women who should, quite honestly, be ashamed of themselves.

The National Clydesdale and Heavy Horse Festival has once again shaken the earth at Werribee as the world’s much-loved working breeds were shown off in hand, under saddle and in harness. Organisers this year welcomed Canadian judges Ray and Amber McLaughlin to officiate, with Amber judging the led Clydesdales/Shires and Ray the harness with Peter Strafford.

Love it, hate it or don’t even understand it, Bendigo Bank’s multi-million dollar “Better Big Bank” marketing campaign has raised a lot of questions since its launch seven years ago ... A review of the “last bank out” of regional towns across Australia since 2020 has revealed that Bendigo has left more communities without banking services than all four big banks put together.

Major-brand supermarkets and fuel retailers in bankless towns could be eligible for exemptions from the Federal Government’s proposed cash mandate regulations under exceptional circumstances provisions, an official from Treasury confirmed today during Senate Estimates hearings. The information was obtained by WA Senator Tyron Whitten in a series of questions about regional banking services.

The Royal Geelong Show continues to offer a gold-standard horse program, presenting a traditional range of classes for every interest over the four-day event. As well as the popular saddle horse section, there are breed, heavy horse, harness and pony club events, plus a district category that makes sure everyone gets to compete and have fun at what is also the “local show” for the area.

There are fatal flaws in the Federal Government’s draft cash mandate regulations and they can be traced back to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's refusal to respond to Senate recommendations to fix the banking crisis in regional Australia.