Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Politics & Opinion

Fire funding - Vic

CFA Annual Report confirms continued funding gap: VFF

Contributor, ARR.News
Federal politics
The Victorian Farmers Federation has slammed the State Government's continued underfunding of the Country Fire Authority, with today's release of the CFA's 2024-25 Annual Report confirming a funding crisis that is placing regional communities at unacceptable risk. VFF President, Brett Hosking said the numbers tell a damning story that can no longer be ignored.

Beardy Creek

Tin mining dangers

The Nimbin GoodTimes
Business
Kaali King. Few of us know that tin is one of the fastest growing rare-earth mineral commodities in 2025, outstripping lithium, cobalt, silver and graphite. Demand for electronics and EVs, all of which use tin solder (48 per cent of the global tin market) is fuelling the boom.

Open for comment - Koalas - NSW

Recreational opportunities in the proposed Great Koala National Park? Government announcement with response from Vic Jurskis

The NSW Government has called for community input on recreational opportunities in the proposed Great Koala National Park. Regular ARR.News commentator on koala issues, Vic Jurskis, responds and has some questions for the Environment Minister ... Where do koalas no longer exist in NSW? What is the evidence they existed there when Europeans arrived? What is the evidence they are no longer there? Do you intend to reintroduce them?

Open for comment - Brumbies

Is there a future for the Snowy Mountain brumbies?

Colleen Krestensen. With the repeal of the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018 (NSW), the Australian Brumby Alliance and brumby rehoming organisations are deeply concerned that the NSW Government and NPWS will move to quickly slaughter the remaining brumbies by aerial culling or other lethal methods ... The ABA strongly believes that with the brumby population in Kosciuszko National Park now as low as 500 horses, and the perceived density problem addressed, there is time to review how the remaining horses are managed and to make animal welfare an imperative.

Cattle - NT

Cattle keep land ‘intact’: Pastoral lobby

Erwin Chlanda, Alice Springs News
Agriculture
The Territory’s 45 million hectares of cattle country is “some of the most intact” land in Australia, something that pastoral families, over more than a century, have achieved not “by locking the country away ... Romy Carey, CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, is making a powerful point in her group’s current newsletter, as her $1.5 billion a year industry is facing Chinese trade restrictions and criticism over its position on buffel weed.

Aquifer - NT

The Cambrian Limestone Aquifer – stable and plentiful: NT

Contributor, ARR.News
Land & environment
The Northern Territory Government takes a holistic, evidence-based approach to sustainably managing water in the Territory. The Cambrian Limestone Aquifer (CLA) is vast and plentiful and contributes to water resources across a large area of the Territory.

Murray-Darling

The complexities of managing the waters of Menindee Lakes

Krista Schade, Back Country Bulletin
Federal politics
The Menindee Lakes system is often described as the beating heart of the Darling-Baaka river system, but in the halls of Canberra and Sydney, it is also a vital "battery" for the Murray-Darling Basin. As we move into 2026, the lakes find themselves at the centre of a major policy shift - the "rescoping" of a controversial water-saving project that has pitted engineering efficiency against cultural survival.

Demersal ban - WA

Commercial fisher supports call for mandatory recreational reporting

Anita McInnes, Yanchep News Online
Aquaculture & fishing
A commercial fisherman affected by the Cook Government’s decision to permanently close the West Coast bioregion from Kalbarri to Augusta for demersal fishing says it should be mandatory for recreational boat fishers to provide data on their catch on the day they fish.

Murray-Darling

Lower Murray River ecosystem listed as Critically Endangered – announcement and early reactions

On Thursday 15 January 2026, the Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, announced the Federal Government's decision to list the Lower Murray River System as being of Critically Endangered conservation status pursuant to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). Minister Watt's statement together with early statements from National Farmers' Federation and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW demonstrate some of the points of difference over this contentious decision.

Demersal ban - WA

Fishing community “ropeable” and cannot be ignored: Love

Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love says if growing unrest to Labor’s demersal fishing bans is any indication, the Cook Labor Government has bitten off more than it can chew and badly underestimated the strength and unity of Western Australia’s fishing community ... "The fishing community is ropeable, and rightly so," Mr Love said.

Fire management - WA

Rally plea to spare tingles

Mat Dalby. More than 120 people rallied in Denmark on Saturday, calling on the State Government to halt a planned summer prescribed burn in the Walpole–Nornalup National Park. The rally of people from Walpole, Denmark and across the Great Southern followed days of escalating concern of the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attraction's plans threatening the last remaining ancient red tingle forest.

Fire management - Qld

Qld farmers and Indigenous Australians unite on climate resilience project: Firesticks

Indigenous Cultural Fire Practitioners and Queensland farmers are working together to improve grazing landscapes using First Nations land management practices, including Cultural Burning - transforming the way food and agricultural systems work.

Regional banking

A matter of trust: unpacking Bendigo’s Better Big Bank campaign

Dale Webster, The Regional
Banking
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.

Bushfire management - Vic

NSW Libs

Crouch dumped as Shadow Minister for the Central Coast

Coast Community News
News
Denice Barnes. The dumping of Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch as Shadow Minister for the Central Coast has resulted in a public backlash, forcing newly-appointed NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane to defend the decision. Mr Crouch lost his role as Shadow Minister for the Central Coast in the recent reshuffle of the NSW Shadow Cabinet.

Ag workforce

Analysis of ag industry pressures

The analysis of regional pressure on the agriculture workforce will look at key industry issues on the Downs. The research will be done by AgriFutures and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The Darling Downs and Toowoomba are among five key regions being looked at in the Strategic Analysis of Regional Workforce Pressures in Australian Agriculture.

Demersal ban - WA

Boat chained to Geraldton DPIRD office: Warr

“The frustration within WA’s fishing community has reached breaking point, The recent incident in my electorate of Geraldton highlights just how desperate many fishing families are feeling right now. These are hardworking locals who feel unheard, ignored and pushed to the limit by Labor’s demersal fishing ban": Kirrilee Warr, Shadow Minister for Fisheries (WA).

Riverland wine

Malinauskas on the move

Murray Pioneer
Agriculture
Madison Eastmond. Visiting the Riverland as part of a broader regional tour of South Australia last Wednesday and Thursday, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas met privately with local growers and wine industry representatives to discuss current issues within the industry, including falling grape prices, increasing water and production costs, and tolls on mental health.

Dark sky

Dark sky could dawn at Port Moorowie

Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Community
Caitlin Menadue. A new Dark Sky Policy could put Yorke Peninsula's Port Moorowie on the stargazing map as community consultation draws to a close today, Tuesday, January 13. If adopted, Port Moorowie will become an established Dark Sky Community alongside Carrickalinga on the Fleurieu Peninsula, the first Dark Sky Community in South Australia.

Global food

When fewer people meet more food

For most of the modern era, the story of food was scarcity. More people meant more demand, higher prices, and ever-expanding markets for farmers. That part of human history has now come to an end. For the first time, global population growth is slowing sharply at the same time as global food production continues to rise.

Floods - Qld

Queensland Rail the only dam builders in Queensland: Katter 

Contributor, ARR.News
Dams & water
After seeing the devastating flooding firsthand, it’s clear the only new dams in Queensland are to be found against Queensland Rail (QR) tracks! The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader, and Member for Traeger has said. Large swathes of built-up rail line with poor drainage in the flood affected areas around Julia Creek are acting as dam walls, preventing flood waters from receding. 

‘A stitch in time saves nine’ – Opportune time for feral pig action: Katter 

“I was in a grazier’s chopper being shown around, and he made the clear observation that like the surviving cattle, wild pigs are corralling on the islands that have formed in the inland sea that is the flood water. While the flood water presents many challenges, one opportunity would be for real and effective management of the feral pig numbers throughout the Gulf,” the KAP Leader said. 

Water - WA

Power cables connected to Alkimos desalination plant

Contributor, Yanchep News Online
Dams & water
A major milestone in construction of the future Alkimos seawater desalination plant has been achieved, with Western Power installing 5km of 132kV underground cabling between the project site and the existing Yanchep substation.

Trade - SA

Regional health

Under pressure: The reality of Australia’s hospital emergency departments

Walk into Royal Adelaide Hospital's emergency department on any given day and you'll find a chaotic but functioning system ... Now picture Wilcannia. The Multipurpose Service there technically provides 24-hour emergency care. But as of November 2025, if you present between 7pm and 7am, you must first call ahead. Staff will decide whether to come in. The doors aren't always open.

Regional development

Australia’s next great shift is regional

Rob Burgess. Australia is running an opportunity deficit in its biggest cities. Housing, congestion and service pressures are eroding the everyday “deal” in Sydney and Melbourne. The question is no longer whether people and investment will look elsewhere, but where that momentum will land. With remote work normalising, the energy and industrial transition accelerating, and many regional centres still offering a more achievable pathway to security and prosperity, the next shift in Australia’s economic geography is sitting in plain sight.

Victorian election 2026

Upper House member will not contest 2026 election

Michelle Dorian, Tarrangower Times
News
Liberal member of Victoria's Legislative Council, the Hon Wendy Lovell, announced on Monday 5 January her decision to not contest the seat of Northern Victoria Region in the November State Election. The Northern Victoria Region is one of eight electoral regions in Victoria.

Council - Gingin

Shire of Gingin acknowledges police investigation

Anita McInnes, Yanchep News Online
Community
The Shire of Gingin says it is aware WA Police have undertaken an investigation relating to matters involving one or more of the shire’s councillors. This morning WA Police said that Gingin Police had charged a 61-year-old Gingin man after he allegedly made numerous threatening phone calls to a person between February 7, 2025 and September 10, 2025.

Freight rail - WA

Time for action: WA’s rail buy back promise cannot wait

Trevor Whittington, CEO WAFarmers
Agriculture
We now have a bumper crop, a tax windfall for government, and broad agreement across agriculture, transport and local government that the system is stretched. The buy-back was presented as a serious response to a real capacity, efficiency and safety problem. The only question left is whether the government is prepared to act.

Public consultation - Darling Downs

Premier at the pub

Ted Rogers, On Our Selection News
Community
Premier David Crisafulli shared a schooner with residents and local member Pat Weir during a visit to the district over the holiday break ... The December 19 event allowed the politicians, stakeholders, industry leaders and locals to mingle, and share their experiences and concerns...

Algal bloom - SA

Oysters reopen at Stansbury

Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Aquaculture & fishing
Michelle Daw. Stansbury oyster growers have cautiously welcomed the reopening of their harvesting area, which had been shut since early May. Growers were informed of the reopening mid-afternoon on Wednesday, December 31 — too late for them to sell for the lucrative Christmas and New Year's Eve markets.
Oysters at Stansbury

Infrastructure - Hay

New John Houston Memorial Pool an investment in Hay’s health, wellbeing and vibrancy

The fully refurbished John Houston Memorial Swimming Pool is more than a safe place to swim. It is more than being the largest capital project in Council history. In her official address during the opening ceremony on December 19, Hay Mayor, Carol Oataway said the pool complex was a community hub, a place where families gather, friendships are forged, and active, healthy lifestyles are encouraged.

Gun laws - NSW

Rifle

From the paddock to the Parliament: How the new NSW gun laws impact you

Krista Schade, Back Country Bulletin

Buffel grass - NT

cattle sale

Comment: Cattle or tourists – The buffel debate nears deadline

Erwin Chlanda, Alice Springs News
Beef
The debate about buffel needs to be broadened to take account of the weed's current and future commercial as well as social consequences. The pastoral industry, in love with the irresponsibly introduced plant, has leases over half of the NT, land that is owned by the people of the NT. From 31 December they will have just 43 days to comment on how the government should be dealing with the scourge, declared a weed in 2024, yet still expanding in the region's prime tourism areas.

Parallels with the past

The Roaring 1920s to the Turbulent 2020s

This week, the comparison shifts to machinery and markets — how, in both decades a century apart, a revolution in farm equipment collided head-on with falling commodity prices and soaring machinery costs. The rhyme is almost eerie: technological leaps meeting financial cliffs.

River health

What next? Tinnie group makes plans to save the Richmond River

Contributor, indyNR.com
Inland waterways
In September this year, Steve Posselt and Graeme Gibson set off from Ballina in a tinnie to travel upstream towards Kyogle ... The Tinnie Trip was part of the Riverfest and its aim was to highlight the state of the Richmond River.

Tourism - Alice Springs

What future for tourism?

Erwin Chlanda, Alice Springs News
Hospitality
Hopes that growth in tourism will lift Alice Springs out of its economic slump in 2026 look like wishful thinking. There are no major projects. There are still no accommodation facilities other than camping in the West MacDonnell National Park (2,568 km2), the jewels in our tourism crown, nor in the East Macs. Ross River is available only for special functions and Glen Helen is still closed.

Tourism - WA

Cape Leveque near Broome in Dampier peninsula in the Kimberly region Western Australia

Western Australia leads the nation for international tourism recovery: Whitby

Contributor, ARR.News
Business
International tourists have descended on WA in nation-leading numbers, with the State out-performing the rest of Australia for growth in overseas visitors. The latest visitor data has WA on track for full recovery to pre-pandemic international visitor numbers by the end of 2025, with the State achieving 99.5 per cent of 2019 numbers in the year ending September 2025.

Council - Narrandera

Regional shires suffer while city projects have unlimited funding says Narrandera mayor

Narrandera mayor Neville Kschenka has returned from a visit to the site of the Western Sydney International Airport convinced that while regional shires struggle to receive funding for important road infrastructure to provide access to markets and ports, city projects appear to have almost unlimited funding ... "Premier Chris Minns spoke about affordable housing, but the conversation was mainly centred around Sydney and suburbs. He did not take any questions on the day," Cr Kschenka said.

Council - Clarence Valley

Review slams Council – Office of Local Government to recommend actions

The culture, staff conduct, loss of public trust, disorder at meetings, and a lack of transparency and accountability were all issues identified by the Office of Local Government in a review into Clarence Valley Council. In November, the Office of Local Government (OLG) announced it would be conducting a review into Clarence Valley Council. “In recent months, the Office of Local Government has received multiple complaints and concerns about the operation of Clarence Valley Council,” an OLG spokesperson said.

Responsibility for RFS assets?

No quick fix for NSW Red Fleet ownership

Narrandera Argus
Council
NSW councils looking for a quick fix to the ownership issues plaguing the Red Fleet have been left disappointed. The NSW government has released its Response to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee's Inquiry into Assets, premises and funding of the NSW RFS. Its response to the major recommendations that the assets be recognised as the property of the NSW RFS, has effectively been kicked down the road ...

Cost of living

London’s calling and it’s cheaper to eat there: TasFarmers

Contributor, ARR.News
Agriculture

Public consultation - mining

After the Mallee horse has bolted: Critical mining consultation

Mallee residents are being encouraged to have their say informed by recent experiences on mining licence approvals in the electorate, after the Commonwealth Government opened a new consultation. Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster, shared her dismay that, yet again, mining-related consultation is occurring during the harvest and Christmas season, and that the horse had bolted on key projects within the electorate.

Rural health

Christmas message from the National Rural Health Alliance Chief Executive, Susi Tegen: NRHA

As this final newsletter of the year demonstrates, rural health does not pause for the festive season. While many Australians take a well-earned break, rural, regional and remote communities continue to carry extraordinary responsibility—for food production, harvest, emergency response, service delivery and the steady functioning of our economy and society.

Gun laws

Gun laws are not a substitute for courage

Trevor Whittington, CEO WAFarmers
Farming
Firearms reform is attractive politics because it is administratively complex but morally simple. It produces press conferences, committees, compliance regimes and the soothing language of “community safety”. What it does not reliably produce is protection against terrorism, extremism or ideologically driven murder ... Western Australia’s experience is instructive.
hunter with rifle

Biosecurity - White spot

“Elementary”, Minister Moriarty – Buyback offer “embarrassing”

After requesting a buyback offer of up to $20 million for fishermen to exit the industry, the Clarence Prawn Trawl committee say NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty's offer is embarrassing. Last Wednesday afternoon, CVI was contacted by Minister Moriarty's office with news that the NSW Government would commit $4.5 million toward buybacks for the prawn trawl industry.

Opinion - science, research and academia

Songlines, space stations and the slow decline of science

Trevor Whittington, CEO WAFarmers
Aquaculture & fishing
The Americans had Apollo. The Soviets had Soyuz. The Chinese have Tiangong. And Australia? We now have the world’s first taxpayer-funded attempt to guide space exploration using songlines ... The real culprit here is modern academia, which now treats all “knowledge systems” as equal. They are not. Knowledge that is testable, repeatable, measurable and falsifiable is superior to knowledge that is not.

Asbestos

Council and community discuss hall problems

The Buloke Times
Community
More than 70 community members gathered at a meeting in Charlton this week to discuss the current temporary closure of the Charlton Shire Hall due to the potential friable asbestos identified in the decorative brickwork wall cavities in June ... Laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of Amosite asbestos within cavities ...

Bondi massacre

Opinion: Australia is a safe country, acts of terror like the Bondi shootings do not happen in my country

Susanna Freymark, indyNR.com
Law & order
As news of the Bondi shootings travel the globe, I sit at in a beer garden in Munich where gigantic fake snowflakes hang from tall trees and the cold air bites into my cheeks. The news from Australia is even more chilling. Australia is a safe country I tell the two women who sit next to me. Things like the Bondi killings do not happen in my country.

Cash mandate

Power - WA

Algal bloom - SA

Algae monitoring buoys ahoy!: Scriven

Contributor, ARR.News
Land & environment
Six hi-tech monitoring buoys which will automatically detect future harmful algal blooms before they reach our shores are being deployed across South Australian waters. The state-of-the-art oceanographic moorings are equipped with specific sensors for early detection of key harmful algal bloom (HAB) species such as Karenia.

Murray Pioneer, 21 January 2026

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