West Wimmera Shire Council is withdrawing from the delivery of aged care services across the shire. Most Victorian local councils have already withdrawn from aged care services ahead of the imminent commencement of the Federal Government's new Support at Home Program.

"Why do we have a shed policy?" The question was asked by Cr John Perry at last month's Hay Shire Council meeting when he objected to a Development Application for a shed outside of the policy guidelines. "We're opening a Pandora's Box," he said.

MardiGrass Organising Committee. For 33 years, MardiGrass has given voice to the Oz weed resistance, tirelessly educating and agitating for an end to the war on weed. As usual, MardiGrass offers mind-blowing ideas and education all weekend at the 2025 Hemposium, and is an extraordinary chance to share and learn about our favourite plant ally and healing herb. The Hemposium will showcase an impressive line-up of speakers ...

As the debate over rare earth mining in our district intensifies, concerns have been raised about the state government's commitment to conducting an independent investigation into the potential risks of the operation. Independent member for MacKillop, Nick McBride, put a spotlight on the issue during the March sitting of the House of Assembly, pressing Energy and Mining minister Tom Koutsantonis to outline his plan.

Government changes have reallocated 3,200 gigalitres of irrigation water to environmental flows, much of it unmetered and flowing out to sea, creating dire consequences for regional food production. The Gannawarra Region alone is losing $1.3 billion annually – and these impacts are expected to worsen.

Candidates have been on the campaign trail in the Bendigo electorate, revealing their plans and proposals. On Wednesday 2 April, Nationals candidate for Bendigo Andrew Lethlean and Liberal candidate for Bendigo Matt Evans joined Hon. Kevin Hogan MP ... to announce that an elected Liberal and National coalition government would deliver a $1 million upgrade to the Ironbark Gully Trail...

Radiotherapy for our region is essential, regardless of who forms government after the May 3, federal election. That is the key message from Limestone Coast Radiation Therapy Working Group chairman … "South Australia still remains an outlier as one of the only Australian states without the provision of radiation cancer treatment outside of its capital city, being Adelaide," Mr Haynes said.

Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has welcomed news that the Australian government is re-opening discussions with the European Union regarding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) but warns that our agricultural industry should not be compromised in doing so.

Mayor Rick Firman OAM, Chairman of the NSW Country Mayors Association (CMA) has bemoaned the major parties’ lack of commitment to Local Government and their failure to address funding shortfalls that were clearly identified in the Interim Report into Local Government Sustainability.

Riverina will head to the polls to elect their next Federal MP on Saturday, 3 May. Eight candidates have declared they're entering the race for the seat of Riverina, four party affiliated and four independents. The Riverina electorate - and other incarnations of the division - has been held by the Nationals for nearly 45 years (since October 1980).

The Albanese government considers the cost of living, access to secure and well-paid jobs, and infrastructure as the most pressing issues for voters in regional towns like Naracoorte. As Australia goes to polls on May 3, a lot is at stake for all political parties. Acknowledging that “people are doing it tough,” the current federal government of four years blames the current challenges to a previous decade of “Liberal neglect.”

The soul-destroying floods in rural New South Wales and Queensland are affecting rural people who matter to Australia’s very existence and who are the backbone of Australia’s economy ... this flood is an eye-opener for all political parties to make a commitment to the health of the economic powerhouse that rural Australia is for the rest of the country.

“We’re paying more for everything we do, whether it’s fixing roads, managing waste, or maintaining community facilities. But unlike households, local government has to contend with the cost shifting of services from other levels of government, with no extra funding to support them": Renmark Paringa Mayor Peter Hunter ... Mid Murray Council also strongly advocating for more federal support ... The South Australian Local Government Association has also called on the Federal Government to provide appropriate funding for local governments.

Funding is being sought for Council to undertake test bores to identify a suitable ground water source for Hay. Council currently draws water from the Murrumbidgee River, but fears there could be a major risk on the water supply should the river water become unavailable or unsuitable.

Affordable, reliable and efficient energy production is a cornerstone of a prosperous nation, but Speakers at a free community energy forum in Moulamein last Wednesday believe that short-term energy politics is leading to a long-term disaster. Aidan Morrison from the Centre for Independent Studies has a background in physics, data science and software development, and believes that Australia’s renewable energy transition, underpinned by the Integrated System Plan (ISP) and CSIRO’s Gen Cost Report, is doomed to fail ...

Last week, the Gannawarra Shire Council meeting birthed the first real progress in moving forward with a vision of true community benefit to the transmission lines driving the industrial energy developments within Gannawarra. It’s not the first time a Councillor has asked tough questions on the validity of the community benefit of the projects and sought cheap power.

Independent Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines, has welcomed tax cuts and funding to deliver more training places for doctors in regional Australia under key announcements in Tuesday’s federal Budget. Dr Haines’ advocacy for a Commonwealth injection of funding into the regional healthcare workforce was substantially reflected in the 2025-2026 budget.