Regional coverage
Country Music
THE search begins for Australia’s next Toyota Star Maker, with entries open today for the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious country music talent search. Crowned in January, during the Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival, the 46th Toyota Star Maker will join an impressive suite of alumni including Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, James Blundell, Travis [...]
Cup Fever
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan has congratulated Walcha Tourism for being included as one of 36 destinations to host the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour. Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Knight’s Choice, was bred by Walcha locals Norm and Diane Bazeley at Elswick Park and, following the triumph, Mr Moylan highlighted their contribution in [...]
NSWRFS
IN a significant win for local government, a NSW Parliamentary committee has recommended the state’s Rural Fire Service fleet should be legally recognised as NSW Government assets. The Public Accounts Committee has tabled the report for its “inquiry into the assets, premises and funding of the NSW Rural Fire Service” with all 14 recommendations warmly [...]
Time For Change
THE NSW Attorney-General, Michael Daley, asked members of parliament to “watch their words” when debating the Time for Change petition on Thursday. Mr Daley asked members to be particularly mindful when discussing doli incapax, the centuries-old law that presumes children between the ages of 10 and 14 do not sufficiently understand the difference between right [...]
Flood Damage
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan has been advised by the NSW Government that repairs to the New England Highway will begin next week. After record-breaking floods hit the coast of New South Wales last week, traffic was rediverted to the New England Highway which resulted in it becoming a pothole-ridden danger zone for motorists. [...]
Border News
RESIDENTS in the NSW-Queensland border town of Mungindi drew the battle lines ahead of last night’s State of Origin clash – won 18-6 by the Blues – after teaming up to deliver a $1.4 million project to improve water security under a NSW Government funding initiative. Mungindi, which sits on both sides of the border, [...]
Agriculture
AFTER a kind autumn and strong seasonal conditions in the Northern Tablelands, many landholders with plentiful feed have begun fielding calls about livestock agistment. While agistment can be a great form of supplementary income, Local Land Services advises landholders should ensure they address some important considerations before accepting an agreement. Landholders should first ensure livestock [...]
Health and Wellbeing
BreastScreen NSW has relaunched a campaign encouraging women to have a life-saving mammogram and join the more than 55,000 women who screened across Hunter New England Local Health District in 2024. Hunter New England Local Health District BreastScreen NSW manager, Kairsten Marley, said with almost 900 women in the district expected to be diagnosed with [...]
Politics
Member-elect for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, has been appointed Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Shadow Assistant Minister for Resources, with Nationals Leader David Littleproud returned as the Shadow Minister for Agriculture. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley announced her Shadow Ministry today after officially reforming the Coalition by striking a formal agreement with Mr Littleproud to reconnect. [...]
Youth Crime Crisis
THE voices of 22,015 people will be heard when the Time for Change petition is debated in the NSW Parliament on Thursday. The petition, lodged by Tamworth victim of crime Phebe Furneaux, asks the State Government to strengthen bail laws to prevent violent young offenders from re-offending, provide increased resources and support for police officers [...]
