Chaffey urges tobacco excise cut to break black market’s grip on New England
Parkes MP Jamie Chaffey says a 30 per cent rise in tobacco use proves Labor’s approach has failed, as he pushes an 80 per cent excise cut to smash the New England North West’s black market.
Glen Innes Severn Council to consider response to state performance order
Glen Innes Severn Council faces a make-or-break meeting this week, as councillors decide how to respond to a state order over financial management failures dating back to 2022.
Community grants open across Liverpool Plains
Liverpool Plains Shire Council is calling on local community groups and organisations to apply for grants of up to $2,000 to help bring community projects to life.
Gunnedah students encouraged to apply for 2027 scholarships
Gunnedah students aged under 25 can now apply for financial support to pursue further education or training in 2027.
Local News
Northern Tablelands RFS volunteers honoured for 1,700 years of service
Almost 70 NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers have been honoured for more than 1,700 years of combined service at ceremonies across the Northern Tablelands.
SafeWork puts Moree Plains on notice over psychosocial risk
Moree Plains Shire Council has moved quickly to comply with a SafeWork improvement notice, as the State Government moves to give courts new powers to protect workers from abuse.
Traffic changes for George Fielder Bridge works in Tamworth
Motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are being advised of changed traffic conditions at the George Fielder Bridge in Tamworth as essential maintenance gets underway.
UNE joins global push for affordable weight-loss pill
Armidale researchers are chasing a cheaper, room-temperature alternative to costly weight-loss jabs, in a project that could also help protect eyesight damaged by obesity.
What's On
LONG READ >
The real climate policy threat to Australia’s agricultural land
WEEKEND LONG READ: Australia’s system of carbon credits is swallowing up millions of hectares of prime farming land and locking it up for a century, while polluters like Woodside and Chevron look clean on paper. Farmers, investors and economists all want it fixed.
Events
The Organist Entertains – David BaileyEnds: September 12, 2026
The Organist Entertains – David BaileyEnds: September 12, 2026
Bachianas: EphenStephen and Sarah LawrenceEnds: September 12, 2026
The Tamworth Antique & Collectables FairEnds: September 13, 2026
September Art Gallery Exhibition openingEnds: September 13, 2026
Weekly Women’s Tea & TalkEnds: September 14, 2026
Politics
Three strikes and still not out: the weak council rules unable to deal with populist politicians
They run the same playbook as Pauline Hanson and Donald Trump: turn every sanction into persecution. Inside the NSW rules that still can’t make badly behaved councillors stop.
Moree Plains council releases confidential pool report, but reveals nothing new
Moree Plains Shire Council released the confidential report behind its pool decision – but it didn’t reveal anything the community didn’t already know.
Barraba pushes for health worker housing amid regional drive
Barraba says it’s missing out on health worker housing while Armidale gets a $200 million upgrade. The local MP wants that to change.
Barnaby Joyce fails to clear up One Nation migration confusion
Barnaby Joyce said his colleague was wrong on One Nation’s migration numbers, then confirmed that PALM workers don’t count. But he refused to say what skilled workers the New England would have to go without.
New Englanders to get some answers from ‘King Rat’ Barnaby Joyce
Barnaby Joyce will address his dramatic defection from the Nationals and his new political partnership with Pauline Hanson in an Australian Story episode airing on Monday night.
The real climate policy threat to Australia’s agricultural land
WEEKEND LONG READ: Australia’s system of carbon credits is swallowing up millions of hectares of prime farming land and locking it up for a century, while polluters like Woodside and Chevron look clean on paper. Farmers, investors and economists all want it fixed.
NSW floodplain harvesting audit begins
Only 58 per cent of floodplain harvesting storages in NSW were compliant as of June, and now a watchdog audit wants to know if the water take data can be trusted at all.
Energy and Environment
Inverell Council to renew Yetman’s water mains
Yetman’s water mains have been breaking down for decades. Inverell Shire Council has now signed off on a $485,853 fix for the ageing asbestos cement network.
Weemelah Hall to go solar with grant win
A solar upgrade for the Weemelah Hall is among 20 NSW projects sharing $290,986 in grants, with Glen Innes and Wee Waa also benefiting.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
From open homes to open hearts: Professionals Armidale’s community BBQ making a difference
A real estate agency might not be the first place you’d expect to find a community fundraising program, but Professionals Armidale is quietly becoming as well known for its local giving as…
Is your IT structured? Or just functioning?
Many regional businesses only review their IT support when problems escalate. But more businesses are reassessing how their technology systems are managed, and the story of what happened to Acacia Medical tells…
BUSINESS
Armidale regulator’s slow approvals slammed
A new global study says slow, costly approvals are cutting Australian farmers off from new technology, reigniting scrutiny of the Armidale-based APVMA’s slumping performance.
INDIGENOUS
Thomas Mayo to give 40th Frank Archibald lecture at UNE
Thomas Mayo will deliver UNE’s 40th Frank Archibald Memorial Lecture in October, asking whether Australians are as divided as some would have us believe.
SPORT
World Tennis Series returning to Tamworth
Tamworth will welcome international tennis players back to the city next month, with the Capital of Country International returning for a second year.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- Opinion: The collapse of trust in facts
Ned Watt and Michelle Riedlinger say the modern fact-checking movement launched 25 years ago but is now in retreat — just as it’s needed more than ever. The post Opinion: The collapse of trust in facts appeared first on New England Times Engage.
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Good News
Tamworth students shine in 2026 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
Tamworth students have claimed several top honours in the 2026 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, including the Senior Secondary and Primary School awards.
92 finalists named for New England North West Business Awards
From Tamworth to Walcha, 92 businesses and individuals are finalists in this year’s regional business awards. See the full list and find out who’s in the running.
