Cafes, hotels take swipe at $1.6b consumer card fee win
The RBA has binned surcharge fees on debit and credit card transactions, which it says will save punters $1.6 billion – if businesses pass on the savings.
Autumn adventures in Walcha: shop, explore, and ‘Remember When…”
Walcha is set to come alive with history, community spirit and a touch of nostalgia on Sunday, April 12, as the Walcha and District Historical Society throws open the gates for its ‘Remember When…’ Museum Open Day.
New Englanders shine at national rowing championships
Rowers from across the New England have delivered standout performances and brought home the medals at the Australian Rowing Championships.
Making the lost beautiful
In a world where so much is fleeting, Beautiful Remains Taxidermy offers something lasting. A way to honour, to remember, and to recognise that even in loss, there can be beauty.
Local News
Impact of fuel shortages spread beyond bowser as National Cabinet meets
Fuel shortage impacts spread well beyond the bowser, hitting farms, freight, charities and services as National Cabinet meets on response.
Youth programs key to safer communities, report finds
Glen Innes Severn Council is calling for more investment in youth programs after a regional safety report highlighted their importance.
6 months of roadworks north of Armidale
Delays and slow conditions will affect motorists north of Armidale as the next round of work on the New England Highway north of Sunnyside Road begins.
$183m road boost for renewables as Uralla prepares for impact
$68.2 million has been earmarked for the New England REZ road upgrades between Muswellbrook and Armidale and develop an oversize and overmass route around Tamworth.
What's On
Making the lost beautiful
In a world where so much is fleeting, Beautiful Remains Taxidermy offers something lasting. A way to honour, to remember, and to recognise that even in loss, there can be beauty.
Do you make something here in the New England? We want to tell your story! Click here to find out more and submit your business to Made in the New England today.
Events
Tingha Community MarketsEnds: April 4, 2026
Sapphire City MarketsEnds: April 5, 2026
The Outback Pops – Glen InnesEnds: April 7, 2026
Outback Pops with MirusiaEnds: April 7, 2026
The Outback Pops – NarrabriEnds: April 8, 2026
Politics
NSW boosts freight limits as national fuel plan sets staged response
The NSW Government has moved to increase freight capacity and ease pressure on fuel supplies, announcing temporary changes to truck limits and operating hours
Government gives in and cuts excise, heavy vehicle user charge
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that as a result of today’s National Cabinet meeting, fuel excise will be halved for three months and the heavy vehicle user charge will be zeroed to provide immediate relief.
Tamworth Skywalk takes shape with Scenic Road bridge installed
Tamworth’s Skywalk is a step closer, with a new bridge installed over Scenic Road as the project nears completion.
187 NSW petrol stations out of diesel as Big Oil asked to explain
Fuel shortages are deepening across New South Wales, with 187 service stations now out of diesel as the state government moves to force major fuel companies to reveal how supply is being distributed.
Nationals launch fuel tracker as diesel standards lowered to boost supply
The Nationals have launched a new online tool to track fuel shortages across regional Australia, as governments move to ease diesel standards in a bid to boost supply during the deepening fuel crisis.
Business cheers as landmark EU trade deal signed, but farmers sold short
Australian businesses are celebrating a long-awaited free trade deal with the EU, but farmers warn the agreement delivers little for agriculture and could hurt the sector for decades.
The fuel crunch is affecting daily life across our region, so we’re doing the one thing we can do, and helping people get the information they need so we can all make it through this together. Read more
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Shock at the petrol pump sparks electric vehicle surge
Enquiries about new and second-hand electric cars are setting records as motorists look for ways to avoid the rising price of petrol and diesel.
READ MORE FUEL CRUNCH STORIES >
Sheep flock set to shrink as supply tightens in 2026
Australia’s sheep flock is set to fall in 2026, with tighter supply and lower production expected across the industry.
Double hit: fuel and fertiliser crisis raises fears for winter crops
Fuel and fertiliser shortages are creating a “double hit” for farmers, with fears some may not plant crops this season.
Energy and Environment
Easter Bilbies thriving in the Pilliga
This Easter, Australia’s beloved “Easter Bilby” is hopping into the spotlight – and in the Pilliga State Conservation Area on Gamilaroi Country, there’s plenty to celebrate. The Greater Bilby population here has remained stable and thriving across the sanctuary’s 5,800-hectare feral predator-free fenced area, showing how careful conservation can give this iconic species a real…
Fuel crisis raises tourism concerns ahead of easter
Rising concern about the impact of the ongoing fuel crisis on regional tourism has prompted some to urge city residents not to cancel their country Easter holiday plans.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
Fuel driven changes mean your website is more important than ever
The fuel crisis is changing how people spend, how they travel, and how they choose where to shop. Across the New England, that shift is already being felt by local businesses.
All-electric X Terra delivers a smarter way to explore
Stop worrying about the diesel price: spend more time off-grid without sacrificing comfort, the X Series RV Toy Hauler X Terra combines rugged touring capability with an all-electric fit-out designed to simplify…
BUSINESS
Discover New England’s best makers at Seasons
One of the region’s most beloved expos, Seasons of New England, returns this weekend with a clear purpose: to put the region’s makers where they belong, front and centre.
INDIGENOUS
New toolkit to help New England councils strengthen Closing the Gap partnerships
Tamworth’s landmark Aboriginal partnership is being highlighted as NSW launches a new Closing the Gap toolkit for local councils.
SPORT
Men’s A Grade returns to Armidale hockey comp
Men’s A-Grade hockey has returned to the Armidale competition in spectacular form, with a strong crowd turning out for an exciting opening night under lights on Friday.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- Denise’s Desk: The Coalition is feeding the party that’s eating it
Denise says if One Nation is asking for your preferences, it is not because they want to help you. It is because they know you are helping them. The post Denise’s Desk: The Coalition is feeding the party that’s eating it appeared first on New England Times Engage.
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Good News
NarraBRIGHT shines bigger in 2026
Narrabri will light up for the sixth annual NarraBRIGHT on April 10 with the biggest light show it’s hosted yet. The community celebration aims to attract visitors from across the New England North West and beyond.
Satellite breakthrough promises whole-of-herd monitoring for livestock producers
A new satellite technology capable of monitoring entire livestock herds in real time could soon transform farming across the region
