Regional councils across the New England and North West are set to receive extra support in attracting and retaining staff, following the expansion of the NSW Government’s Welcome Experience program into local government.
Politics
Right to Repair discussion paper welcomed
Farmers could soon gain greater freedom to repair and service their own machinery, with the Federal Government proposing to extend Right to Repair laws to agriculture.
Transport planning assumptions unravel across all levels of government
In this New England Times investigation by RK Crosby, we look at how bad numbers, assumptions and guesses, and misrepresentations of old documents, have led to plans at all levels of government being not worth the paper they are printed on.
Community transport trial expands access to education and jobs across regional NSW
A new trial across regional New South Wales is set to broaden the role of community transport services, with the aim of helping more people access education, training and employment opportunities.
‘Almost didn’t survive’: the fraught path to parenthood
A NSW Parliamentary Inquiry hearing in Tamworth today will hear how rural families are disadvantaged ‘at every turn’ while trying to access fertility care.
Taylor mimics One Nation in Budget Reply speech that snubs regions
Critics say Angus Taylor’s budget reply speech exposed a Coalition mimicking One Nation rhetoric on “mass migration” while offering little detail, little vision, and little for regional Australia.
Budget leaves regional councils facing impossible choices
Regional councils say the federal budget still leaves country communities behind, warning shrinking grants and rising costs are forcing councils to “operate on the smell of an oily rag”.
Local leaders testify to “human cost” of Inland Rail axing
Regional mayors, farming leaders and senior Nationals MPs have taken the fight over Inland Rail directly to Parliament House, accusing the Federal Government of abandoning communities that invested years preparing for Inland Rail.
‘Class war’ budget targets aspiration
Barnaby Joyce has accused Labor of punishing aspiration through its budget tax reforms, warning changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax and trusts will drive investment offshore and push renters “onto the street”.
Chaffey blasts Budget as “broken promises” for Parkes electorate
Parkes MP Jamie Chaffey has slammed the Federal Budget, accusing Labor of abandoning regional Australia through Inland Rail cuts and “net zero obsession”.
