UNE launches national art competition for high school students
UNE is calling on young artists to showcase their creativity in a new national competition offering a $5,000 prize and major exhibition opportunity.
Agribusiness group warns pesticide fee hike will push up grocery prices
ndependent analysis says a looming pesticide fee hike could shrink farmers’ access to new products and push grocery prices even higher. Here’s the industry’s warning.
Sustainable stylist Nina Gbor to host clothes swap workshop in Armidale
Armidale locals will get the chance to learn from one of Australia’s leading sustainable fashion voices next month, as eco-stylist Nina Gbor brings a styling workshop and clothes swap to the New England region.
Tamworth stars to honour Dolly Parton with tribute concert
Tamworth’s country music royalty are gathering for a Dolly Parton tribute concert at next year’s TCMF, with ticket sales supporting her local literacy legacy.
Local News
Moree community invited to have their say at council Q&A
Moree Plains residents are being invited to meet councillors and council staff, ask questions and raise local issues at a community Q&A session later this month.
Tamworth Quality Business Awards salutes community stalwart Helen Tickle
More than 840 people turned out for Tamworth’s biggest business night of the year, with a four-decade community stalwart taking home the top honour. See who else took home a trophy.
Police investigate break-ins and alleged kidnapping across Tamworth
Police are investigating a series of break-ins, vehicle thefts and an alleged kidnapping across Tamworth early Monday.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Guyra water treatment upgrades bolster blue-green algae preparations
Guyra’s drinking water supply is better prepared for blue-green algae season following major upgrades to the town’s water treatment plant.
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.
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
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.
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.
- Denise’s Desk: Nepal Is Another Wake-Up Call. How Many Do We Need?
Denise says from melting Himalayan glaciers to fires, floods and bleaching reefs, climate change is no longer a warning about the future. We are living through it — even as our politics retreats from confronting it. The post Denise’s Desk: Nepal Is Another Wake-Up Call. How Many Do We Need? 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.
