Armidale Regional Council creates 13 jobs under SRV-funded maintenance push
Armidale Regional Council will create 13 new full-time jobs as part of an SRV-funded expansion of in-house maintenance services.
Free flu clinic to support Tamworth community this season
TAMS-AC Tamworth is hosting a free flu vaccination clinic to help keep the community healthy this flu season.
Tamworth men invited to “go beyond banter” at new Men’s Table launch
A new chapter of connection and conversation for local men is set to begin in Tamworth next month, with The Men’s Table hosting a special “Entree” event aimed at establishing a new local Table in the region.
Armidale local turns childhood challenge into fundraising mission
An Armidale woman who once spent eight months in hospital as a child is now giving back to the organisation that helped brighten some of her toughest days.
Local News
Historic rivalry renewed as Farrer and TAS battle for annual shields
Farrer and The Armidale School will renew one of the region’s longest-running school sporting rivalries this Friday as students battle for the Dick Hodgson Shield and Jim Levy Shield.
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”.
Narrabri to benefit from Telstra 4G and 5G upgrade
From Friday, Narrabri residents will experience temporary disruptions as Telstra upgrades the town’s 4G and 5G network.
Vans, chrome and nostalgia set to roll into Tamworth for VANFEST
Custom vans, roaring engines, shag pile interiors and old-school imagination are set to take over Tamworth this week as it prepares to celebrate Australia’s thriving vanning culture from May 14 to 17 at the 2026 VANFEST Expo.
What's On
NOMINATE NOW: All local trades and services businesses can be profiled in this promotion for free. Really.
Events
Sapphire City MarketsEnds: May 17, 2026
National Volunteers Week Community CelebrationEnds: May 18, 2026- National Volunteers Week Community CelebrationEnds: May 18, 2026
TRRRA Monthly Meeting – MayEnds: May 20, 2026
TRRRA Monthly Meeting – MayEnds: May 20, 2026
Politics
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.
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”.
Farmers exempted from new Trust Tax
Primary producers have been exempted from the federal government’s new discretionary trust tax reforms, after farm groups warned family farm succession could be put at risk.
New England follows Farrer but Joyce candidacy confusion muddies numbers
The latest New England Times Engage Poll has revealed Barnaby Joyce has converted a large number of New England voters to One Nation, but most only if they are voting for him personally.
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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Call to cut red tape amid fuel cost pressures
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson is calling for cuts to red tape to help small businesses and farmers facing rising fuel costs.
READ MORE FUEL CRUNCH STORIES >
Farmer confidence plummets amid cost crisis
Farmer confidence has collapsed as soaring fuel and fertiliser costs force producers to cut production and rethink future operations.
Small wins overshadowed by deep cuts for regions
Not happy: small wins on measures like excluding farmers from new taxes are not impressing rural advocates.
Energy and Environment
Local farmer earns more than 5,000 carbon credits through soil project
A farmer near Uralla has earned more than 5,000 carbon credits after major improvements in soil health and grazing management.
State government expands support for communities affected by GKNP timber moratorium
Expanded NSW support aims to help North Coast businesses, workers and communities transition through Koala National Park changes
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
Taking control of power bills with smarter solar and battery solutions
Whether you’re considering an EV or just want to get the power bills down, the best solar solution for you is a tailored system built around how you use energy, installed by…
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.
BUSINESS
Watchdog seeks big penalty after Coles goes ‘Down Down’
The consumer watchdog will be seeking a “significant penalty” to act as a deterrent to Coles and others, after a court found the supermarket misled shoppers.
INDIGENOUS
Borah Crossing declared Aboriginal Place
Borah Crossing near Gunnedah and Manilla has been officially declared an Aboriginal Place, recognising generations of cultural connection to the site.
SPORT
Tamworth bull rider Colby Edgar to make PBR Origin debut
Tamworth bull rider Colby Edgar will debut for the NSW Blues in the 2026 PBR Origin Series this season.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- Marketing Clarity: AI Is Only as Good as Your Brief
Ingrid Rothe this week covers to brief AI to deliver better marketing, not just more content. The post Marketing Clarity: AI Is Only as Good as Your Brief appeared first on New England Times Engage.
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Good News
Warialda community comes together for Shop of Opportunity opening
The Warialda Shop of Opportunity officially opened on Saturday, May 2, drawing strong local support and marking the end of a three-year community-led project.
Five Decades of Action: Zonta Armidale’s Lasting Impact on Women’s Lives
Half a century of advocacy, service and community connection is being celebrated this year as the Zonta Club of Armidale marks its 50th anniversary – a milestone that speaks not only to longevity, but to a sustained commitment to improving the lives of women and girls.
