NSW communities help shape next road safety plan ahead of National Road Safety Week 2026
NSW has begun statewide consultations on a new road safety plan as the 2026 road toll reaches 119 deaths.
Local plastering legend lives on
A new Inverell business is carrying on the legacy of a well-known local tradesman, with a team determined to continue the standards and workmanship he became known for.
Young people invited to join newly established Youth Council
Armidale Regional Council has launched a new Youth Council, with young people aged 12 to 24 invited to apply.
UNE leads effort to protect brolga populations in NSW wetlands
UNE researchers will track vulnerable brolgas across NSW wetlands to improve water management and strengthen First Nations conservation partnerships.
Local News
Armidale medical student says rural bursary cemented career path
An Armidale medical student says a rural bursary placement confirmed her ambition to work in country healthcare.
Police investigating Moree fire bug
Police are asking for any information as they search for a suspected fire bug in Moree after eight fires were started in one night.
Blackville grower named finalist in national cotton awards
Blackville grower Bruce Mennie has been named a finalist in the 2026 Australian cotton industry awards.
Dorrigo hotel added to NSW State Heritage Register
The Heritage Hotel Dorrigo has been added to the NSW State Heritage Register after more than a century in family ownership.
What's On
Nominate now! We are looking for local trades and services businesses – from micro-businesses to major companies – to feature in our “Trades you can Trust” series. Really.
Events
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
Circle of Security Parenting ProgramEnds: May 22, 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.
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”.
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.
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
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.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- What is the ‘Thucydides trap’ Xi warned Trump about?
David Pritchard from The University of Queensland writes During their high-stakes meeting in Beijing this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly asked US President Donald Trump if the two countries could overcome the “Thucydides trap”. But what is it and why does it matter? The post What is the ‘Thucydides trap’ Xi warned Trump about? 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.
