Motels, cafes, and tourist attractions across the north west could be short of staff this summer. The local MP says backpacker visa cuts are to blame, and industry figures put the cost at $1.65 billion.
National Farmers Federation
Senate report demands Triple Zero overhaul
A year-long Senate inquiry has delivered its verdict on Australia’s Triple Zero failures, from nationalising the service to a text-based emergency option. Here’s what’s recommended.
Farmers welcome confidence rebound, but new cost pressures loom
Farmer confidence is bouncing back, but rising fuel and fertiliser costs, diesel security fears and a backpacker visa freeze could put that recovery at risk.
F4CA report says farmers carry industry’s climate load
Farmers are already propping up Australia’s climate accounts for free, while coal, gas and oil buy their way out of cutting pollution at the source, according to a new report from Farmers for Climate Action.
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.
Bird flu funding boost branded thin
A $145 million bird flu funding boost has been branded “deeply unserious” by conservationists, as the virus reaches a dolphin for the first time and NSW rolls out a native bird vaccine trial.
Local psychologist named among nation’s emerging agricultural leaders
A local clinical psychologist has been recognised as one of the nation’s most promising agricultural leaders, after being named a recipient of the 2026 AgriEmpower Scholarship Program.
New environmental standards, guide, leave farmers with more questions than answers
Farmers are being asked to work under a new set of national environmental rules that the NFF says is too complex and uncertain to use with confidence
Farmers celebrate as agriculture hits $100 billion
Australian agriculture has passed $100 billion in farm-gate output four years ahead of schedule, a milestone farming leaders, politicians and industry figures celebrated at Parliament House in Canberra.
Farm leaders tackle agriculture’s biggest challenges at NFF summit
Agriculture leaders gathered in Canberra to tackle global uncertainty, food security and growing competition for the nation’s agricultural land.
