Farmer and student mental health funded into 2025
A boost of cash from the state government will keep the lights on for two rural mental health services at a time of great need.
Politics
‘Clear disconnect’: NFF issues vote of no confidence
Australia’s peak farming leaders have taken the unprecedented step of issuing a vote of no confidence in the federal government, over its live sheep export ban.
Buried budget table reveals 100GL basin buyout
Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek intends to spend $613.4m in 2024-25 to strip 100 gigalitres out of irrigation communities.
‘We’re united and will fight them coming onto our land’
The company charged with rolling out the controversial VNI West powerlines is in the midst of lodging an application to gain statutory powers to compulsorily acquire and access hundreds of regional properties.
What to expect from tonight’s budget
Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ third budget will be remembered as the beginning of the end of the live sheep export trade.
Landcare legacy ‘under threat’
Landcare says the Victorian Government’s year-by-year approach to funding is undercutting conservation work across the state.
Road cuts ‘a maintenance bomb’
Contractors are warning failing to spend money on resurfacing roads today, will cost taxpayers 10 times as much to repair once they collapse.
Drought funding gets a $519 million boost
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will invest more than half a billion dollars to refocus the Coalition’s Future Drought Fund and prepare farmers for more severe weather.
‘Optimistic’: Beef export ban could be lifted
More than $500 million worth of Australian beef exports could be set to re-enter China if restrictions on eight abattoirs are lifted ahead of a visit by Premier Li Qiang next month.
2024 federal budget: What to expect for agriculture
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers will hand down his third budget on May 14. This is what farm lobby groups are asking for and what the farming sector should expect.
NFF to boycott biosecurity panel
The peak farm lobby has declined its invitation to join the federal government new biosecurity advisory panel in protest over the proposed biosecurity protection levy.
Calls to halve cattle duty ignored
Farmers calls to halve the cattle transition duty from $5 have been ignored by Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence.
Gov rejects recommendations, APVMA to stay in Armidale
The federal government does not want to repeat the “mistakes” of the regulator’s controversial move to Armidale in 2016.
Secret survey exposes disastrous condition of our roads
A survey revealing the true catastrophic conditions of Victoria’s regional roads was kept a secret by the government. Now, The Weekly Times can reveal its shocking findings.
Wild dog controls to cease in northwest
The Victorian Government will end dingo and wild dog control in the state’s north west. Here’s what it means for landowners.
North East Libs scramble for candidates
With a veteran MP stepping down for health reasons, the Liberal Party faces a pressing need to find strong candidates for federal and state elections.
‘Ludicrous’: Ag leaders oppose right-to-disconnect laws
Agriculture will feel the pinch on two fronts following a pair of industrial relations reforms being made in Canberra. See the concerns.
Farm biosecurity tax revamp
The Albanese Government has cut farmer contributions to the controversial farm biosecurity levy, hitting importers for more.
Canberra to see same characters in 2025
13 of the 14 currently serving federal MPs for Victoria intend to campaign for another stint in Canberra at the next election. See the state of play.
Government refuses to reveal details of $55m buyback
The federal government has been slammed for “double standards” after keeping the price, type and source of water it is buying secret, following their first round of Basin buybacks.
2024 duck season to go ahead
After months of debate and an Upper House inquiry, hunters have been given the right to harvest duck and quail this season.
Farm leaders call for ‘unfair’ biosecurity levy to be scrapped
More than 50 agricultural groups have signed a joint letter urging the federal government to drop its controversial biosecurity levy. See the full letter.
Animal justice a shared task
Our laws will finally acknowledge that animals feel and perceive their environment, says Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell.
Where banks have shut in the bush in 2023
More than 70 banks closed in regional Australia this year. See where they closed and the banks on the chopping block in 2024.
Labor tightens Farm Household Allowance rules
The federal government has swung the budget axe over a crucial farmer hardship payment. See the details.
D’Ambrosio dictates NSW power route
Victorian Energy Minister’s order adds $154 million to the cost of building transmission lines across NSW, affecting hundreds more landholders.
Ag ministers push ‘climate-smart’ farming
A national statement on climate change will be agreed on today by agriculture ministers. This is what it means for farmers.
China delays barley tariff decision
Beijing has been granted an extension to its review of the heavy tariffs it imposed on Australian barley in 2020.
Snap talks fail to break EU-Australia FTA deadlock
Export-market access for agricultural products remains a sticking point as Aussie and EU negotiators fail to hammer out a free-trade deal.
Farmer caught up in Maguire corruption case loses $140,000
A farmer unwittingly caught up in one of Australia’s biggest corruption scandals says she won’t stop speaking for justice.
Backpacker visa price hit
Aussie application fees will soon be more expensive than New Zealand and Canada, in a move called “disastrous” for farmers.
What’s next in live sheep export saga?
An independent panel has finished consultations with farmers. Here’s what comes next in the government’s phase-out plan.
‘To see it fall over at the final hurdle would be heartbreaking’
NFF’s Fiona Simson urges pollies to pass the Nature Repair Bill, as squabbling threatens to derail the biodiversity market reform.
Ag mourns Simon Crean
Former Primary Industries Minister Simon Crean has been remembered as a “huge advocate for farmers” following his death at 74.
NSW rate hikes hit 64 per cent
Staggering rate increases by some rural councils have sparked calls for reform. See which shires have pushed up rates the most.
Victoria’s road funding fog
Roads Minister Melissa Horne has failed to detail how much will be spent on regional roads, just days out from the start of the new financial year.
Benefits of transmission lines must be ‘shared’ with farmers
A major energy boss says the government’s powerline plans could be railroaded without landowner and community buy-in.
Ag department fails to check spending
Growers’ hard-earned levy money may not have been spent appropriately after DAFF didn’t check spending on a “line-item basis”.
WA sheep farmer sentiment plummets
Fears are mounting about the viability of WA’s entire commercial sheep industry if the federal government pushes ahead with its live export ban.
PALM scheme changes will force growers from program
Producers believe their concerns over “extreme” new labour scheme reforms fell on deaf ears, while the government says it was responding to stakeholder concerns.
Farmers rally against Albo’s new IR laws
Labor’s industrial relations law changes will create a “red-tape minefield” for farmers, says the National Farmers’ Federation.
‘Not much choice’: Timber plans gutted
Mill owners and harvest contractors’ multimillion dollar investments have been ruined by the now-earlier phasing out of native forest timber harvesting.
Australia and India to sign free-trade agreement this year
Pulse producers are hopeful a free-trade agreement between India and Australia could lead to a reopening of Australia’s largest chickpea market.
Big pothole in Victorian budget road funding
This year’s state budget promises $2.8 billion over 10 years to boost road renewal, but actually cuts funding next year.
Timber harvesting to end in new year
The Andrews government has caved to environment groups’ legal challenges to lock up state forests, announcing an end to native timber harvesting in today’s budget.
560 timber jobs axed
Timber workers argue the Andrews government has always had the power to save their jobs.
New Covid debt levy includes land tax hike
Treasurer Tim Pallas has slapped tens of thousands of Victorians with a new levy to pay off the government’s $31.5 billion debt.
Vic budget: $5 billion for the regions
It’s a mixed bag for agriculture and regional Victoria, with question marks remaining over country road funding.
Government confirms Pacific worker solution here to stay
The Albanese government will push on with its plan to solve agriculture’s labour crisis with workers from the Pacific, despite calls to expand to other nations.
China lifts ban on Australian-made timber
The forestry sector has welcomed a resumption of the lucrative trade, while the Albanese government says it is “a positive step” towards stripping other tariffs.
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