The Country Mayors Association is warning a federal funding shake-up would leave ratepayers covering more of the bill after the next flood, fire or storm.
Federal Politics
Posted inEmergency management, Federal Politics, National News
Concerns cloud national emergency alert system rollout
Some states remain concerned about service gaps under Australia’s new emergency warning system, days out from its first nationwide test.
Posted inAgribusiness, Environment, Federal Politics, Local News
Confusion reigns over new forest carbon credit scheme
Farmers, foresters and green groups are all furious about a new forest carbon credit scheme, just not for the same reasons. Here’s what it means for the North Coast.
Posted inFederal Politics, Health
Concern brewing as buried Hanson policy threatens affordable medicines
A local mum says she and her asthmatic daughter could die without PBS medicines. She’s not alone — public concern is growing over a little-noticed One Nation policy, and a petition is now calling on Hanson to back off.
Posted inFederal Politics, Health, Money, Petitions
Seniors urged to sign petition over private health insurance rebate cuts
Older Australians could be paying up to $1,600 more a year for private health cover under a federal government plan. A petition is now open online — and the deadline to sign it is 22 July.
Posted inFederal Politics, National News
Hanson defies protest to call for ‘monocultural’ nation
A mid-speech protest has marred Pauline Hanson’s first address to the National Press Club after decades in politics.
Posted inDisability, Federal Politics, National News
Women to be hardest-hit by sweeping NDIS changes
Cost-saving measures to target the National Disability Insurance Scheme are likely to put responsibility back on families.
Posted inFederal Politics, Local News, Women
Parliamentary inquiry called for as Penfold’s gender bill unsupported
Member for Lyne Alison Penfold was the only one to speak in support of her bill seeking to amend the Sex Discrimination Act on Monday.
Posted inFederal Politics, Local News, Women
Penfold says timing of gender bill and Giggle v Tickle ruling ‘a coincidence’
EXCLUSIVE: Lyne MP Alison Penfold says her biological sex bill was months in the making and not triggered by the Giggle v Tickle ruling, arguing it seeks to “give women choice back” while retaining protections for transgender Australians.
Posted inFederal Politics, LGBTIQ, Local News, Women
Local MP leads push to rewrite sex discrimination laws after trans rights ruling
Lyne MP Alison Penfold will introduce a private member’s bill seeking to redefine sex as biological and binary after the Federal Court upheld discrimination findings in the landmark Giggle v Tickle case.