A NATIONAL childcare worker register should show the employment history of staff after revelations an accused child abuser was sacked from one facility but continued working unimpeded. Joshua Dale Brown, 26, has been charged with more than 70 sex offences against eight alleged victims aged under two at a childcare centre in Melbourne. Authorities have […]
NSW farmers gather for annual conference
FARMERS from all corners of NSW will meet in Sydney this week to discuss critical issues such as the future of farming and the energy transition. NSW Farmers’ Chief Executive Annabel Johnson said the NSW Farmers’ Annual Conference was a chance to bring the perspective from the paddock to the city as Australia faced a […]
Wanted: 10,000 households to plug in to energy research
MORE than 10,000 Australian households and businesses will be asked to share ways they generate and use electricity for research to accelerate the net-zero transition. The nation’s science agency CSIRO on Thursday launched the National Energy Analysis Centre that will capture real-world energy use, which has been modelled on a similar body in the UK. […]
Inquiry launched into conservation hunting bill
AN Upper House inquiry has been established to examine the Game and Feral Animal Legislation Amendment (Conservation Hunting) Bill 2025, a private members’ bill introduced by Robert Borsak MLC of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party. The bill proposes a number of amendments to the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002, including to abolish […]
Grants up for grabs to boost community projects
NOT-FOR-PROFITS schools and councils are being encouraged to apply for the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program, which is now open and offering between $50,000 and $300,000 to fund community-focused projects. Member for Oxley Michael Kemp said the Clubgrants Category 3 Fund is an excellent opportunity to secure funding for projects that make a lasting impact […]
Report paints ‘catastrophic picture’ of environment
THE NSW Government tabled the 2024 State of the Environment Report last week. Compiled by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), the report is published every three years. According to EPA CEO Tony Chappel, the 2024 report indicates that climate change is already a major factor impacting many environmental trends. “In 2021-22, greenhouse gas emissions […]
Youth crime committee tables first report
THE first report of an inquiry into community safety has been tabled, highlighting an urgent need for early intervention to deal with the complex social drivers of youth crime in regional and rural NSW. Since adopting the inquiry on 20 March 2024, the Committee of Law and Safety received almost 200 submissions and conducted hearings […]
Fishers advised to stay off rock platforms
NSW BEACHES are being hammered by strong surf and wild weather, with volunteer surf lifesavers and lifeguards hoping that rock fishers heed their warnings and take extreme caution if planning to visit the coastline this week. At the time of writing, a Hazardous Surf Warning is currently in place for the state’s northernmost border all […]
Review launched into ‘doli incapax’
A NEW study by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has found a significant decline in the number of young people aged 10 to 13 years found guilty of a criminal offence in NSW, following a landmark High Court of Australia decision in 2016. The decision in the case of RP v […]
Regional consultation guide released by NSW Government
A NEW guide has been released which aims to strengthen NSW Government consultation practices with regional, rural and remote communities across the state. The “Regional Communities Consultation Guide” outlines the Government’s approach to consulting with regional, rural and remote communities, including Aboriginal communities. The release of the guide follows the introduction of the Regional Communities […]
