Latest news with #Riverina
News.com.au
an hour ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Energy Minister Chris Bowen says Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack's net zero protest a ‘dream ticket' to turf David Littleproud
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has jumped on a home goal kicked by 'virile' Nationals MPs Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack, as the Coalition faces a standoff against net zero targets. With the opposition stalled on a recommitment to Australia reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 until a policy review, Mr McCormack has issued a warning shot to party leaders, saying he would unite with his unlikely ally Mr Joyce on opposing the goal. Two pair had tussled for the regional party's top job, taking turns at the Nationals leadership before current leader David Littleproud ascended in 2022. The pair's position on net zero has raised questions over Mr Littleproud's leadership. Speaking to Sky News moments before the first question time of the 48th parliament, Mr McCormack hit back at comments put forward by the Coalition's energy spokesman. 'Dan Tehan this morning calling me a steer and Barnaby a steer – we're not gelded, we're not emasculated,' he said. 'We're very much virile and out there.' A mere few hours later, Mr Bowen took aim from the dispatch box during question time. 'The member for Riverina said on the Kieran Gilbert show, 'We're virile and we're out there,' the member for New England and member for Riverina,' Mr Bowen said. 'That this is not his Tinder profile, this is his dream ticket. He's not looking to swipe right, he's looking to swipe out the member for Maranoa, is what he's trying to do. 'But they're … really betraying people in rural and regional Australia, they are the ones who pay the price of drought and flood which will be more common and severe under climate change.' Mr Bowen's comments was one of the more noteworthy moments from the hour-long display of political theatre, formally known as question time. It was also Sussan Ley first as Opposition Leader, with the Coalition attempting to lob knives poised for Labor's ailing 1.2 million housing target and controversial superannuation tax. Dressed in a powder pink pants suit, Ms Ley stared down the Prime Minister and his army of 94 Labor MPs who spilt onto chamber benches normally reserved for the crossbench. The National Housing Accords were in her sights, with the promise to build 1.2 million homes by mid-2029 already lagging by about 55,000 following its first year. 'The Liberal Party I lead will always champion policies to help more Australians into a home of their own but under Labor the homeownership dream has never been further out of reach,' she said, asking the first question. 'With leaked Treasury advice confirming this is a broken promise, will the Prime Minister abandon his failing policies and work constructively with the Coalition to address Labor's housing crisis?' Criticism of Labor's plan to hit superannuation balances of more than $3m with a 30 per cent tax was also prosecuted, with the Coalition attacking the government over the proposal to hit unrealised capital gains. However, Mr Albanese, wearing a dark suit and dark blue tie, returned fire saying the tax would rebalance the superannuation system and only affect 0.5 per cent of accounts, while also quipping: 'The time to launch a scare campaign is before an election'. Elsewhere, Labor's majority was on full display. In an unsubtle but effective reminder to the Coalition and the Greens' sole lower house stalwart, Ryan MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown, Labor's Dorothy Dixers – the questions asked by government MPs to ministers – were all delivered by the MPs who turfed out a sitting Liberal or Greens MP. In order of appearance, they included Dickson's Ali France, Melbourne's Sarah Witty, Griffith's Renee Coffey, Emma Comer of Petrie, Gabriel Ng in Menzies, Hughes MP David Moncrieff, Jess Teesdale from Bass, Sturt's Claire Clutterham, Banks MP Zhi Soon, Deakin's Matt Greg, and Braddon's Anne Urquhart.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Aussie L-plater's surprise response after copping $1,689 fine and losing licence
A learner driver has copped a $1689 fine and been banned from the road for three months after he was allegedly caught driving unsupervised, and with methamphetamine and cannabis in his system. As police ramp up their road safety efforts these school holidays in New South Wales, officers say numerous examples have emerged of drivers flouting the law. At about 7.20am on Monday, Highway Patrol were conducting inspections at Tharbogang, in the state's Riverina region, when they stopped a silver Nissan sedan being driven by a 25-year-old man. The man was asked to produce his licence and was subjected to drug and alcohol testing. Officers quickly determined that he was unsupervised, and then he allegedly returned positive results for both meth and marijuana. When confronted with the penalty, he simply asked in return: "Can I still get my Ps?" The man's learner's licence was immediately suspended for three months, with several infringement notices handed down, totalling a combined $1,689. "Formal action will be taken against the driver in relation to the illicit drugs present in his system when the oral fluid sample obtained is analysed," NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said on Tuesday. It comes as police repeat their plea to motorists out on the roads these school holidays, a period known for higher-than-average incidents of road trauma. According to NSW Police, 20 per cent of fatal or serious crashes occur during school holiday periods. The NSW winter public school holidays began on Monday, July 7 and conclude on Friday, July 18. In the July holidays last year, eight people lost their lives in fatal crashes — the same number of deaths were recorded for the same period in 2023. Major street change avalanche of new car models set to hit Australian market Aussie council responds after local left stunned by $1,000 fine Calls for road rule change as more Aussie cities reduce urban speed limits So far this year, 190 lives have been lost, up a staggering 29 more deaths from last year. Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver, said the July school holidays are a time when "weather conditions could contribute" to serious accidents. "Drivers need to be aware of the risks when travelling in wet and snowing conditions, with black ice a serious hazard on our roads at this time of year," he said. "Our data shows one in five serious or fatal crashes happen in the school holidays. We also know that about two-thirds of fatal crashes occur on regional areas. Take extra care, reduce your speed, and remain focused so you and your family can arrive at your destination safely. "As always, don't speed, wear a seatbelt, never drive when tired, do not use a mobile phone while driving and never drive if affected by drugs or alcohol." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
13-07-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Southern NSW farmers call for financial relief as ongoing drought takes a toll
Recent rain in southern New South Wales has put water in dams and turned dusty paddocks green, but farmers say the drought drags on, with some calling for financial assistance. After more than 50 millimetres of rain since the end of May at Yvette McKenzie's farm near Bethungra, about 65 kilometres north-east of Wagga Wagga, she calls the situation the "green drought" — the landscape looks good from a distance but grass hasn't grown enough to sustain livestock. Yvette McKenzie's dam in May 2025. / And after recent rain. That means Ms McKenzie and other farmers across the state's south are handfeeding livestock. "It doesn't rain feed," she said. "We are still on full grain ration for the sheep, as well as silage and hay, to keep up with the fibre "It is hard on you mentally, physically and emotionally." Ms McKenzie expects to be handfeeding for another two months. Yvette McKenzie says she'll be handfeeding her livestock for months. ( ABC News: Cara Jeffery ) According to the Bureau of Meteorology, 40-100 millimetres of rain has fallen in the Riverina since the start of May, but most of the region is still classified as "in drought" or "drought affected" on the NSW Department of Primary Industries drought indicator map. Hay prices 'through the roof' Holbrook producer Bruce Allworth is in a similar predicament, spending six hours, three times a week, feeding his sheep and cattle. He has used all the hay stockpiled in previous seasons and has bought 600 tonnes of grain since January. "There has been a real shortage [of hay] and we've moved over to grain, simply because the price of hay was going through the roof," Dr Allworth said. "You can't get away from the fact that it's a lot of money that you're spending, the animals aren't doing as well as you'd like them to do … and so it weighs on you." Feeding livestock has become a daily routine for drought-affected farmers. ( ABC News: Emily Doak ) Beef producer and contract haymaker Richard Harbison worries about the mental toll the drought is taking on producers. "The last 12 months have been pretty stressful," he said. "I just hope that people can talk to them and just make sure that they are travelling alright." Martin Preuss says workshops have been well-attended by farmers. ( ABC News: Emily Doak ) Local Land Services senior drought adoption officer Martin Preuss said workshops had been providing advice and much-needed social interaction for affected farmers. "It's looking at what options they've got to try and reduce costs, maintain productivity and have a sustainable process to get through until the drought breaks," he said. Calls for assistance Farmers, along with the Yass Valley, Snowy Valleys and Greater Hume councils, are calling for more drought relief for producers, similar to that provided for floods or bushfires. "This has certainly been an exceptional drought, one that we couldn't plan our way through," Dr Allworth said. "It's a little bit frustrating when we've been in the same conditions as the Victorian and South Australian producers and they've been getting support." Bruce Allworth is spending hours each day feeding grain to his cattle and sheep. ( ABC News: Emily Doak ) The South Australian government is providing freight subsidies for charities donating hay, plus grants to upgrade farm infrastructure, including water, grain or fodder storage. There are similar infrastructure grants in Victoria, along with rate relief and household support payments. In a statement, NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said flexible, low-interest loans of up to $250,000 were available to help farmers strengthen drought preparedness. "The government is continually monitoring the situation in southern NSW to ensure the needed assistance is being offered," she said. Ms Moriarty said $149 million in loans had been provided through the drought infrastructure fund and "drought-ready and resilient" fund.
ABC News
11-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Lamb prices keep climbing
A new record price for lambs was set at Wagga Wagga saleyards in NSW Riverina this week when prices surged to $440.20 a head.
Sky News AU
09-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘Tough out there': Nationals MP discusses RBA's decision to hold cash rate
Nationals MP for Riverina Michael McCormack has discussed how the RBA's decision to hold the cash rate will make it "tough" for Australians.
