TENS of thousands of men, women and children have marched across Australian capital cities and regional towns calling for determined action to end gendered and sexual violence. Advocates say the issue was not properly addressed during the federal election campaign, with funding pledges “barely even hitting the sides”. The No More: National Rally Against Violence […]

CONSUMERS must be told why their phone or internet service has been disconnected during major outages and when they can expect it to return under stricter telecommunication rules. Providers will also have to improve the way they deal with triple-zero outages under the regulations and issue detailed plans to prevent recurrences. The Australian Communications and […]

WHEN the United States speaks, Australian investors listen. And they will be doing so very closely as the much-anticipated US rates decision is handed down on Thursday. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has previously indicated there will be no changes to the cash rate in May, while the bank waits for more information on the […]

MORE than 350 invasive plant and animal species are causing about $2 billion worth of damage every year in one of Australia’s most populated states. But that annual figure could balloon to a whopping $30 billion by 2030 without investment in a long-term biosecurity management system, a government body has warned. A report released on […]

REPRESENTATIVES from Dungog Shire Council and Hunter Water met on Monday, 28 April to discuss the organisations’ interests in common. A spokesperson for Council said the meeting focused on progressing shared priorities including faster development assessment processes, updated catchment protection guidelines, and future servicing plans to support sustainable growth, particularly around Clarence Town. Mayor Digby […]

THE NSW Government has promised action to address the growing number of cases of illegal tree clearing in NSW. An Explanation of Intended Effect (EIE) has been released, offering stakeholders the opportunity to consult on reforms to the urban tree clearing framework. A new resource to help planners, developers and builders tackle urban heat has […]

AUSTRALIA’S chances of hitting nationally agreed housing targets and bringing down the prices of new homes are being hurt by challenges to the timber industry. Thousands of regional jobs are facing the axe unless a new national forest policy is delivered, including an expansion of plantations, a report provided to AAP has found. Native forest […]

Wing Commander David Johnstone gave the Commemorative Address. Bugler Bob Humphries and President of the Dungog RSL sub-Branch Neil Tickle. President of the Dungog RSL sub-Branch Neil Tickle. Dungog Choir members Allan Houghton, Pauline Cambourne, Liz Stuckings, Bronwyn Hibbert and Joy Muddle. In the fog, before the dawn service. Finding places for the main service. […]

A COALITION of rural organisations has called for immediate action to address the mental health crisis in agriculture. More than 30 rural and healthcare organisations launched a joint statement to address the crisis this week. Ahead of a federal budget and election, the group is calling on the Government to make an immediate investment of […]

  DANGEROUS surf conditions in the wake of gale-force winds and rain closed Bennetts Beach last weekend. ‘Beach Closed’ signs in the middle of the school holidays are never a happy sight, but the visible churning of the waters, and waves averaging two metres in height, were more than enough to bring out the signs […]