RESULTS of the 2025 Federal Election have been finalised and the writs returned to the Governor-General Sam Mostyn. This marks the end of the electoral process for the House of Representatives and Senate and paves the way for the opening of the 48th Parliament on 22 July. Acting Electoral Commissioner Jeff Pope said the election […]
Member for Lyne Alison Penfold, who represents the National Party.
ALISON Penfold is now officially the Federal Member for Lyne, after the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) formally declared the ballot result last Wednesday. In an electorate reeling from the recent flood disaster, Ms Penfold said the news came at a time when it was difficult to focus on anything other than supporting the community on […]
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has received the top gong in the King's Birthday Honours List. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS.
FORMER prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia’s highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. Mr Morrison is one of 14 people named as a Companion of the Order of Australia in the annual King’s Birthday Honours List, alongside filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and […]
King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited NSW seven months ago. Photo: Mark Baker/AAP Image.
KING Charles III has expressed his admiration for emergency services and volunteers who responded to deadly flooding in Australia’s most populous state. Five people died and more than 1200 buildings were made uninhabitable after the record-breaking deluge across the NSW mid-north coast and surrounding regions. The flooding, which has now mostly ended, “greatly concerned” himself […]
Flood victims in Lismore like Mel Connell want more done to prepare for future disasters. Photo: Mel Connell.
FROM the door of Mel Connell’s gift shop, in shin-deep water, the only things still recognisable were a few hanging festoon and fairy lights. After 14 years as a small retailer, she had to refashion her premises after floods ripped through the northern NSW town of Lismore in February 2022. By September, Ms Connell had […]
NSW Premier Chris Minns. Photo: Nikki Short/AAP Image.
MORE than half a billion dollars will go towards dealing with domestic violence in a bid to undo years of “neglect” in Australia’s most populous state. The funding will go towards supporting victim-survivors and keeping alleged abusers behind bars to “build a safer NSW”. The government announced the funding pledges on Monday before the state […]
The Hunter region is lagging on indicators of a shift to an economy powered by decarbonised exports. Photo: Michael Gorton/AAP PHOTOS.
SLOW project approvals, energy storage gaps and investment uncertainty are proving hurdles to cutting greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry. For the Hunter, a region eyeing off green industrial exports as global demand for its coal wanes, the transition has not been all smooth sailing. Government support for clean tech innovation and steps to retrain […]
A rural landowner is upset about the development of high-voltage lines across his property. Photo: Darren England/AAP PHOTOS.
FILMMAKER Ian Barry hoped to live out his final years in peace and tranquility on his bush property. But Mr Barry, who has motor neurone disease, is instead locked in a fight to save his NSW Hunter sanctuary from being damaged by a planned renewable energy zone. He and his wife Vicki have had a […]
A rare recount in a Sydney electorate will delay confirmation of Australia's next parliament. Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS.
IT could take weeks to confirm the members of Australia’s next parliament, with one seat sitting on a margin of only eight votes and an incumbent in another requesting a second tally. Independent MP Zoe Daniel has requested a recount in the Melbourne seat of Goldstein. The Australian Electoral Commission finalised a margin of 260 […]
More than 1600 flood damage claims have already been made, the Insurance Council of Australia says. Photo: Lindsay Moller/AAP PHOTOS.
A FIFTH person died in a region devastated by floods after dangerous conditions prevented emergency crews from accessing a home. The body of a man believed to be in his 80s was found inside a burnt-out vehicle in the shed of a Cooplacurripa property, about 50km north-west of Taree. A concern for welfare had been […]
