OWNERS of working dogs and domestic companion animals are advised that wild dog and fox control programs have commenced across the Upper Hunter Electorate. Hunter Local Land Services and Forestry Corporation are conducting aerial and ground baiting programs from Merriwa to Nundle, Nowendoc to Dungog encompassing private tenure, State Forests, Crown Land and Travelling Stock […]

A glimmer of hope for nuclear dream after election bomb
OUTSPOKEN engineer Jasmin Diab still hopes a nuclear power reactor could be operating in Australia before the second half of the century. But the advocate for the technology admits the federal election campaign has severely damaged its reputation and its future role – if it has one – will be much smaller than the coalition’s […]

‘Men keep killing us’: nationwide rallies plea for help
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 […]
Voters abandoning the two major parties in Lyne
“OVER the past 40 years the share of votes going to independents and minor parties has risen in both state and federal elections,” the Australia Institute stated in a research article in October 2024. “In the 1980 federal election, the combined primary votes for minor parties and independents accounted for only eight percent.” At the […]
Recording notable old trees in Dungog Shire
ENVIRONMENTAL advocate and naturalist Ken Rubeli is calling for the development of a record of notable old trees in the Dungog Shire. “There are many old trees in the Shire that few people are aware of – especially those in our State Forests and National Parks,” Mr Rubeli told NOTA. “Who might take on the […]
Track work impacting rail routes
RAIL commuters planning to travel this weekend are advised to check travel alerts before heading to the station. Australian Rail Track Corporation will conduct essential maintenance and improvement works on both the Hunter Valley and North Coast rail lines. During the work, the track will be closed between Newcastle and Turrawan as well as Muswellbrook […]

Is it down? Strict rules for telcos that suffer outages
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 […]

Overseas rates decision to dominate domestic chatter
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 […]

Soul searching for coalition after poll thumping
THE coalition will be forced to carry out a “fundamental reorganisation” of the party’s structure to ensure its ongoing relevance to voters after its election wipeout, a leading pollster says. As votes continue to be counted after Saturday’s poll, figures show the coalition could slump to its lowest percentage of seats in parliament since the […]
Twelve new police officers hit the ground across the Hunter
TWELVE new Probationary Constables are beginning work in the Hunter region, allocated to Hunter Valley, Manning-Great Lakes, Mid North Coast and Port Stephens-Hunter Police Districts. NSW Police Force’s Class 365 officially attested at the Goulburn Police Academy on Friday, 2 May. The new recruits have now commenced duties at their new home stations across the […]