AUSTRALIA’S tax system would be overhauled, welfare restricted to citizens and immigration slashed under a future coalition government. In his first budget reply speech, Angus Taylor has conceded the Liberals and Nationals still have a long road to win back the confidence of voters, but asked Australians to “begin to believe again”. The opposition leader […]

A ROW has broken out over the cost of cutting taxes for millions of Australians as Labor and the opposition try to sell rival economic plans to voters. After a week dominated by the state of the nation’s finances, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused the opposition of failing to properly price its plan to bake […]

THE forestry industry has been a contested space in NSW for many years, with some supporting the continuation of native hardwood logging and others strongly opposing it. The issue was brought into sharper focus recently with the announcement by the NSW Government of its intention to create the Great Koala National Park (GKNP). The establishment […]

NEW routes and modernised coaches have been unveiled as part of a major upgrade to NSW TrainLink coach services. A 36 percent funding increase across the NSW TrainLink coach network will lift total funding to $290 million over the next nine years. From 1 July, 14 coach operators will run 49 routes across the NSW […]

Veronica Frost speaks to the group at the Stroud Country Club. Photo: Thomas O’Keefe. Quambi House, one of the oldest restored structures in Stroud. Photo: supplied, Emma Mellows A HOST of commemorative activities are being planned for Stroud’s 200th birthday celebrations in November.  Settled less than 40 years after Sydney Cove, Stroud’s long history has […]

The plaque was unveiled at a moving ceremony last week. Photo: supplied. The new plaque. Photo: supplied. APPROXIMATELY 60 residents of the Paterson community gathered at the Paterson Post Office on Tuesday, 21 April, for a moving ceremony to unveil a commemorative plaque at the site of the village’s new flagpole.  The memorial honours the […]

CPL Vince Holmes, 36th Battalion. Photo: D Rubenis. PTE Geoff Holmes, 36th Battalion. Photo: D Rubenis. PTE Herbert Clarence Mate, 34th Battalion. Photo: Harrower Collection. The Honour Roll at Wallarobba Memorial Hall. Photo: MN Holmes. THE small locality of Wallarobba, like every other town and village throughout Australia, had men who volunteered to serve in […]

HUNTER residents, like most in regional Australia, are known for helping others in need. But changes to charity funding rules have led to concerns that the system isn’t working as well as it could. The Federal Government has announced that “Giving Funds” will be required to distribute six percent of assets each year, up from […]

WHILE trains between Sydney and Grafton resume next week, a date has yet to be set for the introduction of the long-awaited XPT replacement fleet. “A timeline for the new Regional Rail fleet’s entry into service on the North Coast line will be confirmed once the trains have progressed through testing and the relevant verifications […]

he Scotch Broom infestation near Polblue in 2023, which has now been cleared. A large area recently cleared of Scotch Broom by the mechanical muncher. LIKE many other plant and animal pests, Scotch Broom was brought to Australia by the early European settlers. Apparently, it was imported here in the early 1800s by Governor King […]