Research Survey - Women Operating Online Businesses in Regional Australia

Heather Prider, a Flinders University Master’s student, is conducting a research project titled: “Regional women’s motivations and experiences of establishing and managing online businesses”.  This project (project number 5654) has been approved by Flinders University Human Research Ethics Committee.

The research purpose is to gain an understanding of the ‘triggers’, motivations and decision-making processes of female entrepreneurs living in regional Australia to establish and operate an online business, so that effective policies and programs can be formulated and enacted to support such businesses, and in doing so promote the economic and social wellbeing of regional communities.

For further information, please contact Heather Prider via email at prid0096@flinders.edu.au  or by telephone on 8302 0993. 

Tender opens for the National Audit of Mobile Coverage

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications

MEDIA RELEASE | Tuesday 12 September 2023

I welcome the release by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts of the request for tender (RFT) to conduct a National Audit of Mobile Coverage.

This is a key milestone towards the Government’s efforts to audit mobile coverage across the country.

The aim of the Audit is to better identify mobile coverage black spots to help target future investment, and to assess the accuracy of carrier coverage maps. 

The RFT was informed by consultation through a request for information process, including from a range of industry, consumer and community stakeholders.

The RFT will seek proposals to deliver the Audit over a period of up to five years and it is anticipated that the Audit will be delivered through a modular approach. This will include an initial proof of concept through a pilot followed by a more comprehensive main audit. The department is also seeking existing and additional mobile coverage data such as crowd-sourced data or data from other audits.

The Audit is part of the Government’s Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia and a 2022 federal election commitment, with the October 2022-23 Budget confirming $20 million over 5 years to conduct the audit.

The Audit aims to leverage Australia Post infrastructure and assets, alongside other partnerships and approaches.

The RFT will close November 15th.

To apply, and for more information about the RFT, visit Austender.gov.au.

Major art and cultural exhibitions to tour the country

Media Release from the Hon Tony Burke, Minister for the Arts

MEDIA RELEASE | Monday 11 September 2023

More Australians around the country will be able to experience exhibitions at their local galleries and museums thanks to $1 million in funding from the Albanese Labor Government.

Making sure there’s a place for every story and a story for every place, the funding will support 12 exhibitions from Australia’s major cultural institutions to tour to remote, regional and metropolitan locations around the country.

The grants have been awarded under the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach program, with recipients including:

• Australian National Maritime Museum - $87,484 to support the touring of award-winning works of art by Torres Strait Islander artist Alick Tipoti to three regional venues in Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales as part of the Mariw Minaral (Spiritual Patterns) exhibition.

• National Gallery of Australia - $63,555 to support the National Indigenous Art Triennial – one of Australia’s preeminent exhibitions of First Nations art – to tour to New South Wales and South Australia.

• National Portrait Gallery of Australia - $24,117 to tour the Pub Rock exhibition – celebrating home-grown rock ‘n’ roll, punk and pop and featuring works by leading Australian music photographers – to Queensland venues.

The funding will also support the development of a further three new exhibitions by the Bundanon Trust, National Archives of Australia and National Museum of Australia.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said all Australians should have the opportunity to appreciate great art regardless of where they live.

“Australia’s national collections belong to everyone, no matter where you live.” Minister Burke said.

“That’s why our National Cultural Policy, Revive, focuses on sharing the extraordinary cultural materials held by our national collecting institutions with all Australians.”

“From Cowra to Kalgoorlie, and from Invermay to Ipswich – Australians across the country will be able to experience and enjoy these exhibitions.”

Find out more about the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach program at https://www.arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/national-collecting-institutions-touring-and-outreach-program.

ABC Heywire | 2024 Trailblazers wanted to share the inspiring things they’re doing for regional Australia

Are you a young person up to something great in regional Australia?

What is Trailblazers?

Applications opened Tuesday September 5, 2023 for the ABC's 2024 Trailblazers program. Trailblazers is an exciting initiative from ABC Heywire to support young regional changemakers.

The ABC's Trailblazers program celebrates and supports regional Australia’s brightest new leaders. A cohort of young changemakers is selected each year, based on the work they are doing to strengthen their communities.

ABC Trailblazers are given the opportunity to share their work, ideas and projects on a national platform and receive an incredible package of support.

Past Trailblazer projects have addressed a range of issues, such as strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, promoting the well-being of young minds, advancing sustainable farming, fostering inclusivity for individuals living with disabilities, boosting employment opportunities, ensuring quality educational access, and helping entrepreneurs in remote areas. Check out the 2023 Trailblazers cohort and the exceptional work they do in strengthening their regional communities.

Who can apply to be a Trailblazer:

Individuals or groups of up to three people, who are:

· Aged 18-28 (as of 1 February 2024)

· Working on an innovative project aimed at strengthening regional Australia

· Committed to their community and regional Australia Terms & Conditions

What do Trailblazers receive?

· The chance to have their work featured nationally on the ABC.

· An all-expenses-paid trip to Canberra, ACT for the Heywire Regional Youth Summit.

· Exclusive opportunities to apply for the Sally Foundation’s Trailblazer Development Fund, a partnership with the Sally Foundation and the Foun

Apply: Expression of Interest form 

Help:  abcheywire@abc.net.au or heywire@infrastructure.gov.au

Connect:  Instagram @abc_heywire

Applications close: Wednesday October 4, 2023

Seeding new opportunities for the future of the IOT

Joint Media Release from the Hon Kristy McBain, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and Marion Scrymgour MP, Federal Member for Lingiari

MEDIA RELEASE | Friday 08 September 2023

The future sustainability of local agriculture and farming in the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT) has been boosted, with the success of three exciting horticultural projects supported by the Albanese Labor Government’s Innovative Agricultural Trials grants program.  

The program, which delivered almost $450,000 to the projects in September 2022, is supporting economic diversification, sustainability and reduced dependency on imported produce for communities of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

The projects have all successfully demonstrated different hydroponic techniques for producing locally grown fresh and affordable food, while providing skills development opportunities for these remote communities.

After extensive trials to optimise varieties that are suitable to the conditions and community demands, each of the three projects are now producing crops.

The Cocos Islands Co-operative Society Ltd is now harvesting crops weekly for distributions through local stores, with success growing cucumbers, bean sprouts and water spinach.

Over time, the Co-Op hopes to provide a weekly supply of leafy greens, micro greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, snake beans and eggplants.

Phosphate Resources Ltd is sharing its experience through a community program in partnership with the Christmas Island school and community groups.

Based on the trial’s yields, PRL is hoping to produce a range of vegetables in the coming year, including Chinese vegetables, herbs and lettuce varieties.

The Cocos Artisans Collective has trialled leafy greens and micro-greens across a range of plant quantities and mediums, to identify what produced the best outcome for the community.

This included processes to provide a continual supply for the market. It is also developing a system and instructions for a home hydroponics system that can be rolled out to the community.

More school kids to be connected to free internet through SSBI

Joint Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications, and the Hon Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury and Assistant Minister for Employment

MEDIA RELEASE | Monday 11 September 2023

The Australian Government’s ongoing rollout of the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) has connected around 3,000 families with school students across the country to 12 months of free NBN.

As families face ongoing cost of living pressures, the initiative is helping to narrow the digital divide, promote greater inclusion for disadvantaged families and support the education of children – regardless of their circumstances.

Funded through the October 2022-23 Budget, the SSBI identifies eligible families through partnering with nominating organisations who work with vulnerable communities.
 
NBN Co is leading the implementation of the initiative. To be eligible, a family must:

• Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school in 2023.

• Be referred by a nominating organisation.

• Have no active broadband service over the NBN network.

• Live in a premises where they can access a standard NBN service.

Once a family is found eligible for the SSBI, they are issued with a unique voucher, which can be redeemed with one of the participating internet providers. The one-year of free home internet begins from the day the service is activated.

The initiative can support up to 30,000 families across the country, with more than 20,000 vouchers for free connections issued by NBN Co so far to nominating agencies and eligible families.

To ensure as many families as possible have the chance to benefit, the period in which a family can be nominated for the initiative has been extended to 30 April 2024.

 
For more information on SSBI visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/SSBI

Australian Government | Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program (rPPP)

The Australian Government has launched the new regional Precincts and Partnerships Program with applications now open and the Grant Opportunity Guidelines available.

The program supports transformative investment in regional, rural and remote Australia which will unify regional places, grow economies and serve communities. Unlike traditional grants programs, the rPPP will focus on a partnership approach, bringing together governments and communities to deliver regional precincts that are tailored to local needs and have a shared vision in how that precinct connects to the region.

The rPPP is a grants program that will provide funding through two grant streams to support both the design and development of precincts, and delivery of construction-ready precinct projects. The program is open to state, territory and local government agencies or bodies, regional universities (which may be for-profit), and incorporated not-for-profit organisations. Applications can be accepted at any time throughout the year (i.e. always open).

The program’s guidelines, application portal and the media release can now be accessed via infrastructure.gov.au, GrantConnect and business gov.au.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts will be facilitating a webinar about the program and its application process at 10:00am to 11:00am AEST on Tuesday 19 September 2023 via Microsoft Teams. Further details for this webinar can be found by clicking the Webinar button below.

Please Note:

The rPPP Stream One guidelines, section 4.2: Additional eligibility requirements (point 5) state that a proposal can only be accepted if the applicant:

• can provide evidence that the following organisations have been contacted to seek their support for the concept of the precinct:

  • the relevant Regional Development Australia (RDA) committee

  • the relevant Traditional Owner/First Nations groups for the area.

$15 million available to boost mobile resilience during disasters

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications

MEDIA RELEASE | Friday 08 September 2023

Applications are now open for Round 2 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program (MNHP) to strengthen the resilience of mobile services across regional, rural and remote Australia.

Up to $15 million is available to help mitigate the impact of natural disasters on mobile services in our regions – including for remote and First Nations communities.

Resilience upgrades eligible for funding under the MNHP include:

• upgrading backup power capacity to a minimum of 12 hours at mobile sites;

• physically elevating infrastructure to protect it from floods;

• delivering emergency power solutions – like portable power generators – to rapidly restore services during or after a disaster;

• providing redundant backhaul so that sites have multiple connections to the network in case one goes down; and

• expanding protection zones around mobile sites to decrease bushfire risk.

While grant funding is available for mobile network operators, infrastructure providers and managers of a telco network, the Government has established a project noticeboard to allow communities to engage with telcos on projects they want to see in their community.

Funding for further rounds of the MHNP was included in the October 2022-23 Federal Budget as part of the Albanese Government’s $1.1 billion Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia.

In total, the Albanese Government is investing $2.2 billion in regional communications - the most significant investment in regional communications since the inception of the National Broadband Network.

The MNHP is a key part of the Albanese Government’s comprehensive approach to communications resilience and disaster management, including the $50 million Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation initiative and the $20 million Broadcasting Resilience Initiative.

Applications for Round 2 of the Mobile Network Hardening Program close on Friday, 17 November 2023.

For more information on the Mobile Network Hardening Program, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/mnhp

Outdoors NSW &ACT | Climate Change Industry Survey 2023

The Outdoors NSW & ACT Climate Change Committee asked the outdoor industry for feedback in 2021 regarding their position on climate change.

The Committee would now like to request an update to see what has changed in the last two years regarding the industry's position. 

Your responses are appreciated and will help to inform future projects for the Outdoor Industry.

To complete the survey, click the button below.

NSW Sustainability Awards | Entries CLOSING SOON

The NSW Sustainability Awards celebrates and honours trailblazers and innovators who are dedicated to creating a more sustainable future for NSW. It is an opportunity to showcase your remarkable efforts and contributions towards sustainability. Submit your entry before September 8th to contribute to the broader sustainability discourse in NSW and receive the recognition you truly deserve.

Online Information Sessions – recordings now available

Whether you have participated before or are considering entering for the first time, these information sessions are a valuable opportunity for you to learn how to make your entry stand out. Gain insights from two experts: Robin Mellon, Head of NSW Judges, and Lars Ljung, the Sustainability Manager at Planet Protector Packaging, who won the 2021 NSW Circular Economy Award.

In the second session, SDG Align guides you through the SDGs and their free self-assessment tool that evaluates your organisation’s current sustainability practices. Recognising which SDGs your organisation is making progress towards assists you in integrating the SDGs into your entry.

For more information, or to make a nomination, click LEARN MORE

Australian METS: Accelerating Sustainable Mining - Company Participation Questionnaire

Austmine and Austrade have partnered to promote the sustainability leadership and expertise of Australian METS companies to the global mining industry through an e-publication. This will be a publicly available document and may be showcased on Austmine and Austrade websites. It is envisaged that this publication would be used by Austrade’s overseas posts and Austmine at various international trade exhibitions and conferences to actively promote the green credentials of Australian METS companies to global markets. 

To nominate to be included in this 'Australian METS: Accelerating Sustainable Mining' e-publication, click LEARN MORE. 

Submissions close: 7 September 2023

Bizness Dreaming

HumeLink Environmental Impact Statement now on public exhibition.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) has placed the HumeLink Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on public exhibition. The EIS describes the potential environmental, economic and social impacts from HumeLink, and proposes measures to reduce, minimise or mitigate those impacts. 

Have your say  

The purpose of the exhibition is to provide landowners, the community, government agencies and other interested stakeholders with an opportunity to make a formal submission about the EIS.

The HumeLink EIS is available on the NSW Major Projects Planning Portal.

Submissions must be made to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment through this platform. 

Transgrid has developed a suite of information tools and materials to assist you to navigate the document and to have your say. These materials and tools are outlined below.

Digital EIS 

Transgrid’s user-friendly and interactive digital platform is now available. This platform will present key EIS findings and include interactive mapping, multi-media and links to the full EIS on the NSW Major Projects Planning Portal. 

Click here to visit the HumeLink Digital EIS.

Attend an in-person or online event 

Transgrid would like to invite you to our online and in-person events, which will be held at key locations across the project footprint. A range of project resources, including the full EIS and associated specialist studies, will be available to view at these sessions. 

The Transgrid team will be in Wagga Wagga, Tumut, Batlow, Tumbarumba, Adelong, Gunning, Yass, Gundagai, Tarcutta, Taralga and Crookwell. To find out detailed times and locations on where we will be during the exhibition period please visit the HumeLink website.

Click here to RSVP your preferred event. 

Online Events 

For those who are not able to attend an in-person event, the HumeLink project team will also hold a series of webinars focused on the EIS. The webinars will be held during the following days and times: 

• Thursday 7 September 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM 

• Thursday 14 September 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

• Tuesday 19 September 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM 

• Wednesday 20 September 12:00 PM -1:30 PM 

Please click on each of the sessions to register to attend. 

Fact sheets videos and other tools 

The HumeLink team has also developed a suite of short sharp documents that summarise the key findings from the EIS. You can access these tools and other documents related to the project on the project website.

If you have any questions about HumeLink or the EIS contact the project team via email humelink@transgrid.com.au or phone 1800 317 367.

Albanese Government publishes eSafety's Roadmap for Age Verification

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland, Minister for Communications

MEDIA RELEASE | Thursday 31 August 2023

The Albanese Government has today published the eSafety Commissioner’s Roadmap for age verification and complementary measures to prevent and mitigate harms to children from online pornography, along with the Government’s response.
 
Delivered to Government for consideration in March 2023 following extensive consultation, the Roadmap is a key recommendation of the 2020 House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs Report, Protecting the Age of Innocence.
 
The Roadmap considers the feasibility of implementing a regime of mandatory age verification to address risks and harms associated with children’s encounters with online pornography.
 
The Roadmap does not recommend the Government legislate to mandate age assurance technology for access to online pornography and notes that technological developments in this space are still new and evolving. Stakeholders have also raised concerns about the effectiveness, privacy and security of these technologies.
 
The Roadmap details work to implement the Online Safety Act 2021 including the development of industry codes to deal with children’s access to online pornography. It also describes powers available to the Commissioner to require the online industry to report on their compliance with a set of Basic Online Safety Expectations, which include taking reasonable steps to make sure technological or other measures are in effect to prevent children accessing pornography.
 
The Government supports this approach, with the forthcoming industry codes requiring the digital sector to do more to protect children from exposure to online pornography.
 
The eSafety Commissioner is well placed to assist industry develop these codes and assess their codes, having already successfully registered new industry codes that deliver enhanced protections against child sexual exploitation and terrorism material.
 
The Government will seek further information on consideration of a pilot as recommended by the eSafety Commissioner – following the conclusion of the industry codes process, which is a critical step in keeping children safe online.
 
The Government is continuing its comprehensive approach to addressing the harms that can result from children’s exposure to pornography through the delivery of a variety of initiatives.
 
The Roadmap calls out the importance of respectful relationships education, and that the related topics of online safety, sexuality and consent are integral to addressing the harms associated with online pornography. The Government is delivering on these by providing:
 

• $83.5 million over 6 years to support the delivery of age-appropriate, evidence-based, and expert-developed respectful relationships education, aligned to the Australian Curriculum.

• $39.9 million under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 (the National Plan) to develop a prevention campaign on consent and respectful relationships.

• $100.4 million over 5 years to support Our Watch to deliver on priorities of the National Plan, and continue successful initiatives for the primary prevention of violence against women and children.

• $23.3 million over 5 years for the ANROWS National Priority Research Fund, which will continue to build the evidence base that supports ending violence against women and children in Australia.

The Albanese Government is committed to supporting eSafety to improve online safety for Australians. The 2023-24 Federal Budget quadrupled ongoing base funding to the regulator, addressing funding uncertainty resulting from a failure of the former Coalition Government to fund terminating measures into the future.
 
The eSafety Commissioner’s Age Verification Roadmap is available at: www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/consultation-cooperation/age-verification
 
The Government’s response is available at: www.infrastructure.gov.au/response-age-verification

Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Survey - Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy

On behalf of the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, you are invited to participate in draft Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy.

The purpose of this survey is to understand suppliers’ views on the draft Policy and its requirements with to feedback to be considered in future stages of the draft Policy development. 

Who Should Respond

The survey is open and there is no restriction on who can respond. Completion time is estimated to be 5-10 minutes.

If you are a supplier of goods and / or services to the Australian Government and you supply in any of the following categories, then you are likely to be covered by the requirements of the draft Policy and are encouraged to participate in the survey.

Construction Services

• Including but not limited to general building construction, roads and landscaping, building materials and products such as insulation, steel, wood, concrete, cement, plaster, carpentry and paint.

ICT

• Including notebook computers, desktop computers, mainframe computers and computer servers, mobile phones, computer and office equipment including printers, scanners, other ICT hardware and accessories.

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

• Including but not limited to office furniture, workstations and office packages, office and desk accessories, domestic appliances, office lighting and electrical equipment and interior finishing materials including floor and ceiling coverings.

Textiles

• Uniforms such as shirts, trousers, skirts, dresses, jackets, footwear, and hats

Survey Details

• Complete: https://bit.ly/3E94H45

• Closes: 5.00PM (AEST) Wednesday 20 September 2023.

• Help: Jordan.Cooper@aurecongroup.com on behalf of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Putting words into action to safeguard Indigenous languages

Joint Media Release from the Hon Tony Burke, Minister for the Arts and The Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians

MEDIA RELEASE | Wednesday 23 August 2023

The Albanese Labor Government has reaffirmed its commitment to preserving and promoting First Nations languages with the release today of Australia’s Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032.

The Plan was jointly launched by First Nations leaders on the Directions Group for the International Decade and Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, at the PULiiMA Indigenous Language and Technology Conference on Larrakia Country in Darwin.

Titled Voices of Country, the Plan was developed in partnership between the Directions Group and the Australian Government, and will guide Australia’s participation in the International Decade.

It acknowledges the critical and precarious state of First Nations languages across Australia and the coordinated effort needed to safeguard them for the future.

The Plan is guided by the UNESCO Global Action Plan of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and aligns with the National Cultural Policy, Revive, which recognises and respects the critical place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories at the centre of Australia’s arts and culture – putting First Nations First.

Voices of Country also supports the Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap by listening to First Nations people and communities and being led by them to strengthen languages.

The Government will outline and report on measurable commitments to support the priorities set out in Voices of Country.

Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, said support for First Nations culture, stories and languages is crucial.

“At its heart there’s no such thing as true translation. Every language contains words, ideas, concepts and emotions that only live within that language.

“It’s up to us to provide the support to make sure that those words and concepts — that describe stories going back to the first sunrise — will always be preserved and cherished on this land.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, said Indigenous languages are integral to the identity and connection with culture for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“This Plan sets out the framework for us to maintain and strengthen First Nations languages for future generations,” Minister Burney said.

“We look forward to working with communities to put the Plan into action.”

The Plan builds on the Government’s existing efforts to support First Nations languages in partnership with communities, including investing more than $27 million each year to support First Nations cultural expression through the Indigenous Languages and Arts program.

The Government is also investing $14.1 million over four years in community-led partnerships to support the learning and teaching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages in local primary schools. 

The United Nations General Assembly declared the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to draw attention to the critical status of many indigenous languages across the world and encourage action for their preservation, revitalisation and promotion.

Read Voices of Country – Australia’s Action Plan for the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032 here.

For more information on the International Decade, visit International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032 | Office for the Arts.

For more information on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, visit: https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/

Cyber Wardens Pilot event held in Wagga Wagga

Cyber Wardens pilot event was held in Wagga Wagga in 4 August 2023.

Cyber Wardens helps small business owners improve their cyber security skills and provides training to defend against digital break-ins and keep cyber criminals out of their business. With cyber-crime on the rise, it is essential that small business review their current cyber security. This program provides free training and a simple education tool to build a cyber-smart small business workforce.

Find out more about the program below.

Murray Region Forestry Hub celebrates National Forestry Day

National Forestry Day 2023 ( photo from Murray Region Forestry Hub )

Media Release | 22 August 2023

This year’s National Forestry Day was celebrated at National Foresters’ Grove, Lavington, today Tuesday 22 August.

The day was hosted by the Murray Region Forestry Hub (MRFH) and Softwoods Working Group (SWG) and marked by a tree-planting ceremony followed by morning tea at National Foresters’ Grove, Wagga Road, Lavington.

A dinner was held at Huon Hill, Wodonga, last night (Monday), which the chair of MRFH and SWG Peter Crowe OAM, said provided a great opportunity for the forestry industry to engage in insightful conversations and foster connections within the industry.

“Both gatherings bring together like-minded professionals to discuss ways to ensure the growth and advancement of an industry that can not only help solve the national housing shortage by supporting the industry which supplies the materials, but also fight climate change through carbon storage,” Mr Crowe said.

Albury Mayor Kylie King also attended the National Foresters’ Grove celebrations.

Mr Crowe said National Foresters’ Grove, a bicentennial project where more than 300 native trees have been planted in honour of past and present foresters, was the ideal place to celebrate the timber industries’ achievements.

“National Forestry Day celebrates the forest industries’ great work fighting climate change, providing jobs, and creating sought-after products such as house frames, cardboard boxes, and even paper straws, from a renewable source,” he said.

Mr Crowe said Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) figures show Australia’s forest industries contribute $24 billion annually to the economy and support around 80,000 direct jobs nationally and another 100,000 indirectly, many of which underpin rural and regional communities.

“The trees that make up Australia’s total plantation forestry estate store vast amounts of carbon, which AFPA figures show equates to the same amount of carbon created by more than 56 million cars being driven for a year,” he said.

“Australia has a $2 billion trade deficit in wood products. The Albanese Government aims to plant one billion more production trees by 2030 to help make our nation far less dependent on timber imports.”

High Speed Rail Authority Board meets in Newcastle

Joint Media Release from the Hon Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Local Development and Sharon Claydon MP, Federal Member for Newcastle

MEDIA RELEASE | Friday 25 August 2023

The Australian Government’s vision for an east coast high-speed rail network has taken another important step forward today, with the Board of the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) meeting in Newcastle for the first time. 

The Board’s meeting in Newcastle follows on from its detailed briefing with New South Wales transport officials yesterday regarding the existing rail corridor between Sydney and Newcastle.

HSRA commenced operations on 13 June 2023 to lead, plan, develop, coordinate, oversee and monitor the construction and operation of a high-speed rail network in Australia.

High-speed rail will revolutionise interstate travel on the east coast, providing a fast alternative for people to move between cities and regional centres, promoting sustainable settlement patterns, and generating and spreading economic benefits beyond the outskirts of major capitals.

HSRA Board is committed to working transparently within a framework of high standards of governance and accountability.

The Board is enthusiastic about the important foundational and planning activities currently underway, and is working to build the HSRA with a strong leadership team, organisational capability, positive culture and transparent processes and decision making. 

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“High-speed rail will be instrumental in improving the lives of Australians by supporting shifts in population settlement, better connecting skilled workers with major job centres and be a key enabler of achieving our ambitious carbon reduction targets.

"It is essential the HSRA takes the time now to establish a robust foundation on which to build and this means the planning has to be done properly and in detail.

“Given the size and scale of building an east coast high-speed rail network, it must be based on meticulous planning, good governance and highly effective project management.

“High-speed rail is still in its early days and we acknowledge this project will take time.

"We have a vision about how we want to see Australia develop, not just next year or next decade but decades from now.”

Hyne Timber Partners to Support Ngarigo Culture Reserve

MEDIA RELEASE | 24 August 2023

Hyne Timber is pleased to announce, a 12-month partnership with the Ngarigo Toomaroombah Kunama Namadgi Indigenous Corporation to support the development of the Ngarigo Culture Reserve in Tumbarumba.

The Ngarigo Culture Reserve is the first of its kind for the town and is already attracting busses of visitors despite the development being in early stages.

Ngarigo Elders, Uncle Craig Wilesmith, Aunty Sandra Casey and Uncle John Casey, supported by many other Ngarigo people and volunteers are proudly informing the Reserve development in respect of their ancestors.

Ngarigo Elder, Uncle Craig said the Reserve is located at an area of spiritual, cultural significance,

“This Reserve at Murrays Crossing Road ‘5 ways’ is traditionally where the five main song lines of the regional Indigenous people met. In other words, the most accessible ways across our landscape which more recently informed the road network. Each year in November, around 600 Indigenous people congregated at this very place.

“Our people met here for Corroboree’s, yarning and trade.

“It was also the site of our Message Tree where message sticks were exchanged. The Message Tree was sadly destroyed in the bushfires and had to be removed but has since been replaced with a rock monument.

“We still have more work to do but have been overwhelmed with the community and business support we are already receiving, including most recently, from Hyne Timber coming on board as a partner,” Uncle Craig said.

There are many volunteers and contributing businesses helping to develop the Culture Reserve including both yarning and Burra circles, a scar tree, and the Message Tree monument. The two circles are joined by a rainbow serpent walkway, lined with painted rocks by the local primary school as part of their cultural learning and engagement.

The Burra circle also has a striking ‘centre piece’ which wouldn’t have traditionally featured but represents traditionally favoured food. This is a hand carved, wooden, long neck turtle carved by Ngarigo man, Justin McCulland.

Hyne Timber’s General Manager Stakeholder Engagement, Katie Fowden visited the site with Ngarigo Elders Uncle Craig and Aunty Sandra Casey to understand first-hand, the scale and plans for the development,

“People want to understand and engage with our Indigenous heritage. This includes here in Tumbarumba with the visitors already flocking to this Culture Reserve still under development.

“We can’t tell the stories of our Indigenous heritage but we can help fund the logistics so their story can be shared more widely, educating people in an appropriately respectful, engaging and informative way for all ages and abilities.

“In addition to the cultural elements, a carpark is being installed along with BBQ facilities, bathroom amenities, educational signage and a bituminised Culture Trail to connect with the ever-popular Rail Trail.

“Anyone can visit the site now and sit amongst the yarning circle, surrounded by the trees and sounds of the kookaburras and nature. It is already an immersive experience despite the project being in its infancy. 

“We entered into a longer-term partnership as opposed to simply supplying one-off funding so we can continue to support the Elders and volunteers with this historically significant project through to fruition.” Ms Fowden said.

The project continues to raise funds from the community and local businesses with bituminisation of the Culture Trail yet to receive funding and get underway.

Supporting businesses and organisations include Hyne Timber, a Snowy Hydro grant, Aboriginal Affairs, Warren Hulm and Sons and Bald Hill Quarries with the Snowy Valleys Council also supporting the development as a preserved area of spiritual significance.

If you would like to support the project in some way, you can contact the Ngarigo Toomaroombah Kunama Namadgi Indigenous Corporation by emailing tknic8520@gmail.com