FIRED-UP independents are vowing to stonewall controversial electoral reforms and use any leverage in a hung parliament to rebalance the scales. The reforms include a campaign spending cap of $800,000 per electorate but registered political parties will be able to access a $90 million war chest for general advertising. Independent Zali Steggall
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Forestry fire specialists deployed to Victoria
HUNTER and Mid North Coast fire specialists from Forestry Corporation have deployed to Victorian firefronts as part of an interstate NSW firefighting contingency. Victoria has experienced significant bushfire activity near Horsham with large fires burning in the Grampians and Little Desert National Parks. Advertise with News of The Area today. It's
Curtain call: basic energy upgrades may save households
NSW Government partners with Transgrid on Hunter Transmission Project
TRANSGRID has been announced as the preferred network operator of the Hunter Transmission Project (HTP), signing a commitment deed with the NSW Government’s EnergyCo. The project, considered by the state government as “critical for NSW’s energy security”, involves building a new above-ground 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line of around 100
‘Real opportunity’ for homebuyers as values bottom out
AS Australian property prices hold firm, now might be the perfect time to purchase before Reserve Bank rate cuts put a rocket under demand. Home values were flat in January despite declines in the heavyweight markets of Sydney and Melbourne, analysis from property data firm CoreLogic revealed on Monday. Advertise with News
Record renewables share in grid as power demand climbs
THE share of solar and wind powering Australia's main grid has reached a new high while coal power's contribution dipped below 50 percent for the first time. Renewable energy supplied a record 46 percent of the national energy market's electricity in the three months to December, driving emissions to record low
Cheap loans to keep emission-busting farmers profitable
FARMERS could save more than $50,000 a year on interest costs for hybrid, electric and hydrogen-powered utes and methane-reducing feed for their herds under a new tranche of cheap loans. The nation's federal green bank on Friday announced $100 million would go to farmers as part of a $300 million green
Forever chemicals being found ‘literally everywhere’
AUSTRALIA needs to prevent the introduction of more "forever chemicals" amid warnings it is becoming increasingly difficult to deal with the contaminants already in the environment. A federal senate inquiry is examining the extent of contaminations from the PFAS family of chemicals, which do not naturally break down and have been
Ageing ‘coal clunkers’ posing power outage risk
FRESH warnings Australia's coal generation fleet is ageing and becoming less reliable come as the federal government dials up its clean energy commitment with a $2 billion top-up for the national green bank. More than 60 percent of Australia's coal power stations are over four decades old, an advanced age Climate
Apprentice incentive not enough to meet housing targets
AN injection of funding to attract apprentices into construction is being lauded as a welcome response to the sector's skills shortage. But as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces an election campaign in which housing affordability is set to be a key issue, his government's record has little to show. Its landmark National