Delivered a win on the ‘Backpacker Tax’ ensuring our agricultural industry remains competitive and maintaining Australia’s status as one of the most competitive destinations for working holiday makers. Delivered the first Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Register report ... Read more

Pic source: Sydney Morning Herald, Justin McManus The ABC board would have to include two members living outside the major cities and the broadcaster's charter would be amended to include a commitment to regional Australia, under sweeping changes being pushed by National Party MPs. The ABC wou... Read more

Pic source: Wangaratta Chronicle BY Jamie Kronborg THE chief of the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange has told a Senate inquiry into what has become known as the Barnawartha saleyard boycott that it could consider if controls might be imposed on the number of beef processors a commission buyer... Read more

Pic source: beefcentral.com BY Kalyan Kumar  Following complaints of anti-competitive practices in the red meat industry, the Australian government has launched an investigation into the industry's practices. A senate inquiry recently quizzed the representatives of Meat Industry Council on the go... Read more

Pic source: ACCC BY Warwick Long Australia's consumer watchdog has confirmed it's still investigating a boycott by major meat processors of a cattle sale in north-east Victoria earlier this year. Up to nine processors boycotted the first prime sale at the new Wodonga saleyards in February, p... Read more

Pic source: vff.org.au BY John Chanter THE owners of Barnawartha’s NVLX saleyards knew weeks in advance that at least one processor would boycott its first sale in February, they told an inquiry sitting in Canberra this week. The admission was made by Regional Infrastructure managing d... Read more

Pic source: farmonline.com.au BY Colin Bettles FARM assets will be cut from the Youth Allowance asset test from January 1 next year, delivering great news for farming families while boosting regional education, says Victorian Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie. Starting next year, the Family... Read more

Pic source: ABC Rural (Warwick Long) BY Warwick Long The operator of the new Wodonga Saleyards, knew at least one major meat processor was going to boycott its first prime sale, months before the sale occurred. At the opening of the new multi-million dollar saleyard complex at Barnawartha ne... Read more

Pic source: meatprojects.com.au BY Anna Vidot The Australian Meat Industry Council has fronted a Senate inquiry in Canberra to defend processors against claims of collusion and anti-competitive behaviour. The Senate's Rural Affairs committee is investigating the red meat processing industry,... Read more

Pic source: ampc.com.au The chairman of Australia's peak red meat industry body insists he has no knowledge of collusion among buyers and sellers of livestock. David Larkin from the Australian Meat Industry Council told a Senate inquiry into the sector on Tuesday that he has never heard of c... Read more

Pic source: ncsehe.edu.au BY Kate Thorburn COUNTRY students considered asset-rich but cash-poor are able to access youth allowance for the first time, after the eligibility test for the financial assistance program was loosened. A bill was passed in Canberra last week excluding farms and trus... Read more

Pic source: studiesinaustralia.com THE federal government needs to act quickly to address barriers facing rural and regional students, according to National party senator Bridget McKenzie. Last week saw the government pass changes to Youth Allowance eligibility, including removing the Family A... Read more

Pic source: uwa.edu.au BY Andrew Trounson Access to Youth Allowance student support payments will be widened by new legislation dropping two asset tests at a cost to the budget of $263 million over four years. The measure will particularly benefit regional families who often face higher co... Read more

Pic: ICPA members celebrate youth allowance changes. Source: ICPA/ABC Rural     BY Anna Vidot The Federal Parliament has signed off on changes to Youth Allowance that will make it easier for rural and remote students to go to university. The Family Actual Means Test and F... Read more

Pic source: dss.gov.au BY Katharine Murphy The federal government should impose a new national gaming tax and prohibit Australians from gambling with foreign operators through “banking and other tools”, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie has said. The Victorian backbench senator,... Read more