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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, and producers' claims around a lack of transparent pricing information and processor consolidation leading to…

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Nov172015

DUBBO DAILY LIBERAL: Time for education equality is now

In The NewsMonday, 16 November 2015

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 Assets Test and the Family Actual Means Test from the Youth Allowance Personal Test from…

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Nov162015

SWAN HILL GUARDIAN: Changes to ‘illogical’ test a win for country kids

In The NewsMonday, 16 November 2015

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 trusts from the eligibility test for youth allowance, which assists full-time…

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Nov162015

THE AUSTRALIAN: Youth Allowance access widened as means, asset tests eased

In The NewsFriday, 13 November 2015

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 costs from having to move to attend university. It…

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Nov132015

ABC RURAL: Parents celebrate as Parliament signs off on Youth Allowance changes to make university more accessible for country kids

In The NewsThursday, 12 November 2015

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 Family Asset Test will be removed from the Youth Allowance Personal…

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Nov122015

THE GUARDIAN: Gambling laws: government should impose national tax, says senator

In The NewsThursday, 5 November 2015

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, who flagged her plan with the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, when he was communications minister, said…

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Nov52015

Will Female Foodies be the Future of Australia’s Economy?

In The NewsWednesday, 4 November 2015

•Women are driving the creation of digital technology in the food industry •Australia’s Food industry is more valuable than mining •Huge potential for economic growth: technology start-ups could add $100 billion to Australia’s GDP* Hackfood 2015 Liz Kaelin, Monica Wulf, Natia English With the future of Australia’s mining industry beginning to fade, a growing community…

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Nov42015

ABC Radio National Breakfast: Regional politicians react with anger to ABC changes to regional radio

In The NewsFriday, 30 October 2015

Politicians in the bush have reacted with anger to changes to ABC regional radio programs. The ABC will cut two-thirds of its local radio news bulletins in regional areas, and there will be changes to long standing 'morning' programs. Instead, a new feature program will be introduced—called 'Local Life'—on air from 10am. The ABC says…

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Oct302015

WANGARATTA CHRONICLE: Probing alleged boycott

In The NewsMonday, 26 October 2015

Pic source: meatprojects.com.au BY Jamie Kronborg AUSTRALIAN Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Simms has admitted his agency is no closer to determining if any action is warranted against buyers who allegedly participated in the so-called 'Barnawartha boycott' of a February cattle sale at the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange (NVLX). An ACCC investigation began eight…

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Oct262015

NEWS.COM.AU: Victorian Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie on Australian gun control

In The NewsSaturday, 24 October 2015

Pic source: news.com.au http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/victorian-nationals-senator-bridget-mckenzie-on-australian-gun-control/story-fnpjxnlk-1227580961935 BRIDGET McKenzie wears her engraved Beretta over a shoulder and looks an elegant version of that American creation, the “hottie with a shottie”. The Victorian Nationals’ senator speaks of the “empowerment” she gets from her double-barrel firearm when she shoots targets or wildlife. And she fires off lists of figures to…

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Oct242015