26 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

Whan predicts regional sackings in DPI reshuffle

Latest News

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Other News

State of confusion

If any of you watched Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, you would know that it was a...

New report highlights gaps in rural and remote health

The second annual Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush, Rural and remote Health Base Line’ report has just been released. Presenting the latest data on the health of rural and remote Australians and evidence on service gaps, it identifies issues in urgent need of attention from service providers, funders, partners and policy makers.

Terania blockade film to support Wallum cause

A film about Australia’s first environmental confrontation, which occured at Terania Creek near Nimbin, will screen on Friday, 22 March from 7pm at Brunswick Picture House as a fundraiser for the Save Wallum campaign. 

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival returns to Byron Bay in May, and this year ‘locals favourite’ pub...

Coveted Wollumbin Art Award open for young and old

Are you an artist in the Northern Rivers? Now is the time to get your art ready and submitted to the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre’s coveted biennial Wollumbin Art Award.

Workshop in Creative Writing For Beginners

Have you always felt like you have a novel in you, but don’t know where to start? Or have...

Shadow minister for primary industries, Steve Whan, says the O’Farrell government’s decision to amalgamate livestock health and pest authorities (LHPA), catchment management authorities (CMA) and agricultural extension services is about massive job cuts in rural NSW, office closures and, in the longer term, the likely removal of vital agricultural extension services.

The LHPA, which has come under fire from local landowners for lacking accountability and imposing unreasonable fees, currently operates an office in Lismore that would most likely be closed under the proposed changes.

In what he described as ‘a confused performance’ on ABC’s Country Hour yesterday, Mr Whan said the minister ‘was completely unable to hide the fact that these changes are all about cutting jobs and funding to rural NSW’.

Mr Whan added that ‘hundreds of jobs and dozens of offices’ were threatened.

‘This is in direct breach of the promise made before the election that there would be no jobs cut from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and no offices closed. The promised decade of decentralisation now lies in tatters with, the Nationals embarking on the biggest centralisation in DPI history.

‘It is a real concern that the minister, after 18 months planning these changes and several previous reports, has been unable to provide any detail on the new structures, jobs or delivery models.

‘In another cowardly attempt to further distance herself from cuts, the minister shifted off to yet another committee the decisions on even fundamental issues like the boundaries of the new bodies.

‘Local representation is another key issue. Who will elect board members, who will pay rates? The agenda of LHPA ratepayers is not necessarily the same as for CMAs or more broadly for DPI.

‘I am not opposed to considered change to the LHPA model, but it has to be based on better service, not no service. I am greatly concerned about the idea of rolling extension officers into these new agencies. Will they go from being permanent government employees to contractors? Will they be expected to source funds from industry bodies to continue their vital work? All unanswered questions.

‘The minister says ratepayers will not have to pay unnecessary fees and she quoted locust levies. Does this mean leaving farmers in locust-affected areas with an unmanageable burden or is she committing to give the sort of extra funding provided by Labor in the last plague?

‘Critically for our whole state, there is nothing in these plans that talks about how we respond to major animal and plant emergencies. The minister is breaking down the network that responded to the equine influenza outbreak and which would be the first line of defence against devastating threats like foot and mouth disease.

‘There are many questions left unanswered and we can have little confidence that this minister will get the answers right.’

 


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Making Lismore Showground accessible to everyone

The Lismore Showground isn’t just a critical local community asset that plays host to a number of major events each year, but has also been used as an evacuation centre during past natural disasters in the region. 

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.

Saddle Road group home DA decision this week

Plans to build Byron Shire’s first permanent group home for women and children in housing stress are moving ahead, with the development application for the project coming before Council this week.