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Byron Shire
July 8, 2026

Gillard’s ex-boyfriend to front inquiry

Latest News

Protests over ALDI supply chain safety issues

Hundreds of transport workers are protesting nationally at Aldi stores as the Transport Workers' Union highlights dangerous practices in the supermarket’s transport supply chain, from lack of maintenance on vehicles to underpayments and worker injuries.

Other News

Cartoons of the week – 8 July, 2026

The Echo loves your letters and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, send us your epistles.

NSW Women of the Year noms open

Nominations are now open for the 2027 NSW Women of the Year Awards. Nationals Member for Tweed, Geoff Provest says the awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of local women and girls.

Response to the Special Rate Variation

Why spend $120,000 on a community engagement plan to find out if residents will be happy to see their...

Not alone

Residents of Morrison Ave Mullumbimby, rest assured you are not alone. I have been writing to Byron Shire Council...

Positive future for Byron’s visitor economy

Last Thursday saw Destination Byron bring together over 150 attendees looking at the future of Byron and its visitor economy.

23 townhouses proposed in Bangalow – info session today

Plans for a proposed 23-townhouse development in the outskirts of Bangalow are open to the public today, with a drop-in information session being held from 11am to 4.30pm at the Old Scouts Hall, 9 Station Street, Bangalow.

Former prime minister Julia Gillard.
Former prime minister Julia Gillard.

Former prime minister Julia Gillard’s ex-boyfriend and controversial former union official Bruce Wilson will front a royal commission into trade union corruption on Thursday.

Mr Wilson allegedly handed Ms Gillard a large amount of cash several times to pay for renovations on her Melbourne home, the commission has heard.

Ms Gillard then allegedly paid for her renovations with a cheque.

Mr Wilson will on Thursday be asked about those claims when he appears before the royal commission hearing in Sydney.

The commission is examining allegations that members of the AWU West Australian branch established a secret ‘slush fund’ in the early 1990s and used some of the cash to help officials win elections.

It’s alleged thousands of dollars from the Workplace Reform Association fund, which was legally established by the former prime minister when she was working as a lawyer, was used to pay for renovations at Ms Gillard’s Melbourne home in 1994.

She has denied the allegations.

 



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Making the S.H.I.F.T. in women’s lives

Older women are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis and financial insecurity. They are the fastest-growing group of people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

Lismore households throwing away $670,000

Lismore City Council says Lismore households recently threw away an estimated $670,000 by placing eligible drink containers in their kerbside bins instead of claiming their refund, while almost half the contents of red-lid general waste bins could have been recycled or composted.

It’s not just you, it’s Telstra

Across Australia, Telstra mobile and mobile data customers have been dealing with widespread outages this morning, from cities to the regions, including the Northern Rivers.

$5.5 million for surf clubs

The NSW government says the state's surf life saving clubs can now apply for a share of $5.5 million through the Surf Club Facility Program, to upgrade, rebuild or future-proof the facilities that keep beaches safe.