18.6 C
Byron Shire
November 9, 2026

A real backward step

Latest News

Green Heroes among 2026 NSW Environment Award winners

The NSW Environment Awards, hosted by the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, Nature Conservation Council NSW, was recently held at Customs House in Sydney.

Other News

Damn the dams

Thanks for the information on the ten-dams project. Accurate and complete is how I found the articles. I’m grateful for...

Editorial – Conceding to the people

We are all familiar with the shortcomings of government. Political leanings aside, who among us has not felt that corruption and lack of accountability exist in government bodies?

Graffiti vandals strike Norries Head and Cabarita Beach

Repeated acts of graffiti vandalism at Norries Head and throughout Cabarita Beach, are drawing interest from the police and Tweed Shire Council.

Love books? Join Friends of the Library

Friends of the Libraries, Byron Shire are looking for some fresh, new, younger faces to join the group and help keep it moving forward.

Kinvara centre relocation would allow taller shop-top housing

The planned village centre at Kinvara, west of Lennox Head, would move to flatter land and allow taller shop-top housing under planning changes now open for public comment.

Legend Groove Terminator at the Nudge

Nudge Nudge Wink Wink returns to the Billinudgel Hotel on Saturday with Australian dance music icon Groove Terminator headlining fresh local talent and our beloved residents – all ready to deliver a serious dose of dance delight, all while supporting youth mental health organisation Human Nature Adventure Therapy.
Tony Abbott has not only hurt Australians with his draconian budget but now our children and grandchildren will suffer as Australia becomes the first country in the world to reverse action on climate change.

This week’s repeal of the price on pollution will be looked on in times ahead as a serious backward step in an era of climate change and a blow to Australian innovation, jobs and families.

It is clearly only the Greens that will lead the campaign to restore genuine action on global warming.

Tony Abbott will have to live with the consequences of his denial of global warming and his concerted efforts to undermine Australia’s effort to address it.

Unfortunately we will all now have to pay for the costs of global warming while the big polluters will get off scott free.

The tragedy of this decision is that it delivers a blow to jobs, a blow to clean solar and wind energy, and a massive blow to our kids and grandkids who will live on a planet permanently changed by global warming.

Here on the Tweed and across Australia we stand exposed to more extreme fires, floods, storms, and many of us risk losing our jobs and livelihoods because of global warming.

But Tony Abbott has just dismantled the most effective way for Australia to reduce our pollution.

Everyone from our leading scientists, to expert economists and insurers keep telling us that the longer we take to bring down pollution the greater the costs will be in lives, jobs and precious natural places lost.

The Greens will now lead a vigorous and focused campaign to restore action on global warming.

Dawn Walker, Tweed Greens



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments 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, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Remembrance Day 2026: 11am, 11 November

It is estimated that in WWl there were 20 million dead and 20 million injured. From a population base of fewer than five million,...

Love books? Join Friends of the Library

Friends of the Libraries, Byron Shire are looking for some fresh, new, younger faces to join the group and help keep it moving forward.

Racehorses shot for pet food by NSW breeder

Thirteen thoroughbred horses deemed no longer useful, have been destroyed with eight horses destroyed by firearm at Berkeley Park Stud.

Byron Bay Surf Lifesaving Club youngsters shine

Two young members of Byron Bay Surf Lifesaving Club have delivered outstanding performances at the Paddle NSW State Sprint Championships, held at the Penrith International Regatta Centre over the weekend.