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Byron Shire
July 17, 2025

Pork-barrelling Ben

Latest News

Was your business or not-for-profits impacted by Cyclone Alfred?

The NSW government has now opened applications for these organisations that suffered direct damage from Tropical Cyclone Alfred and severe weather events since 18 May. 

Other News

Uncle Tom’s flooding

If the community copes with the extended travel time, the disruption to businesses, and inadequate alternate routes only for...

Aftermath of crashes in Bungawalbin and Casino

Police say a man has been charged following a crash near Woodburn, while another man has died following a crash in Casino.

Fire burning beside Mullumbimby Woolworths under control

The Mullumbimby NSW Fire and Rescue Station House 388 was alerted to a large fire in a compound beside the Mullumbimby Woolworths supermarket at 8.22pm this evening.

Two teenagers charged with shoplifting offences – Tweed Heads

Police have charged two teenagers with numerous shoplifting offences in the Tweed Heads area.

The heart of the ‘90s

Things of Stone and Wood bring the heart of ’90s folk-rock to the Ballina RSL on Friday, July 25 and if the opening chords of ‘Happy Birthday Helen’ still tug at your heartstrings – or if you ever shouted ‘Wildflowers!’ from the back seat of a car – this one’s for you.

Mullumbimby roadworks have begun

A large-scale upgrade of Mullumbimby Road –from Uncle Toms to the town – has commenced, and Council staff are warning residents it will cause significant traffic delays and detours until December.

Keith Duncan, Pimlico.

An interesting letter from Keith Williams and Ballina Country Labor (Echo, February 28) regarding the ongoing pork barrelling activities by the Nationals Ben Franklin, yes this fellow is like father Christmas, he’s popping down every chimney in the Ballina electorate, the cash splash is great Ben but were probably just suffering from the shock of seeing someone from the Nationals doing it.

The Nationals love beating their chests over recent spending on local hospitals and roads and that’s fine, they’re badly needed, but they conveniently forget most of these projects were started by the previous Labor government, and the sudden cash splash has come from flogging off our public infrastructure.

The sad result of selling our electricity grid has already resulted in the loss of at least 600 jobs in regional NSW, with another 600 scheduled to go.

As of July 2017 NCOSS reported that 77 per cent of low income NSW households are going without heating in a bid to reduce their onerous power bills.

NSW electricity consumers have experienced the biggest price rise in Aust., with almost half of regional customers now suffering bill crisis.

NSW now has the dubious honour of having some of the highest electricity prices in the world, and is currently being investigated by the ACCC as to whether there is price collusion as a result of only a few generators now operating.

I’m sure from recent election disasters the Nationals have already got the message and that’s what all the pork barrelling is about, but don’t be too surprised if we’re somewhat reluctant to be enticed with our own money.

 


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