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Byron Shire
June 22, 2026
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Trump gives ScoMo a gong

By David Lowe

Latest News

Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Lismore wants a a safe, accessible and long-term home for the Hannah Cabinet

The Hannah Cabinet was created by Lismore master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM over six-and-a-half years and is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most significant pieces of contemporary decorative furniture.
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Other News

Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Lismore wants a a safe, accessible and long-term home for the Hannah Cabinet

The Hannah Cabinet was created by Lismore master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM over six-and-a-half years and is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most significant pieces of contemporary decorative furniture.
Read more
Local NewsThe Echo - 0

Community housing industry call for major expansion in upcoming NSW budget

The community housing industry are calling on the NSW government to use next week's State Budget to unlock a major expansion of community housing.
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Local NewsThe Echo - 0

More comes out on Byron and Mullum pools saga

The problem with Byron Shire councillors making decisions in confidential sessions ‘behind closed doors’ is that no-one knows what really happened apart from those in the room.
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Articles & ColumnsDavid Lowe - 0

Pauline at the Press Club, and on Planet Gina

Last week Australia had a glimpse of what life might be like under Prime Minister Pauline Hanson, via two speeches, one in Canberra and one in Townsville.
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Local NewsThe Echo - 0

LECC find police failed in their duty in the death of Lindy Lucena

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission’s Operation Almas has criticised the police response to the violent death of Ballina woman Lindy Lucena at the hands of her partner in 2023.
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Byron EchoThe Echo - 0

Seas the Day in Kingscliff this weekend

This weekend the fourth NRMA Insurance Seas The Day women’s surf festival is back at Kingscliff Beach with Surfing...
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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tries out the presidential lectern on his last visit to the White House. Photo by Shealah Craighead (public domain, #USAxAUS Flickr).

As his time in the White House ticks away, US President Donald Trump found a unique Christmas present for the man who has everything, giving PM Scott Morrison a prestigious American military honour.

The US National Security Council tweeted on Tuesday that President Donald Trump awarded the Legion of Merit to Mr Morrison ‘for his leadership in addressing global challenges and promoting collective security’.

Australia’s man in Washington, Arthur Sinodinos, accepted the award on the Prime Minister’s behalf.

The Legion of Merit is usually awarded to US soldiers, and occasionally to foreign political or military figures.

This week, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe were awarded the same decoration as the Australian Prime Minister, for equally dubious reasons.

Other Legion of Merit-holders were not asked their opinion of the latest awardees.

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Local News

Facing the River in chapters

The Echo - 0
Tweed Shire Council is telling the full story of how the Tweed community has rebuilt since the 2022 floods, and further damage from the 2024 floods and Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
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Local News

Putting their money where their mouth and conscience is

The Echo - 0
Climate action group Rising Tide say they will disrupt business at Tweed City ANZ today, as local long-term customers withdraw their life savings from the bank.
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National News

Bird flu reaches Western Australia

David Lowe - 0
H5 avian flu has officially arrived in Western Australia, first discovered days ago in a dead migratory seabird near Esperance (700 km south-east of Perth), and since found in numerous other birds.
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Local News

Momentum hosts free skate workshop for girls and women

The Echo - 0
Whether you are stepping on a skateboard for the first time, sharpening your skills or getting ready to compete, a free school holiday workshop is being offered to all female skaters up to 25 years.
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More Articles Like This

AI: Artificial Intelligence, or Artificial Inflation?

Byron Echo Sunil Badami - 0
It feels as if AI is everywhere – whether it’s those intrusive bots on every website or every headline about how it’s either going to be a boon for humanity, or end us.
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War with Iran, and between humans and machines?

Articles & Columns David Lowe - 0
Desperate to distract attention from the Epstein files, and retain his faltering grip on domestic power, US 'Peace President' Donald Trump has attacked another sovereign country, and murdered its leader, along with numerous others, and Australia's prime minister is apparently fine with that.
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Dictatorfest goes swimmingly, Epstein refuses to die

Articles & Columns David Lowe - 6
More than 10,000 troops marched through Tiananmen Square in Beijing last week, accompanied by a large number of advanced weapons, supposedly to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war, but actually to demonstrate China's transformation from the sick man of Asia to an emerging superpower.
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Richard goes to crazy town, Bob embarrasses ancestors

Articles & Columns David Lowe - 23
Last week Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and his red tie flew to Washington to spend some time in the vicinity of several members of Donald Trump's alarming inner circle. Was this an official meeting or just a random encounter on the way to the men's room? Was anything of substance discussed? Who would know?
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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