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Byron Shire
June 21, 2026

A royal culture

Latest News

The NT intervention laws that shape lives

This Sunday marks 19 years since the then Howard Government announced the Northern Territory Intervention laws – ‘The Intervention’ began with a media release by Mal Brough, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, on June 21, 2007.

Other News

Shark culls not the answer

It has been a confronting and devastating year with a 12-year-old killed by a shark in Sydney and another shark attack in Coogee over the weekend. The NSW government has said there is nothing off the table in response to the latest shark incident. But it is vital that we don’t just start going out there and randomly culling sharks.

Vale William ‘Bill’ Ewen

The funeral service for Marine Rescue Ballina volunteer William ‘Bill’ Ewen was held on Monday at Ballina RSL Club.

Dancing and fundraising for our children’s future

The recent premeditated killings of several children in Australia by their fathers has raised the issue of filicide (the deliberate act of a parent killing their own child) alongside the issue of domestic violence (DV) and femicide (the intentional murder of women or girls) as key areas that need research to help understand why these things happen.

Labor and housing

I met Treasurer Jim Chalmers on the beach here a little while back. I asked him, ‘Are we in...

Local media needed

Congratulations to The Echo for 40 years of providing our community with independent review and scrutiny and information that...

Are retirement villages what Byron Bay needs?

Developer DD Resort Living is seeking community feedback until June 18 on its proposed retirement living development in Byron Bay.

Bronwyn Sindel, Mullumbimby

I can’t help but comment on last week’s Backlash regarding the nationality of the Royal Family of Great Britain. Using the same concept one would have to say that all non-Aboriginal people are not Australian; they are English, Irish, Scottish, Asian etc.

Many have changed their family names, and some their first names as well, in order to fit in more easily with the culture they have adopted.

As for racism, are you joking, folks? White Australians dare to comment on the racism of others? We don’t even know exactly what was said or by whom. Of course it needs to be investigated, and some heart-to-heart conversations with Harry and Meghan and close family members would seem to me to be essential. But to suddenly jump on the bandwagon of self-righteous indignation with regard to matters of which we know so little (were you there?) seems to me like gross hypocrisy.

If you find yourself always ready to heap blame on others for their perceived wrongs, then perhaps the old adage ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’ should be brought more sharply into focus.



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Hemp industry given boost with development plan

A Hemp Industry Development Plan has been announced by the NSW government, which promises 'to unlock new opportunities for NSW businesses and add value to the state's low-THC hemp industry, which is forecast to become a $100 million Australian industry by 2032'.

Gambling harm recognised by Tweed Council, supported by Wesley Mission

Faith-based, not-for-profit organisation providing community services in NSW, Wesley Mission, has welcomed Tweed Shire Council’s decision to publicly recognise the impact of gambling harm and advocate for stronger harm-minimisation measures.

Winter Warmer fundraiser for homelessness

The annual Winter Warmer Homelessness Relief campaign, hosted by Dharma Care, will return for 2026 with cabaret at Salt, Kingscliff, on Thursday 2 July, headlined by comedian Mandy Nolan, interactive performance artist The Space Cowboy and the Kinship Doobai Dancers, with a Welcome to Country from Aunty Jackie.

Tweed Shire Council presents flood resilience series – part one

Over the coming weeks, Tweed Shire Council will present a flood resilience series, which looks at how 'Tweed's story is different from the standard flood recovery narrative and what happened next'.