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Byron Shire
June 21, 2026

New Lismore refugee support group starting up

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.

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Call for nominations for NSW Australian of the Year 2027

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New maternity unit at Grafton Base Hospital

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Flood gauges installed in Ballina and Wardell 

Residents in Ballina and Wardell will have more more localised flood warnings, giving them time to prepare before floodwaters arrives, thanks to new flood forecast services along the Richmond River.

The NT intervention laws that shape lives

local filmmaker Sinem Saban will be presenting back-to-back screenings in Murwillumbah of her two award-winning films that not only expose draconian Australian intervention policies, but also present the catastrophic fallout from these laws that have been unravelling in Aboriginal communities to this day.

New bus services for Tweed and Murwillumbah

From 29 June, 175 additional weekly bus services will be added to Tweed and Murwillumbah routes.

LRRS committee members Maree Beekhouse, Marie Scholes, Bridget Carr, Anne Tuart, Margaret Bruce, Sylvie Veneque. Photo supplied

Australians are known for their generosity when supporting other in need and there are many local stories of people helping one another through the floods, fire and COVID over recent years. Now a local group from the Lismore area, the Lismore Region Refugee Settlement (LRRS), have come together to support refugees settling in the area. 

‘We are looking forward to, and very keen to host and welcome as soon as possible one of the many refugee families that are desperately waiting to get a chance to make a new start with their lives,’ said a spokesperson for LRRS.

‘The first goal of the new LRRS is to raise enough funds and find suitable accommodation locally for a refugee family, which most likely will be coming from South America. Look out for fundraisers being held in your community. Any way you can support this initiative and any donations large or small are greatly appreciated.’

Lismore Region Refugee Settlement works under the umbrella of CRISP (Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot), and is also a part of ‘Sanctuary’, the local organisation that helped so successfully settle and support African refugees a decade ago.

‘The present members of LRRS are a diverse group of concerned citizens from Lismore and surrounding villages and towns. Anybody who is interested in supporting this initiative or just would like some more information, please call 0427 003 609 and leave a message,’ said the spokesperson.

Donations can be made through Shout for Good or by scanning this QR code.

Click QR code to make donations for the Lismore Region Refugee Settlement (LRRS)



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Hemp industry given boost with development plan

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Gambling harm recognised by Tweed Council, supported by Wesley Mission

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Winter Warmer fundraiser for homelessness

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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'.