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Byron Shire
June 24, 2026

New NSW Casino Commissioner announced

Latest News

NSW budget and the Northern Rivers

The Minns government says it's handed down a budget which locks in major funding for North Coast health infrastructure, alongside targeted cost-of-living relief designed for regional households and disaster recovery, as locals continue to face higher costs.

Other News

Local farming legend retires after 23 years

Thursday, 25 June marks the end of an era for local farmer Kenrick Riley who is retiring from Byron...

BSC moves closer to special rate rise

Byron Shire Council has moved a step closer to seeking a special rate rise, unanimously endorsing a community engagement program that will form a key part of any future application to increase rates above the state-imposed cap.

Mullum water supply, a new twist

Debates on the future of Mullumbimby’s water supply took a new twist at Council’s meeting on 18 June. The latest...

Tipping point, climate change

Please do not think me didactic. There is a sense of urgency that communities including Byron Bay must prepare for. ...

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.

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 NSW government has announced public administrator Christine Howlett as a new Commissioner of the NSW Independent Casino Commission.

The NICC was set up in 2022 to provide increased regulatory oversight of casino operations.

Ms Howlett fills the vacancy created by the departure of Craig Sahlin who served as a NICC Commissioner since its beginning.

She’s to serve a four-year term heading the independent statutory regulator of NSW’s two casinos.

The new Commissioner served as Deputy Special Manager, independently overseeing Crown Melbourne’s remediation program from 2021 after findings of the Finkelstein Royal Commission.

That work included reforms to prevent gambling harm and money laundering.

Ms Howlett has also held senior roles with Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission, the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Victoria’s Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants and the National Crime Authority.



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Appeal to locate missing woman

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from the Kempsey area.

Citizen science last line of defence for threatened species

Native forest logging is again in the spotlight in NSW, following Monday night’s Four Corners investigation into Forestry Corporation NSW’s failure to protect nationally endangered species.

Site confirmed for future high school at Pottsville

The NSW government says it has secured a site for a future high school in Pottsville, delivering on its commitment to future-proof public education for the growing Tweed community in the Northern Rivers.

Eleven winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with twelve students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.