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Byron Shire
October 20, 2026

Rising Tide 2025 court proceedings 

Latest News

Cinema: NAZA

A must-see, award-winning documentary investigating AI warfare in Gaza. Fresh from winning the Special Jury Prize at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival, NAZA, the latest documentary from Academy Award-winning filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor (No Other Land), examines artificial intelligence and surveillance in Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Other News

Let’s not sell the only CBD carpark

The ongoing logistics disaster that is the ‘affordable’ housing proposed to be built on the public carpark at 57...

BSC insolvency

After numerous warnings, some more than a decade ago, why haven’t our two longest standing public servants Ndiaye and...

Interview with Genevieve Clay-Smith, director of Boss Cat showing at the Byron Bay Film Festival

When Sonja (Olivia Hargroder) loses her mother without warning, the only steady presence left in her life is her grandmother, Doris. But Doris’s idea of stability means dismantling everything Sonja has built. For Sonja, who lives with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and has spent her life fighting to be underestimated by no one, Doris’ plan feels less like protection and more like erasure. Directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith, Boss Cat is a vibrant, big-hearted Australian dramedy about independence, family and self-determination, anchored by a fearless lead performance.

Editorial – Time for a little respect

In 2020 unpaid care was estimated at three million unpaid carers in Australia that provide approximately $80 billion of unpaid care a year, that is $1.5 billion a week.

Wanderlust come to Mullum

Wanderlust invites the community to a magical evening celebrating connection and conscious living at the Wanderlust Night Market.

Free Musicland talk in Byron

Local author Tricia Shantz will be talking about a seminal time and place in her new book Musicland: When the Music Came to Byron 1970–1995 at the Byron Bay Library on Thursday, 29 October at 3pm.

Just like the Rising Tide 2024 arrestees, those of us arrested in November 2025 for suggesting that coal exports are cooking the planet and unnecessary for the welfare of ordinary Australians are ‘in a holding pattern’.

The police were required to present evidence to the court by 10 April 2026, but they didn’t. Instead, the police advised that they need more time.

As of 16 April, no date has been confirmed for police to serve the outstanding material. Because of that, it is likely that the court matters won’t progress much on the next court date (8 May 2026).

I think our own local police people are amazing. For the most part, they form part of our social safety net. But their lawyers in Sydney are enforcing Labor policy which now seems to include punishment by stalling and delaying court processes.

So please let Labor know that more spending on weapons and less on humanity will lose them office in the long term, unless they succeed in creating a 1930s-Europe-like scenario here in the 2030s.

I ask Labor to stop expanding laws against protest, and dragging out proceedings as an alternate punishment, and get back to looking after us. Climate change, rogue international warmongers, poverty and the increasing gap between rich and poor – these are our challenges. Locking up and buggering up protesters just consolidates the disasters that they should be overcoming.

Duncan Dey, Main Arm



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Interview with Genevieve Clay-Smith, director of Boss Cat showing at the Byron Bay Film Festival

When Sonja (Olivia Hargroder) loses her mother without warning, the only steady presence left in her life is her grandmother, Doris. But Doris’s idea of stability means dismantling everything Sonja has built. For Sonja, who lives with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) and has spent her life fighting to be underestimated by no one, Doris’ plan feels less like protection and more like erasure. Directed by Genevieve Clay-Smith, Boss Cat is a vibrant, big-hearted Australian dramedy about independence, family and self-determination, anchored by a fearless lead performance.

Something for everyone at the Picture House

From Australian superstar musos, to brand new documentaries, to comedians at the top of their game, there really is something for everyone at the Brunswick Picture House.

Thirty-six unmissable films

The 2026 Russell Hobbs British Film Festival features an unmissable line up 36 films, including five retrospectives which will screen from 28 October to 29 November at Palace Byron Bay and Ballina Cinemas.

A timeless story of self-discovery

A husband with a promotion, two adorable children and a lovely new house. Nora thought she had it all. But did she? What was the discontent that was whispering to her in the shadows?