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Latest News
Youth crime is increasing – what to do?
There is something strange going on with youth crime in rural and regional Australia. Normally, I treat hysterical rising delinquency claims with a pinch of salt – explicable by an increase in police numbers, or a headline-chasing tabloid, or a right-wing politician.
Other News
Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Couching an Opinion
The Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins case was never about establishing whether or not Lehrmann raped Higgins. It was about Brittany. She was established as not ‘the perfect victim’ so we overlooked the blazingly obvious fact that Bruce Lehrmann was ‘the perfect perpetrator’. An entitled, compulsive wrecking ball of cocaine, $400 steaks, free rent and very very expensive massages.
Byron Comedy Fest 2024 Laughs
The legendary Northern Hotel’s Backroom opens its doors to laughter when it welcomes The Byron Comedy Fest with eight big headline shows. With audiences packing out shows every year, Festival Directors Mel Coppin and Zara Noruzi have decided a new venue with increased capacity was in order. It also means the festival is an all-weather event – expect all your favourites!
Youth crime is increasing – what to do?
There is something strange going on with youth crime in rural and regional Australia. Normally, I treat hysterical rising delinquency claims with a pinch of salt – explicable by an increase in police numbers, or a headline-chasing tabloid, or a right-wing politician.
The bridges of Ballina Council
Ballina Shire Council has started preliminary investigation works at Fishery Creek Bridge, on River Street, and Canal Bridge, on Tamarind Drive, as part of their plan to duplicate both bridges.
Wallum
It is, at best, amusing, but mostly disappointing, to see The Echo reporting on the mayoral minute to Council...
Sustainable power from carbon dioxide?
University of Queensland researchers have built an experimental generator which they claim absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) to make electricity.
Stories about "asylum seekers":
Stop the three word slogans
Parliament in Canberra is in the midst of another interminable break, but it's been a big week in politics, with the departures from public life of Dan Andrews and Mike Pezzullo, Warren Mundine and Noel Pearson crossing swords at the National Press Club, and the tabling of the epic Disability Royal Commission Report.
Kindness on rise in Ballina and beyond
A community battered by natural disasters and COVID is still finding room in its heart for refugees and asylum seekers, according to Ballina Region for Refugees Vice President Stanley Yeo.
Eight years of ‘suffering’ for Australia’s asylum seekers
Ballina Region for Refugees [BRR]has highlighted the dubious anniversary this week by again calling on Northern Rivers’ locals to write to politicians demanding an end to detention for people who found to be genuine refugees.
Urgent call to write to MPs as 90 medevac’d asylum-seekers endure detention in Australia
Ninety men have been in hotels and other types of detention across Australia since 2019 after spending six years on Manus or Nauru islands.
Australia’s bastardry
Gareth W R Smith, Byron Bay
Australia has a long string of racist and anti-humanitarian policies. These range from its treatment of Aboriginal people, complicity...
New initiative supports refugees in the community
Sponsoring refugees to settle in Australia could be on the cards if the Community Refugee Sponsorship Initiative (CRSI) pilot program, that Ballina Region for Refugees (BRFR) is participating in, is successful.
Thus Spake Mungo: Morrison leads the way to the ultimate Pacific solution
The Great White Father has arrived on the far-flung atolls of the Pacific. Like the missionaries before him, Scott Morrison is delivering the bringing of the light -- a gospel of hope and salvation. Well, up to a point. Boiled down, his message is that if they are worried about the rising waters, they should sandbag the foreshores and move to higher ground (if there is any), because he is not going to do anything substantial to help.
The world must not stand by and see Rahaf forcibly returned
Saudi Arabia is attempting to force 18-year-old Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun to return to the country after being apprehended in Thailand en route to Australia where she had hoped to seek asylum.
There are humane alternatives for helping refugees
Jenny Coman, Bangalow. Where does Peter Dutton get his ideas from – or are they prompts? Having watched and listened to him (reluctantly) during the time of this government, I can’t believe he could come up with anything original – unless he does have one area of expertise: fear mongering.
Refugees are not criminals
Scott Sledge, president, Northern Rivers Guardians. Dear Kevin Hogan, MP: I heard about the demonstration outside your office today too late to attend. I'll write instead:
Local News
Coffs Harbour man charged for alleged online grooming of young girl
Sex Crimes Squad detectives have charged a Coffs Harbour man for alleged online grooming offences under Strike Force Trawler.
Byron Echo
Blockades continue as councillors wave next Wallum certificate through
Paul Bibby - 0
A second subdivision works certificate for the Wallum estate was signed off by a majority of councillors last week, who again argued that they have no legal standing to further impede an approved development.
Byron Echo
Ancient brewing tradition honoured
An annual event and brewing ritual to honour ancient brewing traditions was held at Stone & Wood’s Byron brewery last week.
National News
New data reveals NSW social housing waitlist blowout
A fresh analysis by Homelessness NSW reveals where people are waiting the longest for social housing, sparking calls to double the supply of social homes and boost services funding.
