Latest News
First Byron Shire Council meeting postponed
Byron Shire Council’s first meeting of newly minted councillors was to take place today, 20 January, however, the storm of COVID-19 that is taking place across the country led to it being postponed.
Other News
Hospitals under strain
With ever increasing pressure on health services across the nation and locally, how are health staff coping – and are there enough ICU beds and ventilators to cope with the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases?
Community the big winner at Rotary Duck Race
The Richmond River at Fawcett Park in Ballina was full of colour on the weekend for the 30th Rotary Duck Race. The event has raised a quarter of a million dollars for charity over its history in Ballina.
Food for thought?
‘The fundamental cause of the trouble,’ he wrote, ‘is that in the modern world, the stupid are cocksure while...
BoM tsunami warning for the NSW Coastline
The State Emergency Service (SES) has issued a tsunami warning as a result of an eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apa in the Tongan Islands at 3.10pm AEDT yesterday, Saturday, January 15.
The Greens launch NurseKeeper for nurses and paramedics
The Greens have written to the Premier to ask him to immediately introduce ‘NurseKeeper’ to urgently introduce pandemic pay and bonuses for nurses and paramedics.
1,051 new cases of COVID-19 for Northern Rivers
The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) saw 1,051 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed to 8pm last night...
Stories about "same sex marriage":
Support for families and friends of LGBTIQ community
Same-sex marriage was supported in late 2017 with over 61 per cent of the country voting in favour. For many people it felt like they could now move forward positively accepting each other’s choices of love and sexual identities.
How the same-sex marriage vote will impact on human rights, democracy
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s promise of same-sex marriage by Christmas will almost certainly be honoured. We will continue to argue for some time whether the long, expensive and emotionally charged process that’s delivered this change was worth it.
Amendments to marriage bill would extend discrimination: Natale
Right-wing amendments to same-sex marriage laws would provide special privileges for parents, civil celebrants and faith-based charities and undermine existing anti-discrimination laws, Greens Senator Richard Di Natale says.
Thus Spake Mungo: PM’s fistful of dollars… over the rainbow
When all else fails, dangle the prospect a tax cut and hope that the jaded eyes of the voters light up. Well, perhaps it’s not actually a prospect, more of a hint – or just a suggestion of a hint.
Byron businesses expect wedding boom after YES vote
For the hundreds of locals making a living from Byron’s wedding industry, the big ‘Yes’ result in the same-sex marriage survey wasn’t just about rights and recognition.
Abbott allegedly head-butted by same sex marriage campaigner
Liberal backbencher Tony Abbott was head-butted by a man he claims was a same-sex marriage supporter in Hobart on Thursday. But his tough old nut survived.
Marriage for all
Tonight: marriage equality forum at the Lismore Workers club from 6pm with former Olympic swimmer Daniel Kowalski.
Same-sex marriage vote Feb 11: report
The Turnbull government is expected to announce the plebiscite on same-sex marriage will be held on February 11 next year.
Psychologists call for marriage equality
The Australian Psychological Society has called for supports full marriage equality for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, on human rights, health and wellbeing grounds.
North coast Greens condemn govt over marriage equality
The Greens on the north coast have condemned the Coalition party room’s decision to deny its members a free vote on the issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Local News
1,051 new cases of COVID-19 for Northern Rivers
The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) saw 1,051 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed to 8pm last night (19 January) while there were...
Local News
Can you volunteer to help Friends of the Koala in Lismore?
Lismore’s Friends of the Koala have been on the frontline of saving koalas for many long years and are looking for volunteers to help them keep the species alive.
Byron Echo
Ocean Shores DA threat to biodiversity, say residents
A proposal to subdivide one lot (2,097m2) into three lots, and build two dwellings and three secondary dwellings, in densly forested riparian land in North Ocean Shores would create ‘Gold-Coast-style overdevelopment’, say residents.
Byron Echo
Disaster prevention pledge welcomed
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has welcomed a pre-election commitment from Federal Labor to invest up to $200 million per year in disaster prevention and resilience.
