Agriculture has the unenviable record of ranking only second behind road transport as Australia’s most dangerous industry. This rise in cases throughout 2015 sounds a warning bell that there really is a need to fast‐track improvements” stated Lower. “Planning for safety in the same way that you plan for your crops or stock will go a long way to reducing these incidents and the impacts they have not just on individuals, but also families and whole communities.
Youtube video link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dNwJSIWjVU&feature=youtu.be Local residents are being encouraged to make submissions to a Senate inquiry into what
they want from their ABC. Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson MP said there are concerns in regional areas around Australia that localism in ABC news programming has diminished to such an extent that it no longer serves local communities. The Environment and Communications Legislation Committee is seeking submissions by the 26th February 2016, on what local residents think and how, they believe, the current ABC can improve its services. "Recent changes to programming have seen a reduction in local services with news bulletins often containing little local news,” Mr Wilson said. "The ABC needs to be clear in its sense of purpose in the regions and give local residents something to support .” Mr Wilson said this is a good opportunity for the committee to hear at first hand from regional communities what they expect of the public broadcaster and the services it delivers. The ABC in regional areas is vital to providing essential services to communities including weather updates, emergency services announcements and community events. "I encourage anyone who has an interest in ABC programming to contact the committee and have their voices heard.” More information is available at : http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/ABC_Amendment_Bill Media contact : Jamila Savoy-Soubotian 0403 003 238 Jamila.savoy-soubotian@aph.gov.au The Blackwood Basin Group (BBG) in conjunction with Soil Restoration Farming (NSW)
are excited to be co-hosting Agro-Ecologist, Educator and Systems Thinker – Nicole Masters from New Zealand as well as Walter Jehne – Soil Microbiologist and Soil Ecologist from the ACT, in their first appearance on their WA tour at a Soil Health Forum in Boyup Brook on Thursday the 17th of March. The forum ‘Answers and Actions for Healthy Soils in a Western Australian Climate’ will showcase the increasingly talked about theme of protecting and enhancing our soil microbiology in order to combat limiting factors in plant performance in our climatically - changing farming environment and looking towards versatile tools to address stagnant problems and unlocking the potential in yield, quality, food nutrition and profit, now and for the future. Nicole is the director/owner of Integrity Soils, New Zealand and has extensive practical and theoretical experience in regenerative/holistic farming practices. She has been communicating these methods throughout Australasia and North America since 2003; helping to inspire and guide farmers into new and innovative ways to produce food with soil as a major driver for ecosystem health. Walter is the co-founder of Healthy Soils Australia and has extensive field and research experience at a national (CSIRO) and international (UN) level in the management of soil biology for regenerating soil health to improve productivity and resilience in agricultural systems. Last year he spoke at a UN conference in Berlin, Germany celebrating the Year of the Soil. “This is an exciting opportunity for food producers to draw on international knowledge and tools from soil health experts that are passionate about unlocking the potential and harnessing what their soils have to offer in this ever demanding economic climate” Says Sara Weir, BBG Project Officer. “This topic of the importance of a cleaner growing, safer and more versatile farming system is becoming increasingly talked about and it’s great to be able to open communication channels to give WA farmers a chance to work more towards a sustainable farming ecosystem. The packed cropping and mixed farming forum will look into combining the best of chemistry, physics, biology and microbiology with sound on-ground farm practices. Attendees will also hear from Agronomic Consultant, Deb Archdeacon from Agronomica, who will introduce a local (Boyup Brook) stubble and fish emulsion project and speak on how stubble retention fits into building soil carbon, productivity and resilience. Running from 9am-5pm at the Boyup Brook Football Club, with a cost of $50 per person or $90 per couple, completing the day with a sundowner, the day is sure to be of benefit to any one that attends. Please download your registration form from www.soilrestorationfarming.com.au/events and send back to soilrestorationfarming@gmail.com to secure your opportunity to attend this exciting soil health forum. Or contact Sara Weir from the BBG on 9765 1555 or sara@blackwoodbasingroup.com.au for more details. If you miss Nicole and Walter in Boyup Brook, they will also be making an appearance in York and Dandaragan in the following days. This project is generously sponsored by Nutirsoils, EcoGrowth, Hi-Tech Ag Solutions, Healthy Soils Australia, Best Environmental Technologies, and supported by the South West Catchments Council, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme. Nationals Member for the South West Region, Colin Holt, is encouraging nominations
in the 2016 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards. Mr Holt said volunteers were the backbone of regional communities around WA and now was the time to recognise their valuable contribution. “More than 600,000 volunteers contribute 315,000 hours, which equates to a figure greater than $39 billion, to the WA economy each year,” he said. “Also four out of five WA residents volunteer, enriching our quality of life and social cohesion.” Mr Holt said there were award categories for individuals, community volunteer organisations and businesses that engage employees and give back to the community through corporate volunteer programs. More information can be found on the Volunteering WA website www.volunteeringwa.org.au The closing date for nominations is Friday, March 11. For media enquiries please contact Office of Colin Holt MLC on (08) 9724 1181 |
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