Treasurer Jim Chalmers believes workers deserve a fair wage rise. Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS.
LABOR has thrown its weight behind an above-inflation wage rise for low-paid workers, but business groups warn the move could worsen price pressures and fuel further interest rate rises. The federal government repeated its 2025 call for a pay bump above the inflation rate in its submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review. […]
The punishment dished out for minor drug possession can vary significantly, analysis shows. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS.
LESS than a quarter of people eligible for a diversion program for minor drug possession incidents are having their matters dealt with outside of court. Crime statistics analysis from NSW, the last Australian jurisdiction to introduce a drug diversion program, shows nine per cent of nearly 12,000 relevant drug events between February 2024 and March […]
The Cowarra Water Supply Scheme is one of Council’s key infrastructure projects. Photo: PMHC.
Libertarian Councillor Mark Hornshaw. Photo: supplied. The Cowarra Water Supply Scheme is one of Council’s key infrastructure projects. Photo: PMHC. THE only councillor to vote against the draft budget for the Port Macquarie-Hastings is warning of a cumulative blow-out in rates and charges, while Council is warning of a reduction in services if the increases […]
The NSW SES Port Macquarie unit undertake a training activity. Photo: SES unit.
RESIDENTS and visitors to the North Shore of Port Macquarie are invited to a free Get Ready for Emergencies Family Fun Day on Sunday, 19 April, to help the community better prepare for floods, storms, bushfires, and periods of isolation during ferry outages. The event will run from 10am to 1pm at Kangaroo Park, directly […]
Port Macquarie’s Breakwall. Photo: @port.macquarie.01
A NEW wave of internal migration is reshaping regional Australia, with coastal communities from Port Stephens through to the Mid North Coast continuing to attract strong interest from city dwellers. While Queensland’s Sunshine Coast remains the top destination nationally, the NSW corridor spanning Port Stephens, the MidCoast, Port Macquarie, Nambucca and Coffs Harbour is maintaining […]
Less pain at the power point. Interest in electric cars is rising as petrol prices soar. Photo: Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS.
DEMAND for second-hand electric vehicles is rising with the price of petrol, attracting more than double the number of enquiries since the fuel crisis began. But automotive experts say the record interest also extends to new vehicles and could cause delays as motorists buy electric cars still en route to Australia. Pickles released details of […]
Alexander Robert MacDonald has been extradited on armed robbery and hostage-taking charges. Photo: New South Wales Police Force.
A 76-YEAR-OLD man has been extradited interstate to face historical armed robbery charges. Alexander Robert MacDonald was arrested on Monday and extradited to NSW on Tuesday charged with armed robbery and hostage-taking relating to incidents from nearly 30 years ago. Police allege MacDonald entered a bank on October 28, 1996, in Coonabarabran, west of Tamworth, […]
Members of Port Macquarie and Laurieton Rotary Clubs, and Camden Haven SLSC.
A $4500 DONATION from the Rotary Clubs of Laurieton and Port Macquarie West has allowed new roller doors to be installed at Camden Haven Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), improving emergency response times. The Camden Haven SLSC has been serving the local community since 1956, with a record of zero drownings between the flags. Keeping […]
Guidelines recommend 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity each week. Photo: Leandro Boogalu/Pexels.
WRIST-WORN devices are providing new insights into how active Australians are and how well they sleep, with new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reinforcing the critical role of prevention in tackling chronic disease. The findings, based on wearable devices, show adults averaged four minutes of vigorous activity and one-hour and 45 minutes […]
Year 11 and 12 students from Wauchope High visit the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health in Taree. Photo: Wauchope High School.
WAUCHOPE and Kempsey high schools are two of the most improved schools in regional and rural NSW. They were among 45 public high schools recognised for delivering outstanding improvements in Higher School Certificate results. Deputy Premier Prue Car said, “These results show what can be achieved when teachers can focus their time and expertise in […]
