A MINISTERIAL Direction will require NSW Government agencies to take stronger action to address modern slavery risks. Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos has directed all NSW Government agencies to include modern slavery tender clauses in procurement categories identified as ‘high risk’. The change will come into effect in January, with a […]
PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has unanimously adopted a new set of public forum rules, bringing its meeting procedures into line with updated State Government requirements. The decision was made at last week’s council meeting following a public exhibition process and the release of a new Model Code of Meeting Practice by the Office of Local Government […]
THE Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) will require newly connecting retail gas customers to pay the upfront cost of their connection, often more than $2000, moving away from the old system where these costs were often shared across all customers. The recent final determination responds to a rule change request from Energy Consumers Australia and […]
CODE-of-conduct complaints cost Port Macquarie-Hastings Council more than $47,000 over the past year, according to an annual report tabled at last week’s council meeting. The Code of Conduct Complaint Statistics report, covering the period from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025, details the number of complaints made against councillors and the general manager, how […]
A MAN has tragically died following a crash on Ocean Drive. Emergency services were called to Ocean Drive, Port Macquarie, following reports of a crash just after 10pm on Friday 5 December. Officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District attended and found a white station wagon had crashed into a power pole. The driver […]
THE NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is encouraging everyone to be alert to signs of avian influenza in commercial and domestic poultry, and wildlife. Australia remains free from the H5N1 strain that is causing concern globally, however there is a risk the disease may be introduced by wild birds that migrate […]
MEMBER for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer, has welcomed the Minns Government’s introduction of a new licensing scheme designed to crack down on the illegal sale of tobacco and vaping products across NSW. The new laws require all retailers and wholesalers to hold a valid licence to sell tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products. The three-month grace […]
LYNE MP Alison Penfold has announced her intention to provide a pre-Budget submission to the Federal Government’s Treasury Department to highlight community and infrastructure funding needs across the electorate. Ms Penfold said pre-Budget submissions offer an opportunity to highlight local priorities for consideration in the 2026-27 Federal Budget. “The Albanese Government needs to hear loud […]
BUSINESS NSW Mid North Coast will host the 2025 Business NSW Mid North Coast Skills and Training Summit on Thursday 23 October at The Westport Club in Port Macquarie. The half-day summit will bring together leaders from education, training, industry, and government to discuss how to build a sustainable, locally driven skills ecosystem to meet […]
THE NSW Labor Government has voted down the Opposition’s Crimes Legislation Amendment (Youth Crime) Bill 2025, which proposed changes to bail and sentencing laws. The Coalition’s bill sought changes including: – Expanding the definition of repeat offences beyond break and enter and car theft, to include serious indictable crimes like murder and sexual assault. – […]
