Latest news with #2GB
West Australian
2 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
‘Massive reduction across Australia': Farmers devastated by floods and drought as milk shortage looms
Australians may soon be paying more for a litre of milk at the shops, as dairy farmers look to rebuild following the devastating floods which have swept across northern NSW. The dairy industry has warned entire herds of cattle have been lost in the floods as well as fences, machinery and other infrastructure required to keep a farm operational, which could have an impact on prices. Livestock were washed away as the Manning River rose to record levels, while farmers on the Belmore River described the conditions as diabolic. EastAusmilk chief executive Eric Danzi warned the first time many Australians see the devastation of the floods would be when they go to their local supermarket. 'There is going to be a real shortage of milk and products,' he told 2GB. 'How that plays through to consumers I don't know.' 'Between the floods now, ex- Cyclone Alfred and the drought in South Australia as well as Victoria you're going to have a massive reduction in milk production across Australia.' Mr Danzi said the widespread carnage means many farmers are coming home to empty land with their livestock swept into the ocean. 'Most farmers on the mid north coast have been absolutely devastated by floods. There's 100 odd farmers in that area and I think half of them will be struggling with losses of half a million (dollars) if not a lot more,' Mr Danzi said. The same producers impacted by the recent floods were also hit by ex-cyclone Alfred in March, which caused considerable damage to Australian farms in northern NSW. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the mid-north coast on Tuesday, as authorities revealed the downpour had left more than 5,000 properties damaged and 794 uninhabitable. Mr Albanese said the mid-north coast floods would have a considerable effect on the dairy industry 'right throughout Australia,' in addition to the impact on homes and residents. 'It is a point that while there are people who are directly affected here, every Australian is affected as well, by the fact that we've had a loss of dairy industries that will have an impact right throughout Australia,' he said. NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin urged farmers to not 'fight floods alone' with support available to help them get back on their feet. 'We know farmers did everything they could to prepare for this disaster, but the reality is these floods have left colossal damage and devastation in their wake,' Mr Martin said. 'Dreadful connectivity has made it very difficult for many to stay in touch, but there is real help available and please don't hesitate to reach out for support when you can. Mr Martin said the NSW Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline was up and running to provide emergency assistance with livestock and animals, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, as well as Local Land Services, are sharing what support is available via their social media channels. 'Local Evacuation Centres are also open to provide emergency accommodation, food and social support, and Recovery Centres have opened today as a one-stop shop for all flood resources and assistance in this time.' At the peak of the flood, 50,000 people were isolated from their homes. As of Tuesday more than 10,000 Australians remain cut off. A further five Australians have so far been reported to have died during the floods. The Prime Minister announced on Monday Australian Defence Force personnel had been called in to help with the clean up effort. Mr Martin said mental health services were readily available to help farmers in need. 'Lifeline is on 13 11 14 for crisis support any time, and we have a whole host of other mental health services on the NSW Farmers website that are here to help at this time,' he said. 'While many are only just beginning to assess the full extent of the damage, we know communities will need all the help we can get to recover from this – so stay safe, look out for each other, and together, we'll get through this.'
Epoch Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Epoch Times
Up to 13 Weeks' Pay for Workers Stranded by NSW Floods
As devastating floods continue to impact New South Wales, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed financial support for affected workers and praised the government's coordinated emergency response to the crisis. The Disaster Recovery Allowance would be available from 2 p.m. May 26, in the Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Mid Coast, and Dungog local government areas. The allowance provides income support for employees and sole traders unable to work due to disaster-related impacts, including access issues and property damage. Speaking to Sydney radio station 2GB, Albanese said the federal government was working closely with state and local authorities. 'There's seamless activity across the three levels of government, working with agencies and working with the SES, the Rural Fire Service, and everyone else,' he said. He later visited Maitland with NSW Premier Chris Minns, where he acknowledged the scale of the damage. Related Stories 5/22/2025 5/21/2025 'Some of the extraordinary footage of cattle and livestock are being impacted by this as well,' he said. ADF helicopters have also rescued more than a dozen people. An aerial photo shows NSW Fire Rescue personnel assisting an elderly resident during flooding in Port Macquarie, New South Wales on May 22, 2025. A slow-moving trough is dumping rain along the east coast of Australia, leaving thousands of people stranded AAP Image/Lindsay Moller 'The chopper has been rescuing people for the last 48 hours,' he said. He said while immediate rescue efforts were ongoing, a long recovery would follow. 'There's going to be a big recovery effort required. There's been massive damage to infrastructure and we're going to have to really all pitch i,' he said. 'Tragically, these events are becoming more frequent and more intense, but we're a resilient bunch, Australians. And that's precisely what we are seeing now.' More Rain Forecast as Toll Climbs Meanwhile, a fourth person has been confirmed dead, and another remains missing in the record floods along the NSW Mid North Coast. Thousands are without power as the weather system moves south, bringing expected heavy rain to the Hunter, Sydney and South Coast regions. The SES has responded to more than 1,500 calls for help and carried out over 300 flood rescues in the past 24 hours. Residents Urged to Stay Informed The Prime Minister encouraged residents in affected areas to monitor warnings and follow instructions from authorities. He urged people to download the Hazards Near Me app or visit for real-time updates. 'Listen to the advice, make sure you log on to the relevant sites and keep informed if you're in these communities,' he said. This federal assistance provides up to 13 weeks of salary for sole traders and employees unable to work due to access issues caused by the floods. So far, disaster assistance has been activated across 16 local government areas, with broader recovery support to follow.
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Perth Now
Cruise ship rescues Aussies stranded at sea
A group of lucky travellers has been rescued by a cruise ship after their boat broke down off the coast of New Caledonia. Aussie bloggers Dusty and Helena, along with their three dogs and another couple, were saved from their disabled catamaran in the South Pacific on Thursday. Crew on board the Carnival Splendour responded to the boat's distress call by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Noumea. Carnival Cruise's communications director Lynne Scrivens said the group was 'all okay' after being stranded on their catamaran in rough seas just south of New Caledonia. 'Carnival Splendour, it's a Sydney-based cruise ship, it got the call to go and assist and so it immediately diverted and headed towards where the catamaran was and thankfully we were able to get to them and rescue the four people and their three dogs, who are now on Carnival Splendour along with 3300 other guests,' she told 2GB's Mark Levy. The sailors were on their way to Fiji when their engine failed and mast broke in rough seas off the coast of New Caledonia. Supplied Credit: Supplied 'They're all okay, thankfully. They were really lucky that we were able to come to their rescue, and they're receiving food and water, and they're having a rest in a cabin.' Ms Scrivens confirmed the sailors had been cleared by an on-board medical team. 'Quite a story to tell for them,' she added. After completing a lap around Australia, the boat was heading to Fiji before their engine failed and mast broke in bad weather. The cruise ship was travelling on an eight-day round trip to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, leaving Sydney on Monday. Maritime law requires the nearest vessel to respond to distress calls, diverting course to go and assist. It is understood the rescued sailors will get off in Noumea, 9News reported. Carnival Cruises has been contacted for comment.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bizarre rumour about Ben Fordham confirmed as radio rival Wippa reveals odd item he found in 2GB host's office
A bizarre rumour about Ben Fordham has been confirmed by the 2GB host after his radio rival Wippa made the shock claim on his Nova show Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Wednesday. Co-host Wippa, 45, revealed that Ben, 48, has a 'fold-down bed' made of mahogany in his office. 'I think I'm allowed to say this...' the radio host began, before diving into a description of Ben's workspace. 'You walk into the office, there's a boardroom table, a pretty serious mahogany desk and then there's huge cabinetry - like mahogany cabinetry that's made at the end of the room - with a fold-down bed! 'Is that public knowledge, Tom (Ivey)?' he asked the executive producer. 'Well it is now,' Tom quipped back, describing the segment as an 'Architectural Digest' room tour. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Get Fordo to do a tour of the fold-down bed,' Wippa joked. Ben confirmed the claim to Daily Mail Australia, joking that he's concerned of a 'security breach' if Wippa is running around the halls of 2GB. Ben said he inherited the office from former Breakfast presenter Alan Jones. He added that 'any mahogany furniture or crystal glassware' was there before he arrived. However, Ben that he had never slept in the much-talked-about bed. In response to Wippa's request for a tour, Ben said he was more than happy to show the bed to Wippa and the Nova crew so that Wippa can 'jump in and have a snooze'. 'If they're happy to promote my radio show, I'm more than happy to give them a tour,' he joked/. 'I reckon Wippa may need the bed at some stage because once his wife Lisa realises that she can do better, Wippa may find himself homeless and in need of somewhere to sleep. 'So please let him know that there'll always be a bed for him at 2GB,' he said. According to Ben, the kitted-out office also has a bathroom and a kitchen. 'If it wasn't for my wife and children, I would just move into the Allen Jones office and stay there. 'But no, I'm needed at home,' he said.
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
‘Unconventional' Fix Urged in National Leadership Fight
The outrider for the Nationals leadership, which will be decided within hours, is pushing for the junior coalition party to dump the 'ridiculous' net zero emissions target. Queensland Senator Matt Canavan will challenge current party leader David Littleproud when Nationals politicians go to a vote on Monday afternoon. He hopes to give the coalition a 'fighting chance' at the next election after Australian voters delivered a bruising defeat at the most recent political contest. 'I don't think the Australian people were given enough of a choice at the last election,' he told 2GB on May 12. '[At the election] we basically said, 'Look, things are bad but we're not proposing any major radical changes to fix it.' 'I have been an agent of change.' Related Story 5/9/2025 Party leaders generally sit in the lower house, but having leaders in the Senate is not unprecedented, he said, pointing to the Greens who will soon appoint a leader from their upper chamber team. 'It's unconventional ... [but] we are in unconventional times,' Canavan said. 'The Liberal-National coalition has suffered the worst defeat since World War II and so I think it is time we perhaps look to unconventional responses to get ourselves back in the game.' His opposition to cutting Australia's greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, and his outspoken nature, have given him recognition within the party and in the regions. On Monday, he continued to label moves towards net-zero as 'craziness' and vowed to dump the policy if he wins the party leadership. He has also urged his party to diversify from its usual rural and regional voter base and run more candidates in outer-suburban seats, noting many in these areas feel forgotten by 'capital city-based media.' Littleproud is still tipped to re-take the Nationals crown, but while Senator Canavan says he has done an excellent job, change is needed. 'We didn't win,' he said, of the coalition's shattering federal election loss on May 3. 'This job, like any major leadership role, is a performance-based job, and I think we do need a different strategy.' The Nationals will have one less person in their partyroom meeting on Monday after Northern Territory Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price moved to the Liberal party room from the Nationals. She's now running for the deputy Liberal leadership under leader contender Angus Taylor ahead of a vote on May 14. Nationals politicians, including Senator Canavan, have criticised Senator Price for the move, although she can choose which party room to sit in. 'Jacinta, if she wanted to do this, she could have done it a different way,' he said. 'I also don't think it's fair for the Northern Territory people. 'She was elected over a week ago on a platform that she would sit in the National party room.' The Labor government is likely to have at least 92 seats in the lower house, and the coalition 40, out of 150 spots. Some eight seats are still in doubt.
