Latest news with #outback
ABC News
6 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Conficts of interest, voting blocs and leadership failure blamed for Coomalie council sacking
In the vast Northern Territory outback, the dismissal of a regional council covering a population of just over 1,300 people may not seem like much. But a previously confidential report into the Coomalie Community Government Council paints a picture of elected members turning against each other, a breach of confidentiality and conflicts of interests at the heart of a regional rift. Last year former local government minister Chansey Paech suspended the council for "a number of deficiencies" in the handling of council affairs and launched an investigation. Last week, Local Government Minister Steve Edgington dismissed all elected members of the council for "serious and sustained deficiencies". His finding was based on a report handed down a month prior by independent investigator Cathryn Hutton, a former chief executive of two NT councils. Now the report's release has revealed the inner workings of the failed Coomalie council. The report found the council's behaviour had "degenerated significantly" over two years and suggested that before the suspension, members had divided into "two voting blocs". The clashing councillors were president Sharon Beswick and deputy president Colin Freeman, who passed away prior to the council's dismissal. As the fighting escalated, "alliances" were formed. These terse voting patterns resulted in decisions often made without the best interests of the residents and taxpayers in mind, the report said. The report said "leadership failure" between the president and deputy forced members into extensive remediation and training, but it still did not resolve tensions. During this time, the report said councillors Sharon Beswick, Colin Freeman and Stephen Noble did not conduct themselves in accordance with the code of conduct. The report said an elected member breached confidentiality after a question was raised around the confidential matter at a council meeting by a redacted person. The report went on to say it was not possible to determine who leaked the information to the person, however "an identical question was asked by Sharon Beswick" at the same meeting. Local Government Minister Steve Edgington said he was currently looking at a set of reforms to improve the effectiveness of the Local Government Act. "Presently, the remedies for a breach of the code of conduct include mediation or training," Mr Edgington said. "But it is evident from the history of such complaints that this is not sufficient for those situations where a council member repeatedly breaches the code of conduct." The report said continued code of conduct breaches by Ms Beswick and Mr Noble during their suspension suggested they were "not fit to hold public office". The report detailed behaviour that "exasperated existing conflict within the council and further deteriorated public opinion". It said Ms Beswick frequently interjected and gagged speakers, especially during disagreements, and targeted inappropriate and personal comments towards councillors and staff. It cites a specific incident where Ms Beswick spoke for 40 minutes, amounting to "verbal bulldozing". After talking extensively, Ms Beswick enforced a three-minute time limit with other members and "used the chairs' privilege to rebut every contrary opinion". The report alleges the former president also had a high level of involvement in council operations, despite being trained on the separation of powers within the act. The chief executive indicated her involvement included signing off on all the bank summary, witnessing all invoices and reviewing staff pay. Furthermore, it found Ms Beswick failed to declare a conflict of interest during discussion on development planning adjacent to her personally owned business. Ms Beswick has been contacted for comment. The report made 14 recommendations, including harsher penalties for code of conduct breaches and further training for council members. Local Government Association of NT president Kon Vatskalis said Coomalie council's dismissal was a result of ineffective and toothless code of conduct regulations. "The government is now listening and we welcome this — but real change won't come into play until next year," he said. "Communities want to know what the government is going to do to address these issues if they happen again in the meantime." An election will be held for the Coomalie council on August 23.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Braith Anasta's ex fiancée Rachael Lee debuts her new engagement ring from her Bra Boys boyfriend - after NRL star once proposed with a massive four carat sparkler
Braith Anasta's ex-fiancée Rachael Lee has debuted her new engagement ring just days after her Bra Boys boyfriend Evan Faulks proposed during a romantic trip to Uluru. In Instagram footage, Rachael proudly moved her hand back and forth to showcase her new bling. The ring features a round cut diamond on a platinum or white gold band. 'Excitement levels high. Just picked up my gorgeous, perfect, most sentimental, beautiful engagement ring. Happiness overload,' Rachael captioned the clip. The mother-of-two announced her exciting engagement news in an Instagram post last week. 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. She shared a video and pictures of Evan proposing during a trip to Uluru. In the clip, Evan was seen getting down on one knee in a romantic outback setting at sunset. With tears of joy streaming down her face, the couple embraced and kiss. 'I knew from the moment I seen you, it was going to be forever - The universe always has a plan.. I love you always x,' Rachael wrote in the caption. 'FuturesMrsFaulks yippiiieee xx.' Rachael's new engagement ring is much more demure than the massive bling Braith got down on one knee with back in October 2019. He proposed with a sparkler was designed by Shannakian Fine Jewellery, which featured a massive 4.28ct diamond set in an 18ct rose gold band. The pair called time on their relationship in November 2022, after months of rumours. Meanwhile, Rachael opened up about her relationship with Evan last month. She told The Sunday Telegraph her romance is 'so beautiful and deep' and Evan was an amazing presence in her children Addison, 13, and seven-year-old Gigi's lives. 'My relationship with Evan is something I've never had before,' she said. 'I feel so beyond lucky to have him in mine, Addi and Gigi's lives. Evan is such an honest, loyal and kind soul and a really great father and partner.' She also hinted they have 'really exciting future plans happening together'. Rachael added she and Braith have been navigating the role of co- parenting their daughter Gigi. 'Co-parenting comes with its ups and downs, and a lot of agreeing to disagree,' she added. Evan has been romantically involved with Rachael since the start of last year. They reportedly met at Crown Plaza in Coogee over Christmas the year before and were photographed together in public for the first time in May 2024 celebrating her 36th birthday.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Braith Anasta's ex Rachael Lee engaged to her Bra Boys boyfriend Evan Faulks two years after her messy breakup with NRL star
Braith Anasta's ex Rachael Lee is engaged to her Bra Boys boyfriend Evan Faulks. She announced the news on Instagram on Wednesday with a video of Evan proposing during a trip to Uluru. In the video, Evan is seen getting down on one knee in a romantic setting in the outback at sunset. With tears of joy streaming down her face, the couple embrace and kiss. 'I knew from the moment I seen you, it was going to be forever - The universe always has a plan.. I love you always x,' Rachael wrote in the caption. 'FuturesMrsFaulks yippiiieee xx' It comes after she opened about her relationship with Faulks earlier this month. The ex-fiancée of NRL star Braith Anasta told The Sunday Telegraph, her romance is 'so beautiful and deep.' 'My relationship with Evan is something I've never had before,' she said. 'I feel so beyond lucky to have him in mine, [her son] Addi and [daughter] Gigi's lives. Evan is such an honest, loyal and kind soul and a really great father and partner.' She also hinted that they have 'really exciting future plans happening together'. Rachael also said she and her ex Braith have been navigating the role of co- parenting their seven-year-old daughter Gigi. 'Co-parenting comes with its ups and downs, and a lot of agreeing to disagree,' she added. Evans has been romantically involved with Rachael since the start of this year. Rachael and Evan, who reportedly met at Crown Plaza in Coogee over Christmas the year before, were photographed together in public for the first time in May celebrating her 36th birthday. In 2023, he was extradited from Queensland following a sprawling 18-month investigation into alleged drug consignments intercepted by US authorities. Police allege Faulks was a 'high-ranking member' of the Maroubra-based Bra Boys surfer gang. Faulks faced court on March 19, charged with knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime with intent to conceal and dealing with property worth more than $100,000, which was suspected to be the proceeds of a crime. The first two charges were withdrawn on that date, and Faulks pleaded not guilty to the third. Faulks has been subjected to strict bail conditions, including remaining on good behaviour, reporting to Maroubra police station between 8am and 8pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and not going within 500m of any point of international departure. Rachael and Braith confirmed their split in November 2022, following months of rumours. One month later, Rachael debuted her romance with Blake Hillen, a bricklayer and amateur boxer from the Sutherland Shire. However, a source told Daily Mail Australia in 2023 that Rachael and Blake were 'inseparable', but were now off - with both unfollowing each other on Instagram, and she later found love with Faulks. Braith went on to date Evie Tziomakis, but a source confirmed they had parted ways in June 2024.
ABC News
15-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Outback Queensland faces $80m bill to rebuild fencing after floods
Fencing double the length of Australia from east to west has been washed away in outback Queensland. Two months on from devastating flooding, the full extent of the damage is still unclear, but so far an estimated 8,000 kilometres of fencing has been damaged or destroyed. In recent weeks, graziers have been clearing debris and silt from fence lines, standing up fencing bent by the force of floodwater and removing fences that cannot be repaired. Grazier Ian Groves said it would be months before he could access parts of his Jundah property where the Barcoo and Thomson Rivers met. "We won't get into that river country until the end of winter," he said. Mr Groves estimated at least 40km of his fencing was destroyed. Half of that was boundary fencing, meaning there was nothing to keep his remaining stock inside his property. More than 200,000 livestock have died or are missing in Queensland's west, across an area twice the size of Victoria. While supply was not an issue yet, Natalie Dingle from a rural supplies shop said some materials would be hard to get, such as steel posts, drill stem, wiring and mesh. "Even prior to the flooding there was a bit of a wait on some products, especially exclusion fencing," she said. "That's probably going to be one of the biggest issues." Exclusion fencing is used to keep predators like wild dogs or pigs out of paddocks and has been credited with the survival of the local sheep industry. Since 2016, more than 9,000km of exclusion fencing has been built in Queensland, protecting almost 6 million hectares of land, costing landholders and the state government $91 million. "It's one of the more expensive ways of fencing, but it's worth every cent of it," Ms Dingle said. "These costs are going to knock them [graziers] around terribly. "They're the most positive people and they're tough — they just get on with it. "But it's going to have a big impact." The likely repair bill is well into the millions of dollars, according to south-west grazier Kylee Tindall-Smith. "[With] just a conservative estimate of $10,000 a kilometre, you're looking at a fencing bill of $80 million," she said. Ms Tindall-Smith said producers were on "the great Australian fence hunt" trying to assess the damage and locate their fence lines. "Without the fences, there's no livestock," she said. Ms Tindall-Smith has set up an initiative called Pay 4 A Panel to help ease the financial burden on producers looking down the barrel of repair bills in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The initiative invites people to call a participating rural agent and pay for a fence panel or contribute some money towards fencing equipment. "This is a way that we can really give farmers a leg up," Ms Tindall-Smith said. Jack Tuddenham runs a fencing contracting business out of Quilpie in south-west Queensland. He said the phone had been ringing off the hook, with jobs coming in thick and fast. But a lack of workers meant the rebuild would be delayed. "It's definitely going to take a couple of years," Mr Tuddenham said. "There's still a massive shortage of labour.
ABC News
13-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Green light for cotton, hay and melons in Larrimah after controversial water licence approved
A cotton, hay, melon and mango farm to be planted around the tiny outback town of Larrimah has been given the green light to extract 10,000 megalitres of water under a licence strongly opposed by environmentalists and traditional owners. Planning documents show Larrimah Farms is proposing to irrigate 1,400 hectares of crops in fields both sides of the Stuart Highway surrounding the Northern Territory town. "If they've got their license now, that's great. They can now hook into it and get the dust flying," said Steve Baldwin, owner of the Larrimah Pink Panther Hotel. While it is not clear if the farmland would be visible from the road, Mr Baldwin said the "landscape" of Larrimah would change. "Farming land looks good. Active horticulture land looks good," he said. The town of Larrimah, five hours south of Darwin, has less than 10 residents but shot to international fame on the back of a wildly popular Netflix true crime documentary about the unsolved case of missing man Paddy Moriarity. Mr Baldwin said he hoped the new farming operation would bring jobs and renewal to the dwindling town. "That takes labour, that takes people arriving. They buy things they might need — accommodation, food, meals," he said. "I'm not sure what their plan is about location [and] if they're going to base people here. Ideally they will." The NT Land Corporation has previously suggested the project could bring "up to 60 jobs to Larrimah". Larrimah Farms director Jamie Schembri also owns farmland further north in Mataranka, about one hour away. The new Larrimah Farms licence is by far the largest in its water plan area. In the nearby Indigenous community of Jilkminggan, Mangarrayi woman Cecilia Lake said the decision to approve the licence was "heartbreaking". "We're the people that live on the land. That's our water and we want it there," Ms Lake said. A submission against the licence was signed by 78 residents of the remote community on the banks of the Roper River which is charged by the springs that bubble up from the Tindal Limestone Aquifer. Ms Lake said her community had already noticed degradation of local springs and creeks from existing agricultural extraction and were fearful of the impact of a new, large licence. The NT government's reports on the aquifer have expressed confidence that the southern zone around Larrimah can handle more extraction without impacting the northern zone which feeds the famous Mataranka hot springs and the Roper River. "No, Larrimah is just there," Ms Lake said, referring to how close the locations were. "Larrimah isn't too far away from Jilkminggan … and Mataranka. "We're all connected." Nearby pastoralists Kate and Jake Nelder of Gorrie Station were also cautious about new extraction from the aquifer. "I'd rather they didn't tamper with it at all but industry does have to go ahead. And I think as long as they do it well then there shouldn't be any problems." Kate Nelder said the impact of the new licence on the "pristine" groundwater should be carefully monitored. "Let's keep eyes on it," she said. "If things are going downhill let's not be afraid to have the discussion again and go 'is this working?'" The NT Controller of Water Resources, Andrew Johnson, said because the water licence slowly ramped up over seven years there would be chances to check the impact. "If the groundwater level drops below certain trigger levels then the proponent has to go back and have a look at their modelling, and if necessary obviously move where they're pumping from or change the rate at which they're pumping," he said. The cotton industry and the NT government have long argued that the territory's nascent cotton industry is low impact because most of the crop is grown without irrigation, only using the rainwater that falls in the wet season. In response to a Four Corners report on the industry last August, Cotton Australia released a statement saying NT cotton was "95 per cent rain fed". It said that of 12,982 hectares planted in the NT at the time only 575ha was irrigated. The NT Environment Centre said the new Larrimah licence to irrigate 800ha of cotton was "exposing claims that 'the cotton industry would be rainfed' as lies." "It's time for the government and industry to come clean about the massive risks posed to Top End rivers from this thirsty industry," the centre's executive director Kirsty Howey said. Larrimah Farms director Jamie Schembri did not respond to a request for comment.
