Nationals MP Hartsuyker slams Saffin over Permo-Drive
June 30, 2008
Rudd Government arrogance and poor representation from Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin were the fundamental reasons for Permo-Drive’s inability to access funds from the Australian Government, Shadow Minister for Business Development, Independent Contractors and Consumer Affairs, Luke Hartsuyker, said today.
During a tour of Permo-Drive’s plant in Ballina, Mr Hartsuyker said the environmental and economic benefits of Permo-Drive’s innovative fuel conservation system clearly deserved government assistance.
“Permo-Drive is on the verge of commercialising a hydraulic system which would deliver major benefits to the heavy vehicle industry by reducing the use of diesel by 20 to 30 per cent,” he said.
“However, the Rudd Government’s decision to axe the $700 million Commercial Ready program has left Permo-Drive and hundreds of small investors high and dry.
Police shut down hydroponic cannabis farms in the Tweed region
June 30, 2008
Police have shut down a sophisticated hydroponic cannabis farm in the Tweed Heads region, arresting seven alleged members of a criminal syndicate and seizing drugs worth millions of dollars.
Strike Force Waragal was established by the Tweed/Byron Target Action Group in November last year to investigate allegations of the commercial cultivation, processing and supply of cannabis in the Tweed Heads area.
Today saw the culmination of seven months of extensive investigations with the raiding of seven properties at Cudgera Creek, Burringbar, Terranora, Banora Point and Palmvale.
On one property, cannabis was being grown in converted underground bunkers, while at another location a number of rooms inside a house had been converted to hydroponic cannabis growing rooms.
Police have leads on Dirt Squirt Motorcycles fire
June 30, 2008
Lismore Detectives investigating the destructive fire on 3rd March 2008 of Dirt Squirt Motorcycles located at Three Chain, South Lismore, have recently received several new positive leads.
Detectives are seeking anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant they believe that information may be, to come forward and talk to police.
Police said that a number of strong lines of inquiry are being followed.
Investigators will be interviewing people who they believe will be able to assist with the inquiry in coming days.
Summerland AFL junior results
June 29, 2008
U/12s
Lismore Swans. 6 – 16 – 58 d Ballina Bombers. 2 – 4 – 16
Plateau Power. 11 – 9 – 75 d Maclean eagles. 3 – 16 – 34
Byron Magpies. 7 – 18 – 60 d Brunswick Bulldogs. 0 – 2 – 2
U/14s
Lismore forfeited to Ballina
Plateau Power. 15 – 6 – 96 d Maclean Eagles. 0 – 0 – 0
no results for the Byron v Brunswick game
Kyogle upsets Mullumbimby in Retravision Northern League
June 29, 2008
Kyogle Turkeys entered semi-final reckonings in Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League with a convincing 48-14 win over Retravision Northern League major premiers Mullumbimby at New Park, Kyogle, today.
The Turkeys built their win on a blockbusting first half. They led 32-0 at the break.
Kyogle, Mullumbimby and Lower Clarence share fifth spot after today’s round.
The competition leaders, Byron Bay, had a crushing 66-4 win over Ballina at Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina.
Surfers, swimmers rescued at Byron Bay, Lennox Head
June 29, 2008
Surf Lifesaving rescue teams were kept busy today when they performed several rescues during the day.
Surf lifesavers and lifeguards were training on rescue jet skis, Inflatable Rescue Boats and the Ballina Jet Rescue Boat at Lennox Head and Ballina when teams were called to the northern end of Tallow Beach for surfers in trouble shortly after 12.30 pm.
Both surfers had been swept around Cosy Corner north towards Cape Byron.
Whale-watching spectators saw the surfers in difficulty and notified emergency services.
Far North Coast rugby union Round 12 results
June 29, 2008
The Far North Coast rugby union grand final replay between Grafton and Ballina ended in a 25-all draw at Grafton on Saturday.
Both sides scored four tries, with Grafton No 8 Paul Cameron crossing for a double.
The result kept defending major premiers Ballina in the fifth spot, two points ahead of Grafton, last season’s minor premiers.
Round 12 results saw Coolangatta Tweed and Wollongbar Alstonville maintain the competition lead on 37 points.
Hands off Murwillumbah Hospital, say Nationals MPs
June 28, 2008
The four North Coast Nationals State MPs mounted a vigorous defence of Murwillumbah Hospital as Parliament debated its downgrading on Thursday.
Leading the charge, Lismore MP Thomas George, whose electorate includes Murwillumbah, told Parliament Labor was embarking on a cost-cutting exercise as a result of poor management of the North Coast Area Health Service.
“Services are cut back so people go to other areas. Statistics are then used to wind back the hospital,” Mr George said.
Tweed Nationals MP Geoff Provest said the Iemma Government’s decision to downgrade Murwillumbah hospital was ‘nothing short of a disgrace’.
White Ribbon Day activities get a $1m boost
June 28, 2008
The Australian Government has announced $1 million in funding to expand White Ribbon Day activities in rural and regional Australia over the next four years.
The Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, said the White Ribbon Foundation aimed to eliminate violence against women by promoting culture-change around the issue.
In the lead-up to last year’s election, Ms Saffin advocated to Kevin Rudd for support of the White Ribbon Campaign, in recognition that public and media attention is an important plank of any campaign aimed at stopping behaviour, in this case violence against women, which is endemic in Australia.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in three Australian women will experience physical violence, and almost one in five will experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
Page calls on governments to support Permo-Drive
June 28, 2008
State Member for Ballina Don Page has spoken in Parliament, urging the Federal and State Labor governments to urgently act to salvage Permo-Drive.
“My North Coast Nationals colleagues and I wrote to the Prime Minister earlier this week seeking his assistance in saving Permo-Drive from sinking,” Mr Page said.
“I have also called on the NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, and the NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Verity Firth, to urgently lobby their Federal colleagues to come to Permo-Drive’s aid.”
Mr Page said the Members Voluntary Winding Up meeting for Permo-Drive is due to be held on Monday July 7.
