SOME elderly rural cancer patients live on farms with limited connectivity, hundreds of kilometres from the closest computer and even further from their doctor. These are the kinds of marginalised patients who will be helped by hard-fought new telehealth Medicare rebates, allowing for longer telephone consultations with specialists, medical oncologist Christopher Steer says. The new […]

ESSENTIAL Energy crews will be completing significant electricity maintenance work in the Coffs Harbour CBD on Sunday, 26 October. The work includes the replacement of power poles, crossarms and general electricity maintenance. To allow access for large machinery, traffic flow will be affected along Combine Street, Meadow Street and McLean Street between approximately 8.30am and […]

OXLEY MP Michael Kemp has called on the NSW Government to take immediate action on justice reform after the alleged teen offenders of a serious crime spree in Kempsey were granted bail by the courts. The crime spree began around 3.30am on Wednesday 15 October, when a group of males allegedly armed with machetes forced […]

MORE than one million Australians are expected to be about $15,000 better off by the time they retire after Labor caved to pressure to overhaul controversial changes to tax on superannuation. The federal government has announced a drastic redesign of its super tax policy, which was originally intended to double the tax rate on accounts […]

WOMEN across NSW are being invited to take part in a major government-funded health initiative designed to support active, independent ageing. The program, Active Women over 50, is led by Professor Anne Tiedemann from the University of Sydney and supported by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund. It will provide free, tailored support to […]

THE Bush Fire Danger Period (BFDP) began on the Coffs Coast and across the broader North Coast on 1 October. Rural Fire Service (RFS) Superintendent Sandra Huer said following several wet years, fuel loads remain high across the state and the risk of serious bush and grass fires is returning. “Now is the time to […]

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. – […]

CITY of Coffs Harbour will prepare a Vegetation Management Plan for the Jetty Foreshores precinct to inform all future revegetation works to be funded by Council’s Environmental Levy Reserve in 2025/26. The decision was made at Council’s 28 August meeting, during a motion which outlined the successful applicants of Environmental Levy Grants Program funding. As […]

A NUMBER of changes to social security payments, rates, and limits will commence from 20 September 2025. People receiving the full single rate of Age Pension, Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment will see a $29.70 boost to their fortnightly payment. People receiving Commonwealth Rent Assistance, JobSeeker, ABSTUDY (aged 22 and over), and Parenting Payment […]

THE State Government is investing an additional $3 million to support farmers to develop “natural capital” projects. The funding will extend the Government’s Natural Capital Support Services program for another year, which provides tailored advice and support for landholders to explore natural capital and environmental market opportunities. In farming, natural capital refers to the stock […]