Regional News Rural birth care ‘crisis’ looms amid staff shortages Women are travelling long distances to give birth, kids are waiting years to see specialists, and mental health services are struggling, a committee has found. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 28 Mar 2025
BUDGET Regional News Aussie families pocket thousands in childcare savings Landmark childcare reforms have been firmed up in the federal budget, although calls to improve services in rural Australia have gone unanswered. The average Australian family will save more than $4000 a year in childcare fees as the federal... Click here Stephanie Gardiner 26 Mar 2025
BUDGET Regional News ‘This is the time’: calls to prioritise rural health While the federal budget confirmed sweeping reforms to Medicare and billions in health funding, it’s unclear how much will reach the bush, medical groups say. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 26 Mar 2025
BUDGET Regional News Food and fibre get millions to fend off Trump tariffs The federal government has moved to defend Australia’s agricultural exports, as the sector prepares to have one of its biggest production years on record. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 26 Mar 2025
BUDGET Regional News Health and care spending to ease rural growing pains Rural health funding is a centrepiece of the federal budget, though measures to boost the number of doctors and clinics are modest after decades of disparity. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 26 Mar 2025
News Extra Hold my chardy: how a warming world makes a cooler drop A leading vigneron is encouraging Aussie drinkers to do the unthinkable and add ice to wine, as producers experiment with Italian styles in a changing climate. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 22 Mar 2025
Regional News ‘Scuttlebutt’: information black-out after power outage Outback communities cut off from reliable power for 19 days also experienced an information black-out when telecommunications systems failed. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 17 Mar 2025
News Extra How a country cafe cracked up the rural comedy scene Nick Gleeson was worried about being accused of nepotism when he started a comedy club in his country cafe but his famous brother set him straight. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 16 Mar 2025
Regional News Election push for childcare as rural kids ‘held back’ Farmers, families and advocates are calling on all side of politics to improve “dire” access to childcare in the bush, where there are years-long waiting lists. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 11 Mar 2025
News Extra ‘Wake up’: farmers face more pressure on deforestation Glenn Morris, a farmer and an environmentalist, says crackdowns on deforestation can’t come soon enough as the cattle industry faces increased scrutiny. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 08 Mar 2025
Regional News ‘Scary’: town could not call triple zero after storms An outback town is still “flat out” recovering months after rolling power outages, which shut down a major mine and cut off phone services. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 06 Mar 2025
Dubbo Works Butchers, bakers and makers better off in the bush Nearly 100 jobs pay better in country Australia, with 67,000 roles available outside the cities, according to new research encouraging workers to make the move. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 04 Mar 2025
News Extra ‘Not my arm’: hard medicine brings doctors to the bush The chance to travel the outback and help country Australians facing extreme medical emergencies is luring more doctors to the bush. Click here Stephanie Gardiner 01 Mar 2025