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By Nasik Swami

As discussions on the Yes or No debate for the Australian Indigenous Voice referendum heat up, an elected district council mayor has cautioned the public not to take the issue lightly. Naracoorte-Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross told The News that a referendum was a “very serious matter”, and that it was vitally important […]

By Chris Oldfield NEW signage limiting 15 car parks to two hours only behind the Police Station – along the Western end of Robertson St, Naracoorte – has outraged daily users. The 15 parks are on the northern side – between McRae St and McGarey Crescent. Five of them will return to untimed parks, thanks […]

District audit By Nasik Swami Naracoorte-Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross has called for a district council audit of all the sporting facilities in the area. Mr Ross said an audit was strategically and vitally important for the council to determine the future requirements of the sports clubs and associations before progressing with any funding proposals. He […]

By Chris Oldfield Ratepayers at Robe will have an average rate increase of 7.7 percent, which mayor Lisa Ruffell believes is “fair and reasonable in the current climate”. Within that “average” residential property owners will pay around 2.9 percent more. At the top end of the rate rise sits primary producers who are likely to see their rates soar by 11.95 percent, or more. Commercial property owners will see a rate reduction of around 3.41 percent. Additionally, waste management services and catchment water management charges at Robe will both increase by 7.7 percent. Meanwhile, the Landscape levy slapped on property owners by the region’s SA Landscape Board will soar by 8.4 percent, hitting rural property owners the hardest. All of the increased charges were confirmed at a special council meeting in the Robe District Council chambers on July 26. In a message to ratepayers as part of the budget and […]

By Chris Oldfield TELSTRA’s new deal with Starlink will help provide a fixed voice service to rural and remote customers, but it won’t improve the poor mobile phone coverage in areas of the South East. Telstra announced its new deal with Starlink via a press release dated July 3. Responding to questions from The News, Telstra SA Regional General Manager Michael Patterson said Telstra was working with Starlink “to be the first provider in the world to re-sell both consumer and business Starlink broadband plans that includes a voice service. “The product will help us serve customers that today have limited options for a fixed service,” Mr Patterson said. “Our new agreement with Starlink will provide fixed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet and voice access to homes and small businesses anywhere across Australia, with availability prioritising remote and rural Telstra customers at first. “This service does not provide satellite […]

By Nasik Swami A Naracoorte-Lucindale counsellor has asked the council and his fellow elected members what they intend to do about the poor management of road maintenance and the underutilization of the road-making machinery in the district. In a question with notice submitted on July 13 to be presented in the council’s meeting this month, Cr Trevor Rayner said, “I get re-elected on the promise of trying to address this issue, but at this stage it has been to no avail”. Council chief executive officer Trevor Smart has replied to the question, with a response appearing on the agenda item for the council’s July 25 meeting and published on the council website. Explaining the reason for his motion to The News, Cr Rayner said he brought a wealth of experience and knowledge on road works to the council, having worked with various councils on best practises for road maintenance for […]

By Nasik Swami My priorities have not changed. That’s the message from member for MacKillop and quitting Liberal Party MP Nick McBride. Mr McBride made the comment while responding to claims made by South Australia Liberal Party leader David Speirs that the MP’s resignation was “disappointing” and a “changing of priorities”. “I would like to make it very clear—my priorities as the Member for MacKillop have not changed,” he said. “As I said in my statement when leaving the Liberal Party, my primary aim is to achieve better outcomes and more funding for the people who live and work in MacKillop.” Mr McBride said that as an independent, he had the freedom to work with whomever was in government to achieve results that benefitted the entire region. “That is my aim. “The people in MacKillop know that I pride myself on having respectful relationships with all sides of politics.” Mr […]

By Nasik Swami The Liberal Party is adamant that MacKillop will remain a Liberal seat at the 2026 election. South Australia Liberal Party leader David Speirs says the party remained incredibly committed to the South-east despite the recent saga involving MacKillop member Nick McBride’s resignation. In an interview with The News, Mr Speirs launched a scathing attack on Mr McBride, labelling the MP’s decision “disappointing” and a “changing of priorities”. He said Mr McBride walked away from the party for a range of complex “personal reasons” and that his choice was substandard. Mr Speirs claimed that Mr McBride’s priorities have now changed, but this would in no way affect the party, its values, or its commitment. “While Nick McBride’s priorities have changed, ours haven’t, and we remain incredibly committed to the South-east—that’s why I’m making my eighth trip to the region since becoming Leader of the Opposition. “Nick McBride walked […]