Agriculture

Cops, fire ant squads ride roughshod over rights

GROWING numbers of Southeast Queenslanders are pushing back against National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) tactics they say undermine property rights.

Rob Mellett

04 Jun 2025

Agriculture

World first and an award win to local company

ADVANCES in sustainable waste management isn’t usually a topic that makes the headlines.

Staff Writers

14 May 2025

Ipswich Tribune

Arrested, charged over fire ant treatment refusal

A GATTON smallholder who was arrested and charged with two counts of obstructing police after refusing fire ant treatment on his property will front Gatton Magistrates Court this Monday.

Rob Mellett

30 Apr 2025

Business

Primary producers want fire ant program reform

PRIMARY producers in Southeast Queensland met on Saturday to discuss solutions to what they say is an unsustainable and bureaucratic approach to fire ant management.

Rob Mellett

16 Apr 2025

Agriculture

Farmers to meet as fire ant rules cripple bottom line

A GROWING number of farmers across Southeast Queensland are calling for the relaxation of “excessive biosecurity restrictions” which they say are crippling their livelihoods.

Rob Mellett

09 Apr 2025

Business

Buy local honey as varroa mite hits Lockyer Valley

A LOCAL beekeeper and greens candidate says shoppers can help in simple ways to support the beekeeping industry with news the varroa mite has been identified in the Lockyer Valley.

Rob Mellett

09 Apr 2025

Ipswich Tribune

Fire ant review on ice as extra funds declared

THE QUEENSLAND Government has delayed an independent review into the $593 million fire ant eradication program.

Rob Mellett

26 Mar 2025

Ipswich Tribune

How rural anger at solar plan split a community

AFTER decades of hard work on their dairy farm, the Blanch brothers didn’t think twice when they were approached by a “renewables” developer with what appeared to be an offer they couldn’t refuse.

Rob Mellett

19 Mar 2025

Business

Year of upgrades for the Ipswich Showgrounds

NEW and improved facilities and buildings will be built at the Ipswich Showground thanks to funding from the Investing in our Communities program.

Rob Mellett

29 Jan 2025

Business

Lawyer: Biosecurity QLD faces class action

PROPERTY owners in Southeast Queensland have employed lawyers to help defend their homes against biosecurity officers from forcing entry and spraying fire ant pesticides.

Rob Mellett

22 Jan 2025

Ipswich Tribune

Cattle breeder takes fire ant protest to minister

A LOCKYER Valley acreage landholder will ride his horse to the offices of the Primary Industries Minister in Brisbane to protest what he says are the Fire Ant Eradication Program’s disastrous effects on his businesses.

Rob Mellett

15 Jan 2025

Council

The ‘meaningless tokenism’ of 32ha koala reserve

KOALA experts are sceptical of the council’s announcement that it will buy 32ha of land to “expand koala habitat”.

Rob Mellett

11 Dec 2024

Ipswich Tribune

Apiarist says fire ant pesticides killing native bees

A DETERMINED beekeeper wants a ban on the use of toxic poisons used in the fight against fire ants.

Rob Mellett

27 Nov 2024

Business

Politicians to address ‘unrenewables’ forum

LAST Saturday saw another step on the path to stopping planned solar projects being rolled out at Lower Mount Walker and beyond.

Rob Mellett

09 Oct 2024

Development

Kalbar Ag & Energy Precinct wins State Govt green light

KALFRESH has secured the State Government green light to embark on a project to build an agricultural value-adding precinct, featuring Australia’s first renewable energy facility to turn plants and food waste into green power, green gas and biofertiliser.

Staff Writers

15 May 2024