FlowNews24

The federal government knew about an impending domestic alcohol tax during Free Trade Agreement negotiations, Labor's shadow trade minister tells Flow listeners, which the federal opposition says erodes the benefits of the impending Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the UK. Labor also wants more time taken to ratify the treaty.

Rural Fire Service volunteers will have to be up to date with vaccinations against COVID-19 but the government is still working through the 1 in 5 brigades that either opposed the move or said it would be difficult for them to serve their communities with the restrictions in place. The southern NSW MP also updates Flow listeners on the long 2021/22 harvest for farmers and warns of the dangers of driving through floodwaters.

Speaking with Flow listeners, Dennis projects prices for the 2022 wool sales and reasons for optimism for Aussie wool growers, tackling also the lower micron levels and the prospects of more processing closer to - or within - Australia in future

Shortly after outlining the SA Chamber of Mines and Energy's policy priorities for the March 19 State election in South Australia, the state government committed $10m and the federal government $5m to develop the business case for a desalination plant potentially the same scale as Adelaide's, in the Upper Spencer Gulf to replace River Murray and Great Artesian Basin water for mining in South Australia's outback

The Liberal Party's federal member for Grey discusses the issues such as saline water discharge and energy management if a potential multi-billion dollar desalination plant proposed by SA's mining industry proceeds in the Upper Spencer Gulf

The United Australia Party candidate lacks confidence that the SA government will deliver on the investigation into water security in the Grey electorate, and takes aim at the poor delivery of health services in the electorate, claiming the Wudinna doctor in the central Eyre Peninsula quit in frustration. FlowNews24 emphasises that vaccination is a personal voluntary health choice in consultation with qualified health professionals.

The SA Energy Minister also talks about grid stability with the growing amount of renewable energy in the national electricity market.

Speaking about homelessness and housing availability in her Murray electorate, the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MP said the NSW government should either renew or reinvest proceeds of sale of public assets in regional NSW in the same communities. A potential historic first ALP win in Bega in Saturday's by-elections could see Mrs Dalton shy away from a tilt at Sussan Ley in the seat of Farrer as the SFF Party's hand grows stronger in the NSW parliamentary crossbench.