The Ballarat Independent.

Ballarat's community groups performing at Buninyong Brewery to assist refugees

Do you shed a tear each time a university educated journalist, with decades of experience, is thrust aside as yet another newsroom has to cut costs?

With 22 candidates standing for the Ballarat City Council elections, it's not easy to sort out who's who and what they stand for. The Ballarat Independent is here to help. We've put the same eight questions to all candidates and published their responses, along with their contact details so you can

Today 50 people walked from local MP, Catherine King's, office to call on Ms King to get behind Australia's first solar thermal power station. The group has joined a national alliance that is working to see Australia's first coal-fired power station replaced with solar power.

Ballarat Residents and Ratepayers Association Inc (BRRA) has redeveloped their website to create a dedicated ‘council watch' page.

Maybe, just maybe, Farnsy was onto something. Among all those bagpipes, maybe there was a message that we should all be taking on board now. Maybe you're the voice. Maybe you should try and understand it. Then make it loud and make it clear. And one of the best ways to do that, is as a councillor.

Surely we as a country can think of something that will ease this "illegal immigrants" problem? Putting my mind to a bit of lateral thinking re these boat people turning up on our shores. I'd be interested in your comments on my contribution.

What is your opinion on this move by the Australian Federal Government? On one hand we're being told that the welfare bill is too high in this country and PWDs have got to get out and get a job to save the day! Now, we're welcoming migrants with disabilities...? I'd be interested in your opinions!

Wind Turbines everywhere; the US, Germany and China. Figures from 2010 show that wind power is used to generate 2.5 per cent of the energy used in the world,  by 2013 it will be 3.35 per cent and up to 8 per cent by 2018. Basically, it's the way of the future. So why is it that this very clean

On Sunday 8th July a meeting will be held at Trades Hall Ballarat at 2pm for all people interested in opposing the cuts to TAFE provision and education and training in our region. Everyone is invited, if they want to listen, if they want to speak or if they want to become actively involved.

After grandstanding at last night's Council meeting that politics has no place in Council, Ballarat's Liberal Councillors then split down party lines in sheer hypocrisy, to vote against a motion calling on the Baillieu Government to review its disastrous cuts to TAFE and VET.

Just one more piece won't hurt anybody? Chocolate is not the same as heroin. Being addicted to chocolate is not like being addicted to drugs. But it's easy to see how smoothly addiction can happen. A report released after a ‘high level Australia21 roundtable' this week says that Australia has

“Councillors, be brave and reach for the sky.” Cr. Judy Verlin. “Tell 'em they're dreamin'.” Daryl Kerrigan. Daylight robbery of ratepayers could well be the last resort for Ballarat City Council if dreams for the Eureka Sports and Entertainment Precinct get out of hand. S

How the rise of independent online media threatens to give way to the fall of journalistic ethics and responsibility. No, no, no, don't click the ‘back' button yet, I may not have an appearance by George Clooney like the Kony 2012 campaign but this stuff is important, and it's all about you.

The Australian Local Government Association - the national voice of Local Government, representing 560 councils across Australia - being a signatory to this important and life-changing document. Is the BCC even a part of this body? If so, why, eight months after this document was signed, was this p

The Editor. I wish to endorse the recent letter by David Fawell who voiced concerns about the un professional administration by well paid city officers. Councillors often can only base their decisions on advice provided by council officers. I base my opinions on the recent Civic Hall farce. &

Ballarat people and institutions have just played lead roles in protecting Victoria's public health and environment. TBI breaks the news ahead of the pack.

"GIRLS as young as 11 are committing suicide at an unprecedented rate in Northern Territory indigenous communities." "that girls now account for a previously unheard of 40 per cent of all suicides of children under the age of 17." "Aboriginal women are being hospitalised for assault at 80 times th

Lack of funding to the Arts Academy whilst the VCA receives 24 million.

Lets get some facts and figures about disability sorted out. According to the ABS, just under one in five Australians, or four million people, are officially recognised by the government as having pensionable disabilities. Of those, 15.6% site a bad back as their disability and 14.8% claim they have