Extra tall load

We all remember the birth of Perth Zoo’s giraffe calf in 2019 named Inkosi, meaning ‘the king’ in Zulu.

Now three years old, Inkosi has made his way via road transport across the Nullarbor on a 2750km trip to his new home at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia where he will join their giraffe breeding program.

Monarto Safari Park says there are now less giraffes left in the wild than elephants. Its national breeding program aims to help ensure their survival.

According to Perth Zoo’s manager of zoology, John Lemon the number of giraffes in the wild had dwindled by more than 40 per cent in recent decades.

Inkosi is 800kg, four metres tall and his journey included navigating under bridges such as the Leach Highway/Welshpool Rd Bridge and given the height of the load, powerlines had to be lifted throughout the trip. He was attended throughout the trip by Monarto Safari Park’s senior veterinarian who travelled behind him to ensure he was safe and well and his crate was lined with marine carpet, equestrian rubber and jarrah sawdust for comfort.

The Minister said, “I have advised the Premier that I will be bringing my Parliamentary career to an end and standing down from my Ministerial positions before Christmas.

“After 26 years of Parliamentary service and 13 years in the ministries of three Labor Governments, it’s time to pass on the baton.

“While I want to continue to work to take our community forward, I am ready to relinquish the high-pressure life of a Minister.

“The ministerial role provides an incredible opportunity to shape the agenda of our State, but it is extremely demanding and all-absorbing.

“I also believe it is important to give the many talented and committed members - who have come to Parliament more recently - the opportunity to have a go.

“I had told the Premier before the last election that 2022 would be my last year in Parliament. I will continue in the meantime to finish a number of projects, keep the momentum in my portfolios, and make sure we are in good shape for a hand over.”

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The 2023 program will consist of: • Two days of intensive workshops in

Canberra in February 2023 • Development of industry advocacy projects • A digital check-in meeting • Participation in Trucking Australia 2023 from 29-31 March 2023

To nominate a Future Leader go to www.truck.net.au/public/awardsand-programs/daimler-truck-futureleaders-forum

Inflation is expected to peak at 7.75% later this year (it has just hit 7.3%). GDP growth is expected to fall from 3.25% down to 1.5% next year. Unemployment forecast to rise to 4.5% mid-2024. The Budget deficit will fall to $36.9b.

Infrastructure spending will decrease over the next 4 years by $6.5, but remains relatively high with $120b of spending expected over the next 10 years. Concerningly, much of the announced expenditure is in metropolitan areas and the Building Better Regions Fund has been scrapped.

• $1.5b on a Freight Highway Upgrade

Program (this will seal the Tanami Track and upgrade several other significant freight routes in SA and NT). • $1b for the Outback Way. • $80m for Heavy Vehicle Rest Areas.

• Emissions reduction of 43% by 2030 and net zero by 2050. • Euro VI emission standards. • Electric vehicle and hydrogen highways focus. • Signing up to a Global Methane Pledge (concerns exist around cattle herd reductions or taxes).

• $134m committed to improving biosecurity protections (half of this will be fast-tracked to deal with FMD and LSD). • $47m for a livestock ‘contact tracing’ system. • $21m for drought resilience. • $4m for a new Inspector-General for animal welfare.