Riverland local news briefing, Monday, September 21, 2026 - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Here's what's making news in the Riverland region today.

A 17-year-old boy from Renmark has died as a result of a two-car crash at Annadale on the Sturt Highway last night. 

Police and emergency services were called to the highway about 7:30pm Sunday night. 

The teenage driver died at the scene, while his passenger, a 23-year-old man from Renmark, was treated by SA Ambulance and taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The driver of the other car, also a 17-year-old boy from Renmark, was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries. 

Major Crash Investigators attended the scene.

A Riverland winegrape grower says the South Australian government's $109 million support package for the industry is long overdue.

The package, announced late last week, includes interest-free loans of up to $500,000 for growers looking to transition into other crops.

Waikerie farmer Lee Starling said he had been calling for support for years.

He said growers had been doing it tough for some time and other industries were struggling as well.

Riverland upper house MP Nicola Centofanti has lost her bid to become president of the SA Liberal Party. 

She was defeated by right-wing backbencher Alex Antic, 119 votes to 73.

The state president role is an internal position roughly equivalent to the chair of a company board, overseeing campaign preparations and setting meeting agendas.

Senator Antic has previously praised members of One Nation and repeatedly crossed the floor against the the Liberals.

Ms Centofanti said her commitment to the party had not changed.

Renmark-based federal Liberal senator Anne Ruston said she hoped Senator Antic could deliver on promises to give party members a greater say over policy.

Community members will have one last chance to have their say on the review of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan before final recommendations are released later this year.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is reviewing management of the basin for the first time since the plan began 14 years ago.

MDBA chief executive Andrew McConville said the formal public consultation period had ended, but a public webinar would be held later this month so people could hear from the authority and ask questions before drafting began.

Multiple suspected melanomas and basal cell carcinomas have been detected at the Riverland Field Days over the weekend.

Skin Tech Medical offered free skin cancer checks, with about 200 people tested across the first two years at the event.

Skin cancer advocate Ellie Jones said the results were a reminder for Riverland residents to get regular check-ups.

She said the region was high risk because much of the population worked in the sun. 

Ms Jones said there were about half a dozen suspected melanomas.