Month: December 2024 AWST

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: BHP whistleblower James Joseph has alleged corporate misconduct, including secret negotiations with former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to transform the Hunter Valley coal mine into lakes for renewable energy, without proper public consultation or regulation adherence.

Despite his whistleblower status, Joseph faced severe retaliation, including death threats and workplace bullying.

The proposed project, potentially one of the largest infrastructure plans in Australia, raises concerns about corporate governance, environmental impact, and the treatment of whistleblowers in the coal industry.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: From January 1, 2025, large companies and financial institutions in Australia will be required to legally measure and disclose their greenhouse gas emissions under a new mandatory climate reporting regime, making this a key aspect of their annual reporting.

The reporting will include climate-related financial disclosures, addressing risks and strategies for emissions reduction, and applies to non-listed companies as well.

Although small and medium-sized enterprises are exempt, they may still face increasing information requests from larger companies within their supply chains.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Opposition leader Peter Dutton has turned to podcasting as a strategy to engage with younger voters, rarely participating in one-on-one interviews elsewhere.

He recently appeared on the “Diving Deep” podcast with social media influencer Sam Fricker, discussing personal topics and policy issues, but faced minimal challenge on details.

Political strategists recognize that platforms like podcasts can effectively reach disengaged audiences, as demonstrated by high-profile American politicians leveraging similar venues for exposure.

Reported at thenightly.com.au: Bill Shorten condemned a social media post by the Victorian Labor Party targeting Peter Dutton’s wife, describing it as “dumb and mean.”

The post, which featured a meme referencing a quote from Kirrily Dutton, was removed following intervention from senior Labor figures, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office demanding its removal and stating that families should be off-limits in political discourse.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton responded by emphasizing that he would not permit attacks on Albanese’s fiancé and urged mutual respect for both parties’ families.

From www.pollbludger.net: New polling data from Resolve Strategic reveals shifts in federal voting intentions in Western Australia and South Australia, showing Labor’s support has declined while the Coalition has gained slightly.

In Western Australia, Labor sits at 30%, down from 36.8% in the last election, while the Coalition is at 37%, an increase from 34.8%.

Additionally, personal ratings for 34 politicians highlight Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton as the most recognized figures, with varying net likeability scores; Albanese has a 98% familiarity but a -17 net likeability, whereas Dutton has 95% familiarity with a neutral score.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: From January 1, 2025 increases in Centrelink payments such as youth allowance and Austudy will take effect, as will the introduction of a ban on imported engineered stone to protect workers from silicosis.

Employers will face severe penalties for intentionally underpaying employees, and significant updates will be made to minimum wage rates and classifications in 20 awards.

Additional reforms include new vehicle efficiency standards, a higher Medicare safety net threshold, and mandatory climate-related reporting requirements for large companies.

Reported at johnmenadue.com: Western Australia is experiencing significant budget surpluses, largely due to increased mineral royalties and favorable changes in GST revenue distribution, which now guarantees WA a minimum 75% of a notional equal-per-capita share.

Over the four years to 2027-28, WA projects cash surpluses totaling $5.8 billion, while other states and territories forecast significant deficits.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Longer petrol price cycles have exacerbated the cost-of-living pressures for Australian motorists, particularly in major cities like Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, where prices remain high despite significant competition.

The NRMA has called for an investigation by the ACCC to assess the impact of these price cycles, which are reportedly lasting up to eight weeks in some areas.

Reported at thenightly.com.au: Polling indicates Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holds a slight popularity edge over opposition leader Peter Dutton, and indicate Labor is losing support in key states like NSW and Victoria.

The data shows Labor’s primary vote declining from 33% to 29% in both states, while the Coalition’s support has increased significantly. With an election due by May 17, 2025, Labor faces the challenge of reversing these trends to maintain its majority.

Prime Minister media release: The Government is activating the Disaster Recovery Allowance for Victorians affected by recent bushfires in the Grampians National Park and Macedon Ranges, providing up to 13 weeks of income support for impacted workers and sole traders.

Applications open on December 30, 2024, and eligibility can be confirmed through the Services Australia website.

From eastasiaforum.org: Australia is experiencing economic challenges characterized by declining living standards, weak productivity growth, and persistent structural deficits.

With a federal election approaching in 2025, both major parties face pressure over cost-of-living issues and are hesitant to implement necessary structural reforms.

Despite having strong institutions and resources, the government’s focus on short-term political gains hampers efforts to address these underlying economic problems.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Treasurer Jim Chalmers faces criticism for endorsing cryptocurrency as a means to modernize Australia’s financial system, despite legitimate concerns regarding its use for criminal activities.

Critics argue that his stance may signal desperation to appease wealthy interest groups, particularly the crypto industry, rather than focusing on more pressing economic issues.

In 2025, Australia will face significant legal and political issues, particularly surrounding the implied freedom of political communication and challenges related to free speech laws, www.6newsau.com reports.

The upcoming Cyber Security Act 2024 and Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 will introduce new regulations, while ongoing cases regarding immigration detainees and constitutional rights for residents of Australian territories will continue to be debated in the High Court.

A federal election is anticipated before May 2025, which could impact the legislative landscape.

Reported at www.pollbludger.net: The Victorian Liberal Party faces immediate electoral challenges with the upcoming Prahran by-election on February 8, where they will compete against the Greens in a seat previously held by them.

Concurrently, the Party plans for a by-election in Werribee following the resignation of Treasurer Tim Pallas, with a date yet to be announced.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Brad Battin has replaced John Pesutto as leader of the Victorian Liberal Party following a partyroom meeting, in which former shadow police minister Battin won a leadership contest, with Sam Groth as his deputy.

See also: Who is Brad Battin?

This leadership change comes amidst significant pressure on Pesutto after he was ordered to pay $315,000 in damages to Moira Deeming, who has now been readmitted to the parliamentary team.

Battin emphasized the need for unity within the party and outlined plans to address crime and the cost-of-living crisis in Victoria.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: The recent decision by the Administrative Review Tribunal has ruled that the Snowy 2.0 project, which has experienced significant cost overruns, is exempt from public scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act.

This ruling could establish a precedent that allows Peter Dutton’s future nuclear power initiatives to operate under similar secrecy, effectively shielding them from accountability.

The average discharge time for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants in hospitals has significantly decreased from 160 days to just 20 days, saving the Australian public health system “hundreds of millions” of dollars, reports The Guardian.

Bill Shorten, the outgoing minister overseeing the NDIS, attributed this improvement to the introduction of dedicated teams and new medium-term housing options for participants.

Reported at smallcaps.com.au: Rapidly rising state debts in Victoria and New South Wales are threatening Australia’s AAA credit rating, as ratings agencies express alarm over the substantial increase in state borrowing since the COVID pandemic.

Fitch predicts that state gross debt could rise to nearly 20% of GDP by 2028, despite federal budget surpluses, largely driven by extensive infrastructure spending. Victoria has become particularly concerning with its debt levels predicted to reach $228 billion, potentially surpassing New South Wales, while the state’s household income has significantly declined since 2019.

Reported at www.6newsau.com: The High Court of Australia has maintained the validity of the Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973, affirming that it does not have the precedent to “unelect” the Senators from the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

Justices Gibbs and Stephen acknowledged the complexity of lawmaking regarding representation, emphasizing the necessity for careful scrutiny before overturning prior decisions, while also noting that significant changes in territories’ representation would require legislative action.

Chief Justice Barwick and Justice Aickin opposed this stance, arguing against the constitutional authority for territory representation in the Senate, but their views remain unsupported by other judges, making future challenges unlikely.

NSW rail unions and the state government reached a last-minute agreement to suspend industrial action that could have disrupted New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney according to a report in The Guardian

The compromise comes amid ongoing deadlock over a new pay deal, with unions dropping planned bans that would affect services while the government withdrew its push to have their actions suspended.