Month: January 2025 AWST

Fears of a gas supply shortfall in Australia have diminished as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reported a projected surplus of 77 to 112 petajoules on the east coast for 2025, michaelwest.com.au reports.

Improved production, particularly from Queensland, has eased market conditions, although a shortfall of 16 petajoules is still expected in southern states due to transportation needs.

Despite a favorable supply outlook, domestic gas prices remain significantly higher than pre-2022 levels, prompting the government to emphasize ongoing efforts to stabilize energy costs and supply.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $200 million housing and infrastructure funding package aimed at addressing the housing crisis in regional Western Australia, the ABC reports.

The package includes plans to develop over 1,000 homes in Karratha, Albany, and the Wheatbelt. Community and industry leaders welcomed the funding but expressed concerns about the potential for delays in delivering the necessary housing.

The initiative is seen as a critical step to tackle the shortage of homes, which has hindered economic growth and affected local businesses in these regions.

A UN committee has determined that Australia violated a human rights treaty by detaining asylum seekers, including minors, on Nauru even after they were granted refugee status, the ABC reports.

The committee found violations of provisions related to arbitrary detention and the right to challenge such detention in court, urging the government to provide compensation and prevent future occurrences.

The Nauru facility was ruled to fall under Australia’s jurisdiction due to the country’s involvement in its construction and operation.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: The Attorney-General’s Department has set February 28 as the deadline for submissions regarding a consultation paper examining the use of legal professional privilege amid concerns of its improper application in Commonwealth investigations.

This initiative arises from issues highlighted during parliamentary debates, especially related to the Australian Taxation Office and PwC Australia’s handling of privilege claims.

The paper seeks input on potential changes to how LPP is utilized, focusing on ensuring its appropriate application while addressing reported abuses.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: The NSW government has established a Housing Delivery Authority to manage the assessment of major housing projects and streamline processes for development approvals.

By alleviating local councils of complex development applications, the HDA aims to accelerate housing approvals, focusing on projects that can be quickly assessed and contribute to affordable housing.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: The Albanese government has made progress in rebuilding the Australian Public Service capability but has failed to restore the promised level of independence, risking the potential for future governments to easily undo reforms.

For meaningful change, reform must be legislated, particularly regarding merit-based appointments and the role of the APS commissioner, as highlighted by past reports and current crossbench discussions.

There is a call for the government to adopt substantive legislative reforms to enhance APS integrity, capability, and future performance, moving beyond mere political assurances.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is preparing for an upcoming election amid challenging conditions, working through the summer to hone his campaign strategy and avoid mistakes made during the previous election.

He faces increased pressure, as recent analysis indicates that Labor’s chances of maintaining a majority are slim, with the Coalition within striking distance to regain control.

Reported at www.ibtimes.co.uk: Meta has revised its content moderation policies to enhance ‘free expression,’ allowing users to claim that LGBTQ+ individuals have mental illnesses.

The changes include loosening restrictions on discussions about gender identity and immigration and removing fact-checking partnerships. While some hate speech prohibitions remain, the new policies have raised concerns about potential increases in hate speech and misinformation across Meta’s platforms.

Reported at thenightly.com.au: Former Facebook Australia CEO Stephen Scheeler criticised Meta’s decision to eliminate its third-party fact-checking program, labeling it as a political move aimed at aligning with the incoming Trump administration.

Meta claimed the program was leading to censorship and announced it would adopt a crowdsourced model similar to that of X, owned by Elon Musk.

Scheeler warned that this change could result in increased misinformation and trolling on social media platforms.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his support for adopting fixed four-year parliamentary terms in Australia, unlike the current three-year maximum set by the constitution, reports www.sbs.com.au.

Proponents argue that longer terms would allow more time for policy development and reduce the frequency of elections, while opponents contend it could lead to decreased accountability and longer tenures for unpopular governments.

Changing the parliamentary term length would require a constitutional amendment, necessitating a difficult referendum process supported by a majority of voters in most states.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: Western Australia’s Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley announced plans for a new Office of the Local Government Inspector aimed at enhancing accountability and transparency in the local government sector.

The initiative includes the appointment of specialized monitors to assist in regulating local administrations and resolving issues proactively.

These reforms follow the passage of the Local Government Amendment Bill 2024, marking significant changes to the sector in the last 25 years.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasizes his focus on advancing stalled reforms as he prepares for a potential election by mid-May, indicating he is not rushing into a January election campaign, the ABC reports.

In a recent interview, he highlighted priorities including legislation for critical minerals tax credits and continued discussions on electoral reforms, while expressing skepticism about reaching a deal on environmental laws with the Greens. He also clarified his stance against foreign interference in Australian politics, particularly regarding social media influence.

Australia leads the Combined Task Force 153 against Houthi rebels in Yemen as the conflict escalates in the Red Sea, yet the operation remains largely undisclosed to the public, reports michaelwest.com.au.

The Houthis, motivated by their opposition to Israeli actions in Gaza, continue to launch drone and missile strikes that disrupt shipping and escalate tensions in the region.

From michaelwest.com.au: Treasurer Jim Chalmers says that the upcoming federal election campaign will not involve a large-scale spending spree, emphasizing the need for responsible budget management amidst rising cost-of-living concerns.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is actively engaging voters in marginal electorates with promises of funding for regional infrastructure and housing.

Meanwhile, polling suggests a decline in support for the major parties, potentially benefiting minor parties and independents during the election.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Rates of antisemitism and Islamophobia in Australia have surged since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, prompting political and social discourse on these issues.

Various organizations report significant increases in incidents of both antisemitic and Islamophobic hate, raising concerns about rising intolerance and racism in society.

Reported at www.crikey.com.au: Meta’s fact-checking program will continue in Australia for at least another year, despite the company announcing it would end the program in the U.S. Australian Associated Press (AAP).

FactCheck confirmed its contract with Meta remains unaffected and will extend into 2026, emphasizing the importance of independent fact-checkers in combating misinformation.

Several councils in New South Wales are charging ratepayers for alcohol consumed by councillors, despite a state government policy that excludes alcohol from being covered as an expense, reports the ABC.

While legal, councils are not required to disclose their alcohol spending separately, leading to varied policies across different councils; some provide alcohol allowances while others do not specifically prohibit it.

The Australian federal government has awarded a $100 million contract to Thales Australia for the production of 40 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, aimed at bolstering the army’s capabilities amid regional security concerns, the ABC reports.

The contract ensures job stability at the Bendigo facility, supporting around 250 local jobs until 2026, following a previous period of uncertainty and staff redundancies.

From the Treasurer: Underlying inflation in Australia decreased to 3.2% in November, marking a reduction from 3.5%, with headline inflation now consistently in the lower half of the Reserve Bank’s target band for three months.

The government highlights its effective policies, such as energy rebates and increased rent assistance, which helped alleviate inflation pressures and improve household budgets.

Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Meta will eliminate fact-checkers, reduce censorship significantly, and increase recommendations for political content across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, reports the Guardian.

He stated that the changes, which include moving content moderation teams to Texas and simplifying content filters, aim to prioritize free speech while acknowledging that it may result in less effective oversight of harmful content.