Month: February 2025 AWST

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Canberra Liberal Senate candidate Jacob Vadakkedathu has survived a vote for disendorsement amidst allegations of branch stacking within the party.

Despite a petition with over 30 signatures from members expressing concerns over influenced pre-selection, the party chose to retain him, focusing instead on upcoming electoral strategies.

Party president Nick Tyrrell described the situation as “difficult” but urged members to concentrate on winning seats in the forthcoming election.

From theconversation.com: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has abandoned the controversial “Nature Positive” legislation for the second time due to insufficient support, primarily facing opposition from the Western Australian Labor government and complications with the Greens and Liberals.

He also indicated a possibility of scaling back the electoral reform bill to secure its passage, emphasizing the need for reforms that promote transparency in political donations and spending.

Albanese expressed hope that these legislative efforts would gain public support and be addressed in the next term of parliament.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Australia’s job market has seen significant expansion, with workforce growth exceeding 3% annually for the past three years, a feat not achieved since the Bureau of Stats began tracking.

The jobless rate has remained below 4.25% during the Albanese Government, achieving an unemployment rate of 3.98% in December 2023, one of the best standings in the OECD.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: The WA Nationals have proposed a $102 million desalination plant in Esperance to supply water to Kalgoorlie-Boulder, addressing ongoing water supply issues in the region.

The plan aims to utilize existing infrastructure and has faced historical hurdles, as attempts to pipe water over long distances have previously been complicated by logistics and costs.

From www.abc.net.au: The Albanese government is under pressure to present a coherent legislative agenda amid a politically charged environment as parliament resumes.

Peter Dutton, the opposition leader, is gaining media attention by focusing on issues like law and order and a recent anti-Semitic terrorism plot while inflation news briefly boosts the government’s standing.