Ed.

Reported at www.pollbludger.net: Recent polling in Australia shows the Coalition leading the federal elections, with the latest Resolve Strategic poll indicating a 52-48 split on a two-party preferred basis.

Labor’s primary vote stands at 27%, while the Coalition at 38%, with Peter Dutton overtaking Anthony Albanese in preferred prime minister rankings.

Essential Research highlights a slight improvement for Labor, showing a 30% primary vote but still trailing the Coalition, which is at 37%.

Three Federal polls give Coalition the edge

Reported at johnmenadue.com: The current housing crisis in Australia is a result of decades of transforming homes into investment assets, destabilising both major political parties.

A proposed solution involves reimagining public housing as essential infrastructure for all citizens and leveraging Centrelink’s voluntary work program to promote community engagement and support for public housing initiatives.

By lifting age restrictions and supporting voluntary work as a mutual obligation for income support, the authors argue this approach can revitalize public housing and foster greater civic participation.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Queensland’s new LNP Treasurer David Janetzki announced a significant fiscal downturn, revealing that the state’s budget will shift from a projected $887 million surplus to a deficit exceeding $9 billion for the 2026-27 financial year.

The fiscal update highlights a $400 million decline in coal royalty revenue due to falling prices and reduced export volumes, marking the end of the coal royalty “windfall” era.

The Treasurer will today publish the Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Keith Pitt officially resigned from his position as the Member for Hinkler, leaving the seat vacant with the next federal election approaching.

Experts suggest it is unlikely a by-election will be held before the election, as the costs and logistics would be impractical given the proximity to the upcoming vote.

The LNP is currently in the process of selecting a candidate for the general election while the Speaker of the House reviews whether a by-election should be called.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: David Pocock and Kate Chaney have called on the Australian government to urgently implement laws addressing deepfakes and misinformation ahead of the upcoming federal election, citing warnings from the Australian Electoral Commission about foreign interference and AI-generated content.

Their criticism centers on the Labor government’s failure to include crossbenchers in discussions about political advertising reforms, which they believe has left vital legislation stalled since its introduction in November 2024.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: New South Wales commuters face ongoing public transport disruptions as industrial disputes over wages for transport workers continue, following the Minns government’s withdrawal of its push for arbitration with the Rail, Tram & Bus Union.

The compromise, announced just before the return to school and work, limits transport options for government employees, complicating workplace presence requirements.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australia’s superannuation system disproportionately benefits the wealthiest, granting over $20 billion in tax breaks to the top 10%, while nearly 25% of retirees live in poverty due to low age pension levels.

The government’s proposed tax increase on superannuation earnings above $3 million aims to address these disparities but faces significant opposition fueled by misleading fear campaigns.

See also: Australia Institute backs ‘much needed’ $3m super tax

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that that recent antisemitic incidents may involve “paid actors” rather than individuals motivated by an anti-Jewish ideology.

The AFP is investigating if ‘criminals for hire’ are behind some of these attacks, potentially funded by overseas entities, including the possibility of cryptocurrency transactions.

Reported at au.news.yahoo.com: Bob Carr, former NSW Premier and Federal Foreign Minister, criticised the return of Donald Trump as US President, claiming he lacks knowledge of US history.

In his posts on X (formerly Twitter), Carr specifically condemned Trump’s pardons, tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and his stance on international agreements.

He also questioned Joe Biden’s pre-emptive pardons for family members, highlighting a perceived misuse of presidential powers.

Reported at www.firstlinks.com.au: Recent discrepancies between Treasury budget forecasts and actual outcomes raise concerns over the accuracy of economic projections in Australia.

The Department of Finance reported a significantly improved budget position for the first five months of FY25, contrasting sharply with Treasury’s predictions, highlighting that forecast errors have consistently reached tens of billions of dollars.

Reported at www.sbs.com.au: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces calls to disclose information regarding potential foreign funding linked to a rise in antisemitic attacks in Australia.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw informed National Cabinet leaders that there is intelligence suggesting Australians may be receiving cryptocurrency payments from overseas actors to commit hate crimes domestically.

The government has initiated a dedicated task force, Operation Avalite, to investigate these incidents, while opposition leaders call for greater transparency and action against the rising antisemitism.

From the ABC: The NSW government and combined rail unions are presenting their cases to the Fair Work Commission over ongoing industrial action related to a new enterprise bargaining agreement for Sydney Trains employees.

The unions are seeking improved pay and working conditions, including a reduction in the work week and cashing out sick leave, while the government’s latest offer is 15% over four years.

If the Fair Work Commission finds that the unions’ actions threaten public safety or the economy, it may suspend the industrial action, but if the government loses, the unions could resume their work bans, leading to further train delays.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the OECD global minimum corporate tax agreement, allowing the U.S. to set its own tax rates without international constraints.

This decision contrasts with the Australian government’s ratification of the global tax rate aimed at combating tax evasion.

Trump’s order emphasises American sovereignty over its tax regime and instructs officials to inform the OECD of the U.S. withdrawal from the global tax deal.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Leslie Williams, the Member for Port Macquarie in New South Wales, has announced her resignation after 14 years in state parliament, citing a desire to be closer to her family following the death of her husband in 2022.

Williams, who switched from the National Party to the Liberal Party in 2020 due to community concerns over koala protection legislation, holds her seat by a significant margin. Her retirement will trigger a by-election to fill her position.

Reported at www.thenewdaily.com.au: Australian voting patterns have shown significant variations across states.

New South Wales’ voting closely aligns with national trends, while Victoria has diverged more notably, exhibiting stronger support for the ALP.

Queensland consistently favors conservative parties, and Western Australia has experienced the largest fluctuations in ALP support.

Reported at au.news.yahoo.com: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asserts that Australia will continue its climate initiatives despite Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and his focus on fossil fuels as the new U.S. president.

Albanese highlights the economic opportunities in clean energy, predicting more than 40,000 new jobs in the sector over the next five years.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australians exhibit increased optimism in 2025 regarding their personal finances and the overall economy, providing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a boost in approval ratings.

In a recent Essential poll, Albanese’s approval rose to a net zero rating, while opposition leader Peter Dutton’s approval slipped to negative territory at -1.

The survey reveals that more respondents believe the country is heading in the right direction, with significant increases in positive sentiment compared to late 2024.

In response to an anti-Semitic graffiti and arson attack on a Sydney childcare center, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened a national cabinet meeting, which resulted in the creation of a new national database to track anti-Semitic incidents, the ABC reports.

The Australian Federal Police are also reported to be investigating potential foreign influence behind recent attacks, including the use of cryptocurrencies to fund local criminals.

See also: Meeting of National Cabinet

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: The Australian Government Solicitor has attempted to suppress information regarding its desire to use secret witnesses and evidence in legal proceedings, prompting a response from former Senator Rex Patrick, who argues that transparency is essential.

Patrick asserts that the AGS’s threat of legal repercussions for revealing their attempts at secrecy is unfounded and intended to intimidate whistleblowers.

He is calling for accountability regarding the government’s increasing reliance on secrecy.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Farmers will have access to subsidised loans from the government-owned Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Rabobank to fund the planting of native trees and shrubs aimed at carbon sequestration.

The CEFC will contribute a one percent discount to these loans, with a total of $200 million allocated for the initiative, which is expected to help farmers generate additional income through carbon credits while improving sustainability practices.