Ed.

Reported at au.news.yahoo.com: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese states that Australia will accelerate its clean energy investment despite the US withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement under President Donald Trump.

Albanese emphasises the economic opportunities tied to renewable energy, predicting over 40,000 jobs in the sector over five years and continuous community support for clean energy initiatives.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: A childcare center in Maroubra, Sydney, was set on fire and vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti, including a message saying “F*** the Jews.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the act as a “despicable and horrifying crime,” while NSW Premier Chris Minns labeled it a “vicious hate crime.”

An investigation is underway.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: The federal government has launched the ‘A safer Australia’ strategy, allocating $106.2 million over four years to combat violent extremism through preventive initiatives.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized a ‘whole of society’ approach to address the root causes of violent extremism and support the reintegration of radicalized individuals.

A new national support program called Step Together will provide assistance to families concerned about radicalisation.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Rising construction costs continue to hinder the housing industry in Australia, as costs for building stand-alone houses climbed 3.4% over the past year, leading to an insolvency rate among construction companies that has reached its highest in years.

Despite inflation returning to normal levels, builders face challenges such as labor shortages, high materials costs, and regulatory burdens, resulting in low dwelling commencements near 10-year lows.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Australia’s relationship with China and Pacific nations may be jeopardized under Donald Trump’s second presidential term.

Concerns arise over the potential use of the AUKUS partnership to pressure Australia regarding its ties with China and the implications of a possible US exit from the Paris Agreement on climate change, which could affect Australia’s relations with Pacific Island countries.

Reported at johnmenadue.com: Australia’s nuclear power plans face significant challenges based on the experiences of OECD countries, where the construction of new nuclear power plants has been fraught with high costs and delays.

Costs have ballooned, often doubling initial estimates. The development of nuclear power plants in these countries benefited from existing infrastructure and skilled labor, factors that Australia currently lacks.

These complexities raise doubts over the feasibility of integrating nuclear power into Australia’s energy mix by the 2035-2040 timeline.

Reported at johnmenadue.com: Canberra insiders express concern that Donald Trump’s return to power could pressure Australia to abandon its “stabilisation” policy towards China.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s approach may face challenges as Trump’s administration is expected to adopt a more aggressive stance towards Beijing, influenced by hawkish advisers. Despite potential backlash, the Albanese government is likely to maintain its current China policy.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Public sector psychiatrists in NSW plan to resign over a pay dispute, with about 200 psychiatrists threatening to quit unless their demands for a 25% salary increase are met.

Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson and Premier Chris Minns emphasise the government’s position that the requested increase is unaffordable.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed confidence that Australia will maintain a sound relationship with the United States under Donald Trump’s second presidency, despite Trump’s plans for potential tariffs on imports from various countries.

No specific assurances were made regarding tariffs, but he believes collaboration will prevail.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australian billionaires Gina Rinehart and Anthony Pratt have taken out newspaper ads in the US expressing their support for President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration.

Pratt’s ad in the New York Times emphasised his commitment to bringing manufacturing jobs back to America, while Rinehart’s ads praised Trump as an “outstanding leader”.

From Reuters: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has met with Indian and Japanese counterparts, currently in Washington for Trump’s inauguration.

According to sources, it seems likely that Republican Senator Marco Rubio will be confirmed as Secretary of State, which would pave the way for a meeting involving Quad foreign ministers the next day.

From aap.com.au: Claims that polygamist Muslims are exploiting the welfare system are inaccurate, as those in multiple relationships cannot simultaneously receive benefits from each partner.

From michaelwest.com.au: Recent polling indicates that female voters are increasingly supporting the Liberal-National coalition, with 37% backing them compared to 31% for the Labor government.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: Retired Defence Chief Angus Campbell has been appointed as Australia’s ambassador to Belgium, which also includes roles as the representative to NATO, the European Union, and Luxembourg.

Campbell will play a crucial role in ongoing free trade negotiations with the EU, succeeding Caroline Millar in this diplomatic position.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong emphasized Australia’s commitment to finalising a free trade agreement with the EU, highlighting the strong ties shared with Belgium and other institutions.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has announced that the Coalition plans to implement minimum jail sentences for acts of anti-Semitism, following a series of attacks against Jewish communities in Australia, the ABC reports.

Proposed measures include at least six years for Commonwealth terror offences and a new offence for threatening places of worship with penalties ranging from five to seven years.

Dutton also called for a national cabinet meeting to address the increasing incidents of anti-Semitism, criticising Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for not convening discussions on the matter.

Defence Minister Richard Marles affirmed that the AUKUS partnership, involving Australia, the US, and the UK, is progressing as planned, despite concerns about the US submarine industrial base, reports michaelwest.com.au.

Marles highlighted that AUKUS aligns with the strategic interests of all three nations, ensuring its support across political spectrums.

From www.perthnow.com.au: Labor Minister Clare O’Neil and Coalition frontbencher Barnaby Joyce have united in opposition to expanding the powers of the Australian Classification Board, which seeks to proactively reclassify content such as films and books every ten years.

The board aims to review works considered “archaic” based on ongoing complaints, including titles like “Crocodile Dundee” and works by Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australia has granted nearly 1,000 temporary humanitarian visas to Palestinian and Israeli nationals fleeing the Israel-Hamas conflict since the program began in October 2024.

This visa provides access to social benefits and work rights but does not allow for permanent protection, which advocates argue is necessary due to ongoing protection needs.

Reported at www.pollbludger.net: Two recent polls indicate a slight improvement for Labor in the primary vote, with Freshwater Strategy showing Labor at 32% and YouGov at 32% as well, while both polls maintain a 51-49 lead for the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis.

Preselection battles are emerging within the Liberal party, particularly in the northern Sydney seat of Berowra, and Labor is starting to position candidates for various seats as the federal election approaches.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce a $2 billion pledge for production credits to support the development of a “green aluminium” sector, requiring smelters to utilize renewable energy.

The production credits will encourage smelters to produce aluminium sustainably before 2036, addressing concerns from the industry about its future viability.