POLITICS

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Peter Dutton, the Opposition Leader, launched his campaign in Melbourne, emphasizing that the Coalition can make the current Labor government a one-term administration.

In his address, he highlighted key priorities such as addressing cost of living, supporting small businesses, establishing nuclear power, and committing to strengthening Medicare.

The Liberal Party aims to regain seats lost in previous elections, focusing on a fierce competition primarily in New South Wales and Victoria, amid concerns over inflation and living standards.

Teal independents face a changed political landscape in the upcoming 2025 federal election, moving from an environment fueled by anti-Scott Morrison sentiment to one where cost of living is the primary concern, the Guardian reports.

Climate 200’s executive director highlights that the incumbents’ track records and the ongoing decline of major party votes suggest potential opportunities for independents to expand their representation in Parliament.

Focused on supporting up to 30 candidates, Climate 200 has already raised $7.6 million for the campaign, indicating continued financial backing for the teal movement.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Peter Dutton faces a significant challenge in the 2025 election as he encounters both Labor’s Ali France and a Teal independent candidate in the marginal seat of Dickson, which could jeopardize his political future.

His history on women’s issues is expected to be a focal point for opponents, particularly with a demographic shift that may favor female candidates, and his controversial stances on nuclear energy could further alienate voters.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his government will fund 80% of upgrades to the Bruce Highway, a key transport route in Queensland, with a budget of $7.2 billion as part of his campaign leading up to the 2025 federal election.

The announcement received support from Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, highlighting a rare consensus among local stakeholders, although the federal opposition’s response varied.

he Victorian Liberal Party has selected Steve Murphy, a real estate agent with 26 years of experience in the Werribee area, as their candidate for the upcoming by-election on February 8, following the resignation of former treasurer Tim Pallas, the ABC reports.

Labor has chosen local high school teacher John Lister as their candidate, while the Greens have introduced Rifai Raheem, who emphasizes community connections and proposals for public transport reform.

Murphy and Lister both highlight issues such as cost of living and infrastructure as central to their campaigns.

Jing Lee has announced her immediate resignation from the South Australian Liberal Party, relinquishing her roles as deputy leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council and shadow minister for tourism and multicultural affairs, the ABC reports.

She will serve as an independent member of the Legislative Council until the next state election in 2026, citing a need for change after reflecting on her responsibilities and how to best represent her community.

From www.sbs.com.au: Meta’s recent decision to eliminate third-party fact-checkers on its US platforms has raised concerns among Australian experts and politicians, warning of potential implications for content moderation.

Mark Zuckerberg framed the change as a move to enhance political content and free speech, which critics argue could amplify harmful rhetoric and misinformation, particularly ahead of Australia’s federal election.

While Zuckerberg states the policy is currently limited to the US, experts believe it signifies a broader ideological shift that could ultimately affect users globally.

High-profile Australians have urged the federal government to establish duty of care laws that require policies on climate change to consider the health and wellbeing of future generations, the ABC reports, despite a Senate inquiry rejecting such a proposal.

Prominent signatories of the letter include former Australian of the Year Grace Tame and author Tim Winton, reinforcing a collective call for urgent climate action amid record-breaking heat.

From the ABC: The federal government has pledged nearly $30 million for infrastructure upgrades in Wyndham, Western Australia, including granting the port First Point of Entry status, which aims to revitalize the town’s economy.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised that these developments could enhance local exports, particularly from the growing cotton industry.

Reported at www.pollbludger.net: Roy Morgan’s latest poll shows Labor facing a significant two-party preferred loss, attributed to unusual preference flows where Labor’s support from the Greens dropped drastically.

Meanwhile, RedBridge Group’s ideological report indicates that 51% of respondents placed Labor on the left end of the political spectrum, while 62% identified the Liberals on the right.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Tasmania Police have opted not to investigate former Launceston General Hospital director Dr. Peter Renshaw over allegations of improperly certifying death certificates, citing insufficient evidence for criminal charges.

While AHPRA has suspended Renshaw’s medical registration, the Health Department is conducting audits of death records but has not discovered additional cases necessitating referrals to the coroner.

Factors canvassed by www.rossgittins.com contributing to the recent depreciation of the Australian dollar include lower demand from China and expectations of stable or high-interest rates in the US, which discourage investment in Australia.

The dollar has depreciated from over US70¢ to around US62¢, impacting various sectors of the economy.

While a weaker dollar increases competitiveness for exporters and reduces competition from imports, it also raises costs for importers and travelers.

From The Conversation: The UN Human Rights Committee has ruled that Australia violated international human rights law by subjecting a group of young asylum seekers to “cruel and degrading” treatment in Nauru, where they faced indefinite detention under prison-like conditions.

Although the committee found Australia responsible for the human rights breaches, the ruling may not lead to immediate changes in Australia’s offshore detention policies due to the lack of enforceable remedies.

A judge has ordered Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to clarify the circumstances surrounding the deletion of certain documents related to the Julian Assange case, requiring a response by February 21, 2025, reports consortiumnews.com.

Italian journalist Stefania Maurizi has pursued these documents through a Freedom of Information request, as they potentially contain evidence of a politically motivated prosecution against Assange.

Reported at johnmenadue.com: Clive Palmer is claiming a total of $420 billion from the Australian government as a Singaporean investor under Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) rights linked to his mining projects.

His claims arise from unsuccessful attempts to obtain mining licenses, framing them as challenges to Australia’s environmental regulations, which has sparked concerns about ISDS’s impact on climate action and government authority.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded a campaign tour across 3 key battleground states, pledging $7.2 billion to improve Queensland’s Bruce Highway while addressing election challenges, notably cost-of-living pressures.

He emphasized that tackling climate change could create new industries and growth opportunities without harming the economy.

Reported at eastasiaforum.org: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscores the interconnected nature of global conflicts, prompting NATO and its Indo-Pacific allies (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea) to enhance defense cooperation and preparedness.

Key strategies include coordinated munitions production, burden-sharing frameworks, and inclusive partnerships to address emerging threats and ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Strengthening ties among these nations will enable a more cohesive response to potential aggressions, underlining the need for effective resource allocation and diplomatic strategies.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Star Entertainment shares fell over 19% to an all-time low as the Queensland government ruled out financial support for the struggling casino amid ongoing money-laundering scandals.

Premier David Crisafulli emphasized that the focus would be on protecting jobs rather than bailing out the corporation, which faces significant financial pressures after losing $107 million in the last quarter of 2024.

Residential real estate remains the cornerstone of Australia’s wealth, valued at approximately $11.1 trillion, overshadowing the stock market and superannuation funds, reports michaelwest.com.au.

However, investment performance showed a shift in 2024, with equities yielding 11.4% compared to properties’ 8.3%, prompting concerns about the appeal of real estate amid high interest rates and potential drops in home values.

In 2025, rental growth is expected to slow due to changes in migration patterns and household compositions, which could ease rental demand as the country aims to produce 1.2 million new homes by 2029.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australian politicians and experts have expressed concern over Meta’s decision to end its fact-checking program on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, fearing it will exacerbate the spread of misinformation and hate speech.

Mark Zuckerberg claims this move aligns with a renewed focus on free expression, particularly in response to the incoming Trump administration, which critics argue is a dangerous shift.

Leaders like Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young warn that the absence of rigorous fact-checking will create an unsafe online environment, especially for vulnerable communities.