Oz Politics Writ Large
Clive Palmer has applied to trademark several terms related to “teal” and “The Teal Party” for political and advertising purposes, including names like “AusTeal” and “Clive and Pauline Party” reports thenightly.com.au.
The trademark applications are intended to prevent others from using these terms in contexts such as consumer advocacy and political events.
The initial report on the application is expected by March 3, with the process typically taking at least seven months for approval.
Reported at www.abc.net.au: Australia’s international education sector achieved a record 1,018,799 enrolments in 2024; however, offshore student visa applications fell nearly 40% compared to the previous year, indicating a drop in prospective students.
The higher education sector faces uncertainty as the government implements strict visa processing directives and attempting to cap international student numbers amid concerns about high migration rates.
Reported at www.abc.net.au: An independent report by economist Nicholas Gruen on Hobart’s proposed Macquarie Point stadium reveals significant mismanagement and underestimates the project’s costs, projecting a total expense exceeding $1 billion, primarily borne by Tasmanian taxpayers.
The report criticizes the state’s commitment to cap its contribution at $375 million, stating that it will actually need to pay $785 million. Despite these findings, the Rockliff government plans to proceed with the project and intends to support a state AFL team.
Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Australia’s property market has seen its first monthly decline in national home values in nearly two years, with a 0.1% fall recorded in December following a flat November.
Research released by CoreLogic indicates that the downturn is a result of constrained borrowing and cost-of-living pressures, leading to a shift in buyer demand towards lower-priced markets.
Despite the easing of rent increases, which rose 4.8% over the year—the smallest annual jump since early 2021—affordability remains a significant concern.
Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Labor’s federal health minister, Mark Butler, in an interview in Adelaide emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening Medicare with ‘more doctors, more bulk-billing and more urgent care’.
Despite having no current announcements, he reassured Australians that the government will prioritize health affordability, especially for lower-income earners, while the Australian Medical Association calls for broader improvements to the Medicare system.
The Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce promotes business ties between Australia and Israel, facilitating relationships that include sponsorships from major defense contractors like Elbit Systems, linked to illegal settlements in Israel, reports michaelwest.com.au.
Recent investigations reveal concerns over the ethical implications of such ties, particularly as they relate to the Israeli military’s operations and human rights violations in Palestinian territories.
Reported at www.abc.net.au: Only New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Western Australia implement double demerit penalties during peak traffic periods, with claims of reduced crashes and fatalities during these times.
Academics urge for updated peer-reviewed research, noting a significant lack of recent studies on the effectiveness of double demerit schemes in Australia.
Despite anecdotal evidence suggesting improved road safety during these periods, experts highlight that existing data is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions.
Reported at www.miragenews.com: Cabinet Records released by the Northern Territory Government reveal a focus on boosting tourism in 1994, highlighted by the successful marketing campaign led by TV personality Daryl Somers.
The government aimed to support niche markets in tourism, enhance air routes, and promote Aboriginal Cultural Tourism while also addressing gender equity, as indicated by the introduction of policies aimed at women’s participation in sport and recreation.
Reported at www.sbs.com.au: Former Prime Minister John Howard reflects on significant political decisions from 2004, including Australia’s involvement in the Iraq war, where he admits the absence of weapons of mass destruction was a “setback” but maintains it was the right decision.
He discusses the controversial amendment to the Marriage Act defining marriage as between a man and a woman and justifies the disbanding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) due to ineffective governance.
Howard also supports the actions of intelligence agencies accused of bugging East Timor, claiming they acted in Australia’s national interest.
Reported at www.abc.net.au: Queensland Archives released confidential cabinet papers from the 1994 Labor Goss government, revealing significant issues during the year, including tensions with the Criminal Justice Commission and debates over decriminalizing public drunkenness.
The Goss government faced criticism for its handling of reforms stemming from the Fitzgerald Inquiry, as well as mounting pressure from community protests regarding environmental concerns like koala habitats.
The documents indicate that while the cabinet aimed to continue implementing reforms, they ultimately struggled with accountability and public perception, leading to their eventual loss of power in 1996.
Reported at www.abc.net.au: Hundreds of previously secret cabinet records from 2004 have been released, focusing on Australia’s involvement in the Iraq War, housing affordability, and geopolitical issues.
The documents reveal ongoing concerns about rising house prices and government responses to a Productivity Commission report, as well as discussions surrounding military safety and border negotiations with Timor-Leste.
Reported at www.theguardian.com: Cabinet papers released from 2003 and 2004 confirm that the Australian government deployed military forces to the Middle East months before officially authorising involvement in the Iraq war.
The documents reveal that the National Security Committee sought to keep this advance deployment secret and focused public messaging on concerns about weapons of mass destruction, despite internal doubts about their existence.
Reported at www.theguardian.com: Cabinet papers from 2004 reveal that John Howard’s government had the opportunity to include restrictions on transgender marriage in the Marriage Act but chose not to.
‘John Howard’s government legislated that marriage must be ‘the union of a man and a woman’, but excluded any reference to birth gender’.
Reported at michaelwest.com.au: BHP whistleblower James Joseph has alleged corporate misconduct, including secret negotiations with former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to transform the Hunter Valley coal mine into lakes for renewable energy, without proper public consultation or regulation adherence.
Despite his whistleblower status, Joseph faced severe retaliation, including death threats and workplace bullying.
The proposed project, potentially one of the largest infrastructure plans in Australia, raises concerns about corporate governance, environmental impact, and the treatment of whistleblowers in the coal industry.
Reported at michaelwest.com.au: From January 1, 2025, large companies and financial institutions in Australia will be required to legally measure and disclose their greenhouse gas emissions under a new mandatory climate reporting regime, making this a key aspect of their annual reporting.
The reporting will include climate-related financial disclosures, addressing risks and strategies for emissions reduction, and applies to non-listed companies as well.
Although small and medium-sized enterprises are exempt, they may still face increasing information requests from larger companies within their supply chains.
Reported at www.theguardian.com: Opposition leader Peter Dutton has turned to podcasting as a strategy to engage with younger voters, rarely participating in one-on-one interviews elsewhere.
He recently appeared on the “Diving Deep” podcast with social media influencer Sam Fricker, discussing personal topics and policy issues, but faced minimal challenge on details.
Political strategists recognize that platforms like podcasts can effectively reach disengaged audiences, as demonstrated by high-profile American politicians leveraging similar venues for exposure.
Reported at thenightly.com.au: Bill Shorten condemned a social media post by the Victorian Labor Party targeting Peter Dutton’s wife, describing it as “dumb and mean.”
The post, which featured a meme referencing a quote from Kirrily Dutton, was removed following intervention from senior Labor figures, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office demanding its removal and stating that families should be off-limits in political discourse.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton responded by emphasizing that he would not permit attacks on Albanese’s fiancé and urged mutual respect for both parties’ families.
From www.pollbludger.net: New polling data from Resolve Strategic reveals shifts in federal voting intentions in Western Australia and South Australia, showing Labor’s support has declined while the Coalition has gained slightly.
In Western Australia, Labor sits at 30%, down from 36.8% in the last election, while the Coalition is at 37%, an increase from 34.8%.
Additionally, personal ratings for 34 politicians highlight Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton as the most recognized figures, with varying net likeability scores; Albanese has a 98% familiarity but a -17 net likeability, whereas Dutton has 95% familiarity with a neutral score.
Reported at www.theguardian.com: From January 1, 2025 increases in Centrelink payments such as youth allowance and Austudy will take effect, as will the introduction of a ban on imported engineered stone to protect workers from silicosis.
Employers will face severe penalties for intentionally underpaying employees, and significant updates will be made to minimum wage rates and classifications in 20 awards.
Additional reforms include new vehicle efficiency standards, a higher Medicare safety net threshold, and mandatory climate-related reporting requirements for large companies.
Reported at johnmenadue.com: Western Australia is experiencing significant budget surpluses, largely due to increased mineral royalties and favorable changes in GST revenue distribution, which now guarantees WA a minimum 75% of a notional equal-per-capita share.
Over the four years to 2027-28, WA projects cash surpluses totaling $5.8 billion, while other states and territories forecast significant deficits.