POLITICS

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Longer petrol price cycles have exacerbated the cost-of-living pressures for Australian motorists, particularly in major cities like Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, where prices remain high despite significant competition.

The NRMA has called for an investigation by the ACCC to assess the impact of these price cycles, which are reportedly lasting up to eight weeks in some areas.

Reported at thenightly.com.au: Polling indicates Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holds a slight popularity edge over opposition leader Peter Dutton, and indicate Labor is losing support in key states like NSW and Victoria.

The data shows Labor’s primary vote declining from 33% to 29% in both states, while the Coalition’s support has increased significantly. With an election due by May 17, 2025, Labor faces the challenge of reversing these trends to maintain its majority.

Prime Minister media release: The Government is activating the Disaster Recovery Allowance for Victorians affected by recent bushfires in the Grampians National Park and Macedon Ranges, providing up to 13 weeks of income support for impacted workers and sole traders.

Applications open on December 30, 2024, and eligibility can be confirmed through the Services Australia website.

From eastasiaforum.org: Australia is experiencing economic challenges characterized by declining living standards, weak productivity growth, and persistent structural deficits.

With a federal election approaching in 2025, both major parties face pressure over cost-of-living issues and are hesitant to implement necessary structural reforms.

Despite having strong institutions and resources, the government’s focus on short-term political gains hampers efforts to address these underlying economic problems.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Treasurer Jim Chalmers faces criticism for endorsing cryptocurrency as a means to modernize Australia’s financial system, despite legitimate concerns regarding its use for criminal activities.

Critics argue that his stance may signal desperation to appease wealthy interest groups, particularly the crypto industry, rather than focusing on more pressing economic issues.

In 2025, Australia will face significant legal and political issues, particularly surrounding the implied freedom of political communication and challenges related to free speech laws, www.6newsau.com reports.

The upcoming Cyber Security Act 2024 and Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 will introduce new regulations, while ongoing cases regarding immigration detainees and constitutional rights for residents of Australian territories will continue to be debated in the High Court.

A federal election is anticipated before May 2025, which could impact the legislative landscape.

Reported at www.pollbludger.net: The Victorian Liberal Party faces immediate electoral challenges with the upcoming Prahran by-election on February 8, where they will compete against the Greens in a seat previously held by them.

Concurrently, the Party plans for a by-election in Werribee following the resignation of Treasurer Tim Pallas, with a date yet to be announced.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Brad Battin has replaced John Pesutto as leader of the Victorian Liberal Party following a partyroom meeting, in which former shadow police minister Battin won a leadership contest, with Sam Groth as his deputy.

See also: Who is Brad Battin?

This leadership change comes amidst significant pressure on Pesutto after he was ordered to pay $315,000 in damages to Moira Deeming, who has now been readmitted to the parliamentary team.

Battin emphasized the need for unity within the party and outlined plans to address crime and the cost-of-living crisis in Victoria.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: The recent decision by the Administrative Review Tribunal has ruled that the Snowy 2.0 project, which has experienced significant cost overruns, is exempt from public scrutiny under the Freedom of Information Act.

This ruling could establish a precedent that allows Peter Dutton’s future nuclear power initiatives to operate under similar secrecy, effectively shielding them from accountability.

The average discharge time for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants in hospitals has significantly decreased from 160 days to just 20 days, saving the Australian public health system “hundreds of millions” of dollars, reports The Guardian.

Bill Shorten, the outgoing minister overseeing the NDIS, attributed this improvement to the introduction of dedicated teams and new medium-term housing options for participants.

Reported at smallcaps.com.au: Rapidly rising state debts in Victoria and New South Wales are threatening Australia’s AAA credit rating, as ratings agencies express alarm over the substantial increase in state borrowing since the COVID pandemic.

Fitch predicts that state gross debt could rise to nearly 20% of GDP by 2028, despite federal budget surpluses, largely driven by extensive infrastructure spending. Victoria has become particularly concerning with its debt levels predicted to reach $228 billion, potentially surpassing New South Wales, while the state’s household income has significantly declined since 2019.

Reported at www.6newsau.com: The High Court of Australia has maintained the validity of the Senate (Representation of Territories) Act 1973, affirming that it does not have the precedent to “unelect” the Senators from the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

Justices Gibbs and Stephen acknowledged the complexity of lawmaking regarding representation, emphasizing the necessity for careful scrutiny before overturning prior decisions, while also noting that significant changes in territories’ representation would require legislative action.

Chief Justice Barwick and Justice Aickin opposed this stance, arguing against the constitutional authority for territory representation in the Senate, but their views remain unsupported by other judges, making future challenges unlikely.

NSW rail unions and the state government reached a last-minute agreement to suspend industrial action that could have disrupted New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney according to a report in The Guardian

The compromise comes amid ongoing deadlock over a new pay deal, with unions dropping planned bans that would affect services while the government withdrew its push to have their actions suspended.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton delivered Christmas messages acknowledging the financial struggles many Australians face this year, reports The Guardian.

Albanese expressed gratitude to medical and emergency workers for sacrificing their holidays to help others, while Dutton highlighted the resilience of Australians in difficult times and urged remembrance for those less fortunate.

News Corp has sold its Australian cable TV unit Foxtel to DAZN for A$3.4 billion, reducing its exposure to traditional media amid the rise of streaming platforms, reports Reuters.

As part of the deal, News Corp will retain a 6% stake in DAZN and gain a board seat while DAZN acquires streaming rights to major Australian sports leagues.

Simeon Boikov, known as the “Aussie Cossack,” has offered himself for a prisoner swap after the capture of Australian teacher Oscar Jenkins in Ukraine., reports thenightly.com.au.

Boikov, who has been living in the Russian consulate in Sydney to avoid arrest, expressed his support for the Russian military’s actions in a social media post.

From the ABC: The Western Australian Treasurer has reported a $3.1 billion budget surplus, credited to strong economic growth and mining royalties, positioning the state as the “envy of the nation.”

The government allocated $400 million to expedite housing supply infrastructure but has not introduced new cost-of-living relief measures amid rising financial hardship for many families.

A video circulating on social media shows Australian Oscar Jenkins, a 32-year-old biology teacher, being questioned by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, raising concerns among Australian officials, reports ABC News.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the Australian embassy in Moscow and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are investigating the situation.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: The draft charter of passenger rights announced by the government aims to improve airline accountability but fails to include compensation for flight delays, leaving passengers with limited recourse compared to other countries.

Monique Ryan argues that substantial compensation for delays would incentivize airlines to improve their service and reduce cancellations.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has rejected a peace offer from rail unions that sought to pause industrial action threatening Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations in exchange for fare-free travel for commuters, The Guardian reports.

Minns expressed concerns about a “trust issue” with the Rail Tram and Bus Union, citing past concessions that led to no progress and emphasizing the financial burden of fare-free days on the government.