POLITICS

Reported at www.theguardian.com: The moderate wing of the Australian Liberal party is expected to lose influence as Leah Blyth, with the backing of hard-right Senator Alex Antic, is likely to secure the Senate seat previously held by Simon Birmingham.

Blyth faces competition from moderate candidate Sam Hooper and unaligned candidate Henry Davis, but Antic’s factional support positions her as the frontrunner.

Antic’s rise as a factional heavyweight has reportedly led to efforts to recruit religious conservatives into the party, further solidifying the hard-right’s influence in South Australia.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek regarded a deal with the Greens and independent David Pocock to establish a federal environment protection agency as “critical” before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese intervened, leading to its dismissal.

Newly released documents confirm that Plibersek reached a written agreement less than 24 hours before the Prime Minister’s decision, amid pressure from mining interests and the Western Australian government.

The EPA legislation, central to Labor’s election promise, faces uncertainty as internal party divisions and external opposition complicate its path forward.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: The Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia has entered voluntary administration following the discovery of financial misconduct and irregularities, resulting in a funding shortfall.

The organization is a key lobby group representing the state’s agricultural sector and has recently faced operational suspension to address these issues.

Administrators from RSM Australia will manage the situation while ensuring the association continues operations and restructures its financial position.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: The state and federal governments of Australia announced a combined investment of $30 million to upgrade the Whyalla airport and an additional $3.14 million for a long-awaited foreshore development in the struggling town of Whyalla.

These funding efforts aim to make the city more attractive, create jobs, and boost the local economy, especially in light of recent job losses at the local steelworks.

Concerns remain about the ongoing economic challenges facing Whyalla.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: The Albanese government faces increasing pressure to include dental care in Medicare, a long-standing issue since it was excluded from Gough Whitlam’s original Medibank scheme.

Advocates within the Labor Party and the Greens argue for universal access to dental services, citing the significant impact of poor dental health on vulnerable populations.

The government has said that dental coverage is not a priority at this time.

Reported at theconversation.com: Peter Dutton asserts that a Coalition government would strengthen Australia-China relations, aiming to mend ties with Chinese-Australian voters after significant losses among this demographic in the last election.

Despite adopting a softer tone on China, his fundamental views remain unchanged, framed within a broader context of improved bilateral relations facilitated by recent changes in government.

From the Treasurer: The Albanese Government has commissioned the Productivity Commission to review Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention system, aimed at improving care and support for Australians ahead of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement’s expiration in 2026.

Since taking office, the government has invested over $2.4 billion in mental health initiatives, including expanding access to Medicare Mental Health Centres and enhancing support services.

The review will involve consultations with various stakeholders and is expected to produce an interim report by October 2025.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: A Jewish school and a neighbouring home in Maroubra, Sydney, have been vandalized with antisemitic graffiti.

The incidents are part of a series of antisemitic attacks across Sydney since October, prompting police investigations and condemnation from NSW Premier Chris Minns who described the act as appalling.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Australians experience increasing financial strain despite being among the wealthiest globally, as middle-income households face a shrinking economic position.

A Melbourne Institute study shows that while low-wealth households saw significant gains in net wealth, the gap between middle and high-wealth households has widened, exacerbated by rising housing costs that lock many out of homeownership.

The research underscores that the growing wealth inequality, particularly in property ownership, contributes to economic instability and worsened living conditions for middle-income earners.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Labor Minister Stephen Jones has announced his retirement from politics and will not seek re-election in the upcoming federal election.

He has held the seat of Whitlam since 2010 and has contributed significantly as Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, overseeing regulations in the buy now, pay later sector and legislation impacting social media platforms.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Two significant rail projects in Queensland are facing uncertainty after Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie raised concerns about potential cost increases, suggesting that the price could soar from $12 billion to over $20 billion.

Bleijie announced a second review of the Gold Coast light rail and emphasized exploring alternatives to rail, responding to community apprehensions.

Advocacy group Sunshine Coast 2032 is pushing for an abandonment of the heavy rail plan to Maroochydore for the 2032 Games in favour of bus services, arguing that the projected costs are excessive.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: Senator Jacqui Lambie plans to introduce bills that would cap the salaries of departmental secretaries and university vice-chancellors at $430,000.

Lambie criticises the current salaries, noting that many bureaucrats earn more than the prime minister, while ordinary citizens face a cost-of-living crisis.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced new cabinet priorities, promoting Emily Bourke to cabinet as the Minister for Autism and Emergency and Correctional Services, marking a significant elevation of autism within state leadership.

Michael Brown was appointed as the Assistant Minister for AI and the digital economy.

The reshuffle also increased the number of women in the cabinet to a record seven, with other notable changes in portfolio responsibilities announced as the state prepares for its next election in March 2026.

Reported at www.pollbludger.net: The Poll Bludger has launched an extensive federal election guide for the upcoming 2025 Australian federal election, featuring detailed information on all 150 lower house electorates, candidate lists, and historical voting patterns.

Recent polling from the Roy Morgan poll indicates that the Coalition holds a slight lead over Labor, while a Resolve Strategic poll shows increased public support for maintaining January 26 as Australia Day.

Discussions related to potential cuts in interest rates are heightened due to recent inflation data.

From johnmenadue.com: Labor’s 2024 tax reforms have not improved the position of low-income workers, who remain worse off compared to when Labor took office in 2022.

The changes predominantly favour middle-income earners, with higher taxes impacting those on lower incomes significantly, which has compounded the challenges of inflation and cost of living.

To enhance fairness in the tax system, the author suggests that Labor should consider incremental adjustments to the Low Income Tax Offset.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced that Australia has made significant progress in overcoming inflation, with headline inflation now within the Reserve Bank’s target range and core inflation lower than expected.

He indicated that this improvement could pave the way for potential interest rate cuts later in the year, a crucial step for supporting households burdened by rising costs.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Emergency departments in NSW are preparing for increased demand following the anticipated resignations of specialist psychiatrists, which represent more than half of the state’s psychiatrist workforce.

The resignations stem from demands for better working conditions and pay, prompting some hospitals to close mental health wards and reduce bed availability.

From the Treasurer: Underlying inflation in Australia has fallen to its lowest level in three years, with headline inflation now in the mid-twos and underlying inflation in the low threes, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The government attributes this progress in reducing inflation, which has dropped from 6.1% since taking office, to responsible economic management and targeted cost-of-living policies.

Key indicators show that inflation rates for trimmed mean and non-tradable goods have also improved, signaling a more favorable economic outlook while maintaining job growth and low unemployment.

Reported at www.defense.gov: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles had an introductory call to discuss key initiatives within the U.S.-Australia Alliance.

They focused on the strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific region, U.S. force posture priorities, AUKUS, and defense industrial collaboration, particularly regarding Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance enterprise.

Hegseth reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the bilateral alliance and emphasized the importance of ongoing coordination with Australia.

Reported at www.sbs.com.au: Australia’s Chief Scientist, Tony Haymet, has expressed skepticism about the Coalition’s nuclear energy plan, citing its high costs and challenges in proving timely and budget-friendly delivery.

The government has prioritised electrification initiatives by directing the Renewable Energy Agency to support projects that help households transition from gas, aiming to reduce energy bills and emissions.