Oz Politics Writ Large
Reported at SBS News: Labor’s response to an inquiry on ADHD has been criticized as insufficient and inadequate by advocates and parents, who are pushing for more comprehensive action to address the needs of individuals with ADHD.
The lack of a clear commitment to funding, research, and support services for those with ADHD has sparked frustration and concern within the community.
From the ABC: The Australian government is proposing a new tax on social media companies like Meta to fund news media, following significant job losses in journalism blamed on Meta’s not paying for news content.
Critics argue that the government has delayed action, leading to these job cuts, and emphasize the need for timely negotiations with the tech giants.
From the ABC: The Australian government is finalizing IT and security arrangements for the reopening of its embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, after staff were evacuated due to Russia’s invasion in 2022.
No specific timeline for the embassy’s reopening has been provided, as officials continue to assess safety measures.
Reported at theguardian.com: Queensland has enacted new laws allowing children as young as 10 to face life sentences for serious crimes, implementing a controversial “adult crime, adult time” policy despite criticism regarding its impact on the already overcrowded youth justice system.
The legislation, designates 13 offenses as “adult crimes,” and has raised concerns about its alignment with human rights standards and its disproportionate effect on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
From the ABC: Australia has supported a UN resolution calling for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, alongside backing for the UN relief agency UNRWA, despite criticism from the US and Israel.
The opposition claims that it undermines Israel and could encourage anti-Semitism in Australia.
Reported by Reuters: Western Australia has granted Woodside Energy environmental clearance to extend its North West Shelf LNG project until 2070, concluding a six-year approval process.
The decision has faced opposition from environmental groups due to concerns over significant carbon emissions and potential harm to the environment and cultural heritage.
See also reports from the ABC and Daily Cargo News
Australia is implementing new regulations requiring major tech companies, like Meta and TikTok, to compensate local publishers for news content, following a previous law established in 2021.
The new framework, known as the News Bargaining Incentive, mandates these firms to pay even without formal agreements with media organizations, addressing concerns about their financial benefits and social responsibilities.
reported at www.bbc.com and see also at The Guardian and ABC News
Reported at Australian Bureau of Statistics: ‘Australia’s population grew by 2.1 per cent in the year to 30 June 2024, according to the latest figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Beidar Cho, ABS head of demography, said: “Our population at 30 June 2024 was 27.2 million people, an increase of 552,000 people since the same time last year.” ‘
Criticism from Ross Gittins at johnmenadue.com of Anthony Albanese’s government for its rushed passage of bills and a lack of substantial reforms, particularly in addressing climate change.
And Labor for being overly cautious and influenced by powerful interest groups, ultimately failing to tackle pressing issues effectively.
Reported by the ABC: Moira Deeming has won a defamation case against Victoria’s Opposition Leader John Pesutto, resulting in a $300,000 damages award by the Federal Court, after he labeled her a Nazi sympathiser following an anti-trans rights rally that was infiltrated by neo-Nazis.
The case has raised questions about Pesutto’s leadership and exposed internal divisions within the Liberal Party.
From Australian Bureau of Statistics: ‘Overseas migration added 446,000 people to Australia’s population in the 2023-24 financial year, compared to 536,000 people in 2022-2023, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).’
‘Jenny Dobak, ABS head of migration statistics, said: “This fall represents the first annual drop in net overseas migration since Australia’s borders re-opened in 2021-22.” ‘
From Australian Taxation Office: Australian government announced plans to establish a news bargaining incentive requiring large digital platforms to contribute to the sustainability of news and journalism.
This initiative includes a charge and a non-refundable offset for entities exceeding $250 million in annual gross revenue attributable to Australian markets, set to take effect from 1 January 2025, pending further consultation on its details.
See also:
From The Conversation: A defamation case was won by Moira Deeming against Victoria’s Opposition Leader John Pesutto, who made comments implying her association with neo-Nazis during an anti-trans rights rally.
The court ruled that Pesutto’s remarks caused serious harm to Deeming’s reputation, leading to a $300,000 damages award, highlighting the importance of precise language in public discourse.
Reported at The Conversation: Australian politicians, including Greens candidate Wen Li, are increasingly using the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (Red) to connect with Chinese-Australian voters, as it allows for more open discussions compared to WeChat.
It highlights the platform’s growing popularity and the engagement challenges politicians face while navigating cultural nuances and language barriers in their outreach efforts.
From The Conversation: The Australian government is launching a sports diplomacy initiative by establishing a Papua New Guinea-based NRL team, funded by $600 million over ten years, to enhance national unity and regional security.
Critics express concerns about potential neocolonialism and the intertwining of sports with security issues.
From Michael West Media: The Australian government is pushing to strengthen hate crime laws by criminalizing threats of violence against marginalized communities and establishing a national hate crimes database.
A Senate committee report highlights the need for these measures to promote community respect and tackle hate crimes effectively.
From Michael West Media: A recent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis highlights the adverse effects of Australia’s Liquified Natural Gas exports, revealing that gas prices have tripled since 2015 while demand has significantly dropped.
This contrasts with News Corp’s gas-industry-sponsored content, which promotes increased gas production without addressing the negative consequences of rising prices and declining domestic use.
Reported at www.theguardian.com: The Albanese government’s plan to significantly reduce net migration to 260,000 this financial year is deemed unachievable by migration expert Abul Rizvi. Slower departures, political resistance, and economic factors have all contributed to the numbers.
This situation could lead to an embarrassing revision of migration projections in the upcoming mid-year economic update, despite the potential population boost helping to avoid negative economic growth.
Pastoralists in Western Australia are labelling the state government’s proposed changes to pastoral leases “anti-agriculture” and a move to push smaller, family-run operations off the land. – reported at www.abc.net.au
The WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage wants to “modernise” the terms of pastoral leases to include types of mandatory insurance and clauses to indemnify the state from potential costs.
It has also flagged future potential native title payments.
From ASIC: ASIC is suing Regional Express Holdings Limited for allegedly engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct related to a false ASX announcement about expected profits.
The case also involves former executives and directors for their roles in the company’s governance failures and breaches of duties.