POLITICS

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a $626 million boost in apprentice allowances for those in housing construction and clean energy, marking the first increase since 2003.

Eligible apprentices will receive $10,000 in 4 installments over 36 months.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: Treasury has proposed a significant restructuring of Australia’s accounting and auditing standard-setting bodies into a single governing board, replacing the existing Financial Reporting Council, Australian Accounting Standards Board, and Auditing and Assurance Standards Board.

Stakeholders have until February 21 to provide feedback on this proposal, which aims to streamline standard-setting functions similar to structures in the UK and New Zealand.

From www.themandarin.com.au: New South Wales councils have disputed the Minns government’s claims that they are obstructing housing development applications, citing various economic factors as barriers to housing supply.

Local government leaders pointed to a decline in development applications and issues such as rising construction costs, labor shortages, and higher interest rates as contributors to the ongoing housing crisis.

Councils are pushing for a more comprehensive discussion on the economic conditions affecting the housing market.

From www.sbs.com.au: Aftab Malik, Australia’s first special envoy to combat Islamophobia, reports a more than 600 percent increase in Islamophobic incidents since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, highlighting the normalisation and underreporting of such incidents.

Malik emphasises that these occurrences happen in everyday settings, yet many victims choose not to report their experiences.

From independentaustralia.net: Australia has experienced a record surge in working holidaymakers contributing to net migration, with figures reaching 89,950 in 2022-23 and 72,480 in 2023-24.

Policy changes were significant factors driving this increase.

Projections suggest that if the labor market remains robust, the contribution of working holidaymakers to net migration will continue to exceed pre-COVID levels.

Reported at australiainstitute.org.au: Corporate lobbyists can access politicians cheaply in Australia, while peaceful protestors face severe penalties due to draconian anti-protest laws enacted across several states.

Recent polling shows significant public support for protecting the right to peaceful protest and stricter regulations on cash-for-access lobbying practices.

The disparity highlights a prioritisation of corporate interests over public voices.

Reported at www.pollbludger.net: Support for state Labor in Victoria has dropped to a historic low of 22%, while the Coalition has increased to 42% according to a new Resolve Strategic poll.

The poll, conducted before the recent leadership change from John Pesutto to Brad Battin, shows Battin leading Jacinta Allan as preferred premier by 37-27.

Two state by-elections are approaching for the seats of Prahran and Werribee.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: The WA government plans to negotiate the reversal of the freight rail network’s privatisation, which occurred in 2000, to address concerns raised by farmers about transportation issues affecting grain delivery.

The freight rail had been left dormant since 2014, leading to increased reliance on trucks for transport, which has deteriorated regional roads.

Reported at www.9news.com.au: Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced that the federal government will not introduce any new taxes in this year’s federal budget, focusing instead on providing relief for the cost of living.

He emphasised ongoing changes already announced regarding superannuation tax concessions for high-balance individuals.

Opposition has proposed tax deductions for businesses under $10 million in turnover.

Reported at www.pollbludger.net: Recent polling in Australia shows the Coalition leading the federal elections, with the latest Resolve Strategic poll indicating a 52-48 split on a two-party preferred basis.

Labor’s primary vote stands at 27%, while the Coalition at 38%, with Peter Dutton overtaking Anthony Albanese in preferred prime minister rankings.

Essential Research highlights a slight improvement for Labor, showing a 30% primary vote but still trailing the Coalition, which is at 37%.

Three Federal polls give Coalition the edge

Reported at johnmenadue.com: The current housing crisis in Australia is a result of decades of transforming homes into investment assets, destabilising both major political parties.

A proposed solution involves reimagining public housing as essential infrastructure for all citizens and leveraging Centrelink’s voluntary work program to promote community engagement and support for public housing initiatives.

By lifting age restrictions and supporting voluntary work as a mutual obligation for income support, the authors argue this approach can revitalize public housing and foster greater civic participation.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Queensland’s new LNP Treasurer David Janetzki announced a significant fiscal downturn, revealing that the state’s budget will shift from a projected $887 million surplus to a deficit exceeding $9 billion for the 2026-27 financial year.

The fiscal update highlights a $400 million decline in coal royalty revenue due to falling prices and reduced export volumes, marking the end of the coal royalty “windfall” era.

The Treasurer will today publish the Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Keith Pitt officially resigned from his position as the Member for Hinkler, leaving the seat vacant with the next federal election approaching.

Experts suggest it is unlikely a by-election will be held before the election, as the costs and logistics would be impractical given the proximity to the upcoming vote.

The LNP is currently in the process of selecting a candidate for the general election while the Speaker of the House reviews whether a by-election should be called.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: David Pocock and Kate Chaney have called on the Australian government to urgently implement laws addressing deepfakes and misinformation ahead of the upcoming federal election, citing warnings from the Australian Electoral Commission about foreign interference and AI-generated content.

Their criticism centers on the Labor government’s failure to include crossbenchers in discussions about political advertising reforms, which they believe has left vital legislation stalled since its introduction in November 2024.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: New South Wales commuters face ongoing public transport disruptions as industrial disputes over wages for transport workers continue, following the Minns government’s withdrawal of its push for arbitration with the Rail, Tram & Bus Union.

The compromise, announced just before the return to school and work, limits transport options for government employees, complicating workplace presence requirements.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australia’s superannuation system disproportionately benefits the wealthiest, granting over $20 billion in tax breaks to the top 10%, while nearly 25% of retirees live in poverty due to low age pension levels.

The government’s proposed tax increase on superannuation earnings above $3 million aims to address these disparities but faces significant opposition fueled by misleading fear campaigns.

See also: Australia Institute backs ‘much needed’ $3m super tax

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that that recent antisemitic incidents may involve “paid actors” rather than individuals motivated by an anti-Jewish ideology.

The AFP is investigating if ‘criminals for hire’ are behind some of these attacks, potentially funded by overseas entities, including the possibility of cryptocurrency transactions.

Reported at au.news.yahoo.com: Bob Carr, former NSW Premier and Federal Foreign Minister, criticised the return of Donald Trump as US President, claiming he lacks knowledge of US history.

In his posts on X (formerly Twitter), Carr specifically condemned Trump’s pardons, tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and his stance on international agreements.

He also questioned Joe Biden’s pre-emptive pardons for family members, highlighting a perceived misuse of presidential powers.

Reported at www.firstlinks.com.au: Recent discrepancies between Treasury budget forecasts and actual outcomes raise concerns over the accuracy of economic projections in Australia.

The Department of Finance reported a significantly improved budget position for the first five months of FY25, contrasting sharply with Treasury’s predictions, highlighting that forecast errors have consistently reached tens of billions of dollars.

Reported at www.sbs.com.au: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faces calls to disclose information regarding potential foreign funding linked to a rise in antisemitic attacks in Australia.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw informed National Cabinet leaders that there is intelligence suggesting Australians may be receiving cryptocurrency payments from overseas actors to commit hate crimes domestically.

The government has initiated a dedicated task force, Operation Avalite, to investigate these incidents, while opposition leaders call for greater transparency and action against the rising antisemitism.