POLITICS

From the ABC: The NSW government and combined rail unions are presenting their cases to the Fair Work Commission over ongoing industrial action related to a new enterprise bargaining agreement for Sydney Trains employees.

The unions are seeking improved pay and working conditions, including a reduction in the work week and cashing out sick leave, while the government’s latest offer is 15% over four years.

If the Fair Work Commission finds that the unions’ actions threaten public safety or the economy, it may suspend the industrial action, but if the government loses, the unions could resume their work bans, leading to further train delays.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the OECD global minimum corporate tax agreement, allowing the U.S. to set its own tax rates without international constraints.

This decision contrasts with the Australian government’s ratification of the global tax rate aimed at combating tax evasion.

Trump’s order emphasises American sovereignty over its tax regime and instructs officials to inform the OECD of the U.S. withdrawal from the global tax deal.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Leslie Williams, the Member for Port Macquarie in New South Wales, has announced her resignation after 14 years in state parliament, citing a desire to be closer to her family following the death of her husband in 2022.

Williams, who switched from the National Party to the Liberal Party in 2020 due to community concerns over koala protection legislation, holds her seat by a significant margin. Her retirement will trigger a by-election to fill her position.

Reported at www.thenewdaily.com.au: Australian voting patterns have shown significant variations across states.

New South Wales’ voting closely aligns with national trends, while Victoria has diverged more notably, exhibiting stronger support for the ALP.

Queensland consistently favors conservative parties, and Western Australia has experienced the largest fluctuations in ALP support.

Reported at au.news.yahoo.com: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asserts that Australia will continue its climate initiatives despite Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and his focus on fossil fuels as the new U.S. president.

Albanese highlights the economic opportunities in clean energy, predicting more than 40,000 new jobs in the sector over the next five years.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australians exhibit increased optimism in 2025 regarding their personal finances and the overall economy, providing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a boost in approval ratings.

In a recent Essential poll, Albanese’s approval rose to a net zero rating, while opposition leader Peter Dutton’s approval slipped to negative territory at -1.

The survey reveals that more respondents believe the country is heading in the right direction, with significant increases in positive sentiment compared to late 2024.

In response to an anti-Semitic graffiti and arson attack on a Sydney childcare center, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened a national cabinet meeting, which resulted in the creation of a new national database to track anti-Semitic incidents, the ABC reports.

The Australian Federal Police are also reported to be investigating potential foreign influence behind recent attacks, including the use of cryptocurrencies to fund local criminals.

See also: Meeting of National Cabinet

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: The Australian Government Solicitor has attempted to suppress information regarding its desire to use secret witnesses and evidence in legal proceedings, prompting a response from former Senator Rex Patrick, who argues that transparency is essential.

Patrick asserts that the AGS’s threat of legal repercussions for revealing their attempts at secrecy is unfounded and intended to intimidate whistleblowers.

He is calling for accountability regarding the government’s increasing reliance on secrecy.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Farmers will have access to subsidised loans from the government-owned Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Rabobank to fund the planting of native trees and shrubs aimed at carbon sequestration.

The CEFC will contribute a one percent discount to these loans, with a total of $200 million allocated for the initiative, which is expected to help farmers generate additional income through carbon credits while improving sustainability practices.

Reported at au.news.yahoo.com: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese states that Australia will accelerate its clean energy investment despite the US withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement under President Donald Trump.

Albanese emphasises the economic opportunities tied to renewable energy, predicting over 40,000 jobs in the sector over five years and continuous community support for clean energy initiatives.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: A childcare center in Maroubra, Sydney, was set on fire and vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti, including a message saying “F*** the Jews.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the act as a “despicable and horrifying crime,” while NSW Premier Chris Minns labeled it a “vicious hate crime.”

An investigation is underway.

Reported at www.themandarin.com.au: The federal government has launched the ‘A safer Australia’ strategy, allocating $106.2 million over four years to combat violent extremism through preventive initiatives.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized a ‘whole of society’ approach to address the root causes of violent extremism and support the reintegration of radicalized individuals.

A new national support program called Step Together will provide assistance to families concerned about radicalisation.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Rising construction costs continue to hinder the housing industry in Australia, as costs for building stand-alone houses climbed 3.4% over the past year, leading to an insolvency rate among construction companies that has reached its highest in years.

Despite inflation returning to normal levels, builders face challenges such as labor shortages, high materials costs, and regulatory burdens, resulting in low dwelling commencements near 10-year lows.

Reported at michaelwest.com.au: Australia’s relationship with China and Pacific nations may be jeopardized under Donald Trump’s second presidential term.

Concerns arise over the potential use of the AUKUS partnership to pressure Australia regarding its ties with China and the implications of a possible US exit from the Paris Agreement on climate change, which could affect Australia’s relations with Pacific Island countries.

Reported at johnmenadue.com: Australia’s nuclear power plans face significant challenges based on the experiences of OECD countries, where the construction of new nuclear power plants has been fraught with high costs and delays.

Costs have ballooned, often doubling initial estimates. The development of nuclear power plants in these countries benefited from existing infrastructure and skilled labor, factors that Australia currently lacks.

These complexities raise doubts over the feasibility of integrating nuclear power into Australia’s energy mix by the 2035-2040 timeline.

Reported at johnmenadue.com: Canberra insiders express concern that Donald Trump’s return to power could pressure Australia to abandon its “stabilisation” policy towards China.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s approach may face challenges as Trump’s administration is expected to adopt a more aggressive stance towards Beijing, influenced by hawkish advisers. Despite potential backlash, the Albanese government is likely to maintain its current China policy.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Public sector psychiatrists in NSW plan to resign over a pay dispute, with about 200 psychiatrists threatening to quit unless their demands for a 25% salary increase are met.

Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson and Premier Chris Minns emphasise the government’s position that the requested increase is unaffordable.

Reported at www.abc.net.au: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed confidence that Australia will maintain a sound relationship with the United States under Donald Trump’s second presidency, despite Trump’s plans for potential tariffs on imports from various countries.

No specific assurances were made regarding tariffs, but he believes collaboration will prevail.

Reported at www.theguardian.com: Australian billionaires Gina Rinehart and Anthony Pratt have taken out newspaper ads in the US expressing their support for President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration.

Pratt’s ad in the New York Times emphasised his commitment to bringing manufacturing jobs back to America, while Rinehart’s ads praised Trump as an “outstanding leader”.

From Reuters: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has met with Indian and Japanese counterparts, currently in Washington for Trump’s inauguration.

According to sources, it seems likely that Republican Senator Marco Rubio will be confirmed as Secretary of State, which would pave the way for a meeting involving Quad foreign ministers the next day.