Author: roymorgansocial

Push for minimum pay for rideshare drivers

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 9 : 17-Dec-25

The Transport Workers Union will apply to the Fair Work Commission for minimum pay and conditions for rideshare drivers. The TWU will push for drivers’ minimum hourly rates to reflect the costs of being a contractor – such as vehicle expenses, road tolls and insurance – in addition to their actual work. The TWU’s survey of 1,600 rideshare drivers has found that their average take-home pay is $15 an hour, compared with the award rate of between $26 and $32 for transport workers. The TWU also found that drivers earn an average of just $703 a week after costs, while 59 per cent are skipping meals to save money.

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TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Budget bottom line improves but is still bright red

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Original article by Shane Wright
The Age – Page: Online : 17-Dec-25

The federal government’s Mid-Year Economic & Fiscal Outlook is expected to include a revised 2025-26 budget deficit of $36.8bn. This compares with the government’s forecast of a $42.2bn deficit ahead of the federal election in May. The MYEFO is also expected to show that the cumulative budget deficit over the next four years will be $143.5bn, down from the pre-election forecast of $151.9bn. Government revenue has been boosted by a range of factors, including a surge in the gold price, higher-than-expected iron ore prices and an increase in personal income tax.

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ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 2pts to 81.5; plunges to its lowest for over a year since August 2024

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Dec-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 2pts to 81.5 in the week to 14 December; it is now 2.4pts lower than a year ago (83.9), and 2.8pts below the 2025 weekly average of 86.3. Analysis by State shows a split result, with Consumer Confidence down in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, but up in Queensland after plunging a week ago. Now 19% of Australians (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 45% (unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 25% (unchanged) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 35% (also unchanged) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 8% (down 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 33% (up 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 24% (down 2ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 36% (up 2ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Bondi shooter’s terror links revealed as police investigate manifesto

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Original article by Perry Duffin, Sally Rawsthorne, Mostafa Rachwani, Michael McGowan
The Age – Page: Online : 17-Dec-25

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says authorities are looking into the purpose of Sajid and Naveed Akram’s trip to the Philippines just weeks before the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. They are believed to have received military training by Islamic State, which still has a presence in the Philippines. Meanwhile, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett says the early indications suggest that the Akrams’ terrorist attack had been "inspired by Islamic State" rather than their religion. Police are also investigating claims that the Akrams had prepared a manifesto documenting their extremist beliefs; they are also looking into how Sayid Akram was granted a gun licence in 2023, despite his son having previously been investigated over his links to IS supporters.

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NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE FORCE, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

Roy Morgan Poll: ALP support drops in mid-December as expenses scandal impacts several senior ministers

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Dec-25

In the week of December 8-14, primary support for the ALP was at 30.5% (down 2.5% from the first three weeks of December), the Coalition was at 27.5% (up 1.5%), One Nation was at 17% (up 2%), the Greens were at 13% (down 0.5%), and Independents/Other Parties were at 12% (down 0.5%) according to the latest Roy Morgan survey conducted with a representative Australia-wide cross-section of 1,574 electors. On a two-party preferred basis, the ALP is now on 54.5% (down 1.5% from early December) ahead of the Coalition on 45.5% (up 1.5% from early December). If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be returned to Government with a decreased majority. All interviewing for this Roy Morgan survey was conducted before the shocking terrorist attack on Bondi Beach early on Sunday evening.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Bill hikes, investment warning as telcos face $7.3bn spectrum slug

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Original article by Jack Quail
The Australian – Page: 17 : 17-Dec-25

More than 80 per cent of the spectrum liccnces held by Australian telcos are slated to expire between 2028 and 2032. The Australian Communications & Media Authority has increased its estimate of the value of the spectrum licences to $7.3bn, compared with its previous valuation of $5bn to $6.2bn. ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin contends that the new estimate represents a "fair price" for spectrum, which is a public asset. However, telcos have warned that any increase in the cost of spectrum licences will affect their ability to invest in network upgrades, and could result in higher prices for mobile plans.

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AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Gun laws fail to quell rising anger

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 17-Dec-25

The federal government is attracting growing criticism over its plans for gun controls in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. Former prime minister John Howard is concerned that the government is using gun laws as a diversion to deflect attention from its failure to show leadership on the issue of anti-Semitism. He says Labor’s initial response to the 7 October 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel had been "weak and unconvincing"; he contends that some of the anti-Semitism that has been allowed to spread over the last two years may have been prevented if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had taken a firmer stance from the outset. Queensland’s Premier David Crisafulli supports gun law reform but agrees that cracking down on anti-Semitism must be a priority.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Banks abandon plan to mothball payment system by 2030

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 17-Dec-25

AusPayNet’s chairman John Brogden has advised that it has postponed plans to decomission the Bulk Electronic Clearing System by mid-2030. Financial payments are processed in batches overnight via BECS; however, it was to be phased out in favour of the New Payments Platform, which processes such transactions in real-time. AusPayNet’s decision follows discussions with banks, large companies and government departments, which expressed concern that the NPP may not be ready to handle bulk payments by the former deadline.

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AUSPAYNET

Solar, wind cheapest long-term mix: CSIRO

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith, Ryan Cropp
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 17-Dec-25

The CSIRO’s latest draft GenCost report has concluded that onshore wind farms and solar power would allow Australia to meet its 2030 renewable energy target and result in lower wholesale electricity prices than at present. The national science agency also states that these renewables are also the most cost-efficient way for the nation to meet its 2050 targets. Meanwhile, CSIRO estimates that adding offshore wind power to the energy mix would result in slightly higher electricity costs, while building nuclear power plants would add signicantly to the cost.

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CSIRO

Rio Tinto starts work on last crown jewel in Pilbara

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Original article by Tom Rabe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 17-Dec-25

Rio Tinto and its partners in the Rhodes Ridge iron project in the Pilbara will spend $US191m ($294m) on a feasibility study, with a view to commencing production in 2030. They will spend a further $US146m on exploration at Rhodes Ridge between 2026 and 2028. Japan-base Mitsui paid $8.4bn for a 40 per cent stake in Rhodes Ridge earlier in 2025; AMB Holdings, the private company of Perth billionaire Angela Bennett, has a 10 per cent stake. Rhodes Ridge has an estimated 6.8 billion tonnes of high-grade ore, and it has the potential for annual production about 100 million tonnes of high-quality iron ore

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RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, MITSUI AND COMPANY LIMITED, AMB HOLDINGS PTY LTD