Libs face fresh confusion over possible One Nation coalition

Original article by Paul Sakkal
The Age – Page: Online : 28-Jul-26

Federal opposition leader Angus Taylor has dismissed a suggestion that the Liberal Party should consider joining forces with One Nation after the next election to form a governing majority. The suggestion came from Coalition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg, who said on Monday that if there is a chance of forming a government to defeat the "communist Labor" one, then the possibility should be considered. Coalition frontbencher James Paterson said he would be "surprised if Andrew Bragg is advocating for a coalition with One Nation", with Bragg’s comments coming as Labor steps up its arguments that a vote for the Coalition is effectively a vote for Pauline Hanson

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, ONE NATION PARTY

PM moves to shore up fuel security

Original article by Geoff Chambers, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 28-Jul-26

The federal and Western Australian governments will jointly finance a $4m pre-feasibility study into the construction of an oil refinery. The proposed refinery would be built by Perdaman in WA and would be the first new one in Australia since the 1960s. The push to boost the nation’s fuel security has coincided with the Treasury’s warning that the conflict in the Middle East is making the oil market more vulnerable; the Treasury has also cautioned that crude oil prices are likely to remain elevated in the near-term and could rise further if the war continues. Meanwhile, Opposition leader Angus Taylor has stated that the Coalition would support any new fuel relief measures, provided that they are not inflationary; the current fuel excise cut will end on 2 August.

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PERDAMAN GROUP, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Turmoil as ALP Jacintagrates

Original article by Shannon Deery, Matt Johnston, Ryan Bourke
Herald Sun – Page: 4 & 5 : 28-Jul-26

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is expected to face a leadership spill at Labor’s partyroom meeting at 10am this morning. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has confirmed via social media that he intends to pursue a leadership challenge, stating that Allan has clearly lost majority support in Labor’s caucus. However, Allan has advised state secretary Steve Staikos that she intends to nominate for the leadership in the event of a spill. Meanwhile, Allan demanded the resignation of six ministers and MPs – including members of both the Left and Right factions – on Monday after they urged her to step down; the members of the cross-factional delegation refused to comply with her request.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

More than 3.3 million Australians are experiencing some form of gambling harm

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Jul-26

The latest Roy Morgan data shows that 15.1% of Australia’s adult population (an estimated 3.32 million people) are experiencing some level of harm from their own gambling behaviours or those close to them. As of March 2026, 13.0% of the Australian population (an estimated 2,857,000 people) were experiencing some form of Gambling Harm from their own gambling behaviours. Approximately 5.4% (1,177,000 people) are experiencing Gambling Harm from other people’s gambling. Importantly, people can fall into both types of gambling harm if they are experiencing both. The Roy Morgan Gambling Harm Index provides a comprehensive snapshot of the incidence and severity of gambling-related harm in Australia. The Index is based on the Gambling Harm Scales, a screening framework developed by Central Queensland University, which uses 10 key questions to capture a range of financial, emotional and social impacts associated with gambling.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, CENTRAL QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence is virtually unchanged at 75.6 in mid-July

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Jul-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 75.6 in the week to 19 July; however, Consumer Confidence is 10.7pts lower than a year ago (86.3), although it is now 3.8pts above the 2026 weekly average of 71.8. Analysis by State shows that Consumer Confidence was driven up by a large increase in New South Wales, but it was unchanged in Victoria and down in Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia. Now 17% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 51% (unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 22% (down 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 39% (unchanged) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 7% (up 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 39% (up 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, just 20% (up 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 40% (down 3ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Young Jews told to hide in fear

Original article by Bimini Plesser
The Australian – Page: 2 : 22-Jul-26

Leaders of Jewish communities across Australia gave evidence to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion yesterday. Adass Israel Synagogue board member Benjamin Klein told the inquiry that Jewish professionals such as doctors and lawyers are relocating to Israel because they feel safer there than in Australia. Bialik College board president Tyson Wodak said its students have been warned against wearing their uniforms when they go on school excursions in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023. He added that the school’s annual tuition fee includes an $840 security levy, which has increased by more than 230 per cent since 2023.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM AND SOCIAL COHESION, ADASS ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE, BIALIK COLLEGE

Treasury warned Labor housing goals would fail

Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 22-Jul-26

A report from the Australian National Audit Office shows that the Treasury had consistently advised the federal government that the social and affordable rental homes targets of its Housing Australia Future Fund were unlikely to be met. These warnings were issued both before and after the flagship $10bn fund had been established. The Treasury cited factors such as the bulding industry’s lack of capacity to deliver on the HAFF’s initial tartget of 30,000 homes, as well as inconsistencies in the planning and regulatory systems of state governments. Housing Minister Clare O’Neil says the government welcomes independent scrutiny of its housing targets and it has accepted all five of the ANAO’s recommendations. However, shadow housing minister Andrew Bragg says the report shows that criticism of the HAFF is justified.

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AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE, AUSTRALIA. HOUSING AUSTRALIA FUTURE FUND, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Standard of living worst in a century

Original article by Michael Read, Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 22-Jul-26

New data shows that Australia’s GDP growth per capita has been just four per cent so far in the current decade, while there is unlikely to be significant growth in coming years. This could potentially put the nation on track to record the lowest growth since the 1910s, when GDP per capita fell by 12 per cent due to factors such as the economic impact of World War I, a severe drought and the Spanish flu pandemic. Former Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has warned that Australia’s living standards have stagnated and there has been no net growth in per capita incomes for at least seven years. He adds that fundamental public policy reform is needed in order to encourage businesses to invest in Australia.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Coalition and One Nation’s plan to ditch net zero would not lower power prices, CSIRO report finds

Original article by Graham Readfearn
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 15-Jul-26

The CSIRO’s annual GenCost report has found that renewables will continue to be the cheapest option for generating electricity in 2030. Both the Coalition and One Nation have advocated adding nuclear power to the nation’s energy mix, but the CSIRO has concluded that this would be the most expensive way to generate electricity among the current options. The report has also refuted claims by the Coalition and One Nation that scrapping Australia’s net-zero emissions target would result in lower electricity prices; it found that generation costs are likely to rise after 2030 regardless of Australia’s net zero policy, although prices are then likely to stabilise.

CORPORATES
CSIRO, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, ONE NATION PARTY

Politically engaged – but very much worried about buying a home: study reveals young Australians’ anxieties

Original article by Dan Jervis-Bardy
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 15-Jul-26

The Growing Up in Australia study began in 2004, and it has tracked about 10,000 young people and their families every two years since childhood. The two groups in the cohort are now aged 19-20 and 23-24, and the latest survey results for 2023-24 comprises 4,168 respondents. Some 73 per cent stated that they are "quite a bit" or "very concerned" about being able to afford to buy a home, ahead of global economic problems (cited by 42 per cent of respondents) and climate change (41 per cent). The longitudinal study also found that just 15 per cent of respondents expressed a "lot of trust" or "some trust" in politicians and political parties. This study is conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, in partnership with the Department of Social Services and Roy Morgan.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF FAMILY STUDIES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, ROY MORGAN LIMITED