O75 Public Administration

Government sends strongest signal yet on Palestinian recognition

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Original article by Matthew Knott
Brisbane Times – Page: Online : 6-Aug-25

It has been revealed that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed the issue of Palestine in a conversation with the United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday. Albanese has also talked to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and the two leaders committed to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in September. This has prompted growing speculation that Australia will join other nations in formally recognising Palestinian statehood at the meeting. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned that there may be no Palestine left to recognise unless progress is made on a two-state solution.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED NATIONS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations up slightly to 4.9% in late July – up from 4.8% for the month of June

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Jul-25

The weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations were 4.9% for the week of 21-27 July, up 0.1% points from the month of June but down from the peak of 5% in early July. A look at monthly Inflation Expectations for June 2025 shows the measure at 4.8% for the month – an increase of 0.2% points from May and level with the average so far this year (also 4.8%). Looking back over the last year, weekly Inflation Expectations have moved in a band of 4.2% to 5.2% since the start of June 2024 and averaged 4.8%. A look at Monthly Inflation Expectations on a State-based level for June shows mixed results, with increases in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia driving the overall increase. The data for the Inflation Expectations series is drawn from the Roy Morgan Single Source, which has interviewed an average of around 5,300 Australians aged 14+ per month over the last decade, and includes interviews with 4,051 Australians aged 14+ in June 2025.

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

Taking wind out of Bowen’s sails

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Original article by Paul Garvey, Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 30-Jul-25

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has revealed that the federal government will expand its capacity investment scheme by 25 per cent, to 40 gigawatts. However, analysis by Rystad Energy shows that no wind farm projects that will be part of the national electricity market commenced construction during the first six months of 2025. There were some new wind farm projects in Western Australia, which is not part of the NEM. Rystad has forecast that renewables will account for 64 per cent of the NEM’s energy by 2030, which is well below the government’s 82 per cent renewable energy target by this date. Government adviser Ross Garnaut has in turned warned that this target will be missed by a "big margin", even with an expanded capacity investment scheme.

CORPORATES
RYSTAD ENERGY AS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged for a third straight week at 86.7 in late July

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Jul-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 86.7 in the week to 27 July; however, Consumer Confidence is 3.6 points above the same week a year ago (83.1), and in line with the 2025 weekly average of 86.5. Analysis by State shows mixed results, with Consumer Confidence up in Victoria and Queensland, but down slightly in New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia. Now 20% of Australians (unchanged) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 44% (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 26% (unchanged) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 34% (up 3ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Now just 12% (up 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 28% (unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 25% (up 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 33% (down 2ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

IMF upgrades Australian growth forecasts, despite tariffs uncertainty

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Original article by Thomas Morgan
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 30-Jul-25

The International Monetary Fund has upgraded its economic growth forecast for Australia in 2025 to 1.8 per cent; its previous forecast issued in April was for GDP growth of 1.6 per cent in the current calendar year. The growth outlook for Australian in 2026 has in turn been upgraded from 2.1 per cent to 2.2 per cent. The IMF has also increased its growth forecasts for the global economy in both 2025 and 2026, although it has cautioned that risks to the outlook remain tilted to the downside.

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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Steady as we go despite Trump’s 20pc tariff threat

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 4 : 30-Jul-25

US President Donald Trump has flagged an increase in his ‘liberation day’ baseline tariff to between 15 per cent and 20 per cent. Trump said countries that do not negotiate a special deal with the US will face an increase in the baseline tariff, which was originally set at 10 per cent. Trade Minister Don Farrell says the federal government has yet to be informed of any change in its baseline tariff, and it will assume that this will remain at 10 per cent until the Trump administration advises to the contrary. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox says there is real concern that the nation will face the higher baseline tariff; he adds that tariffs of 15- 20 per cent would have a "real impact", whereas a tariff of 10 per cent would be an "irritant".

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

WA ready to fight to keep sweet GST deal

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Original article by Jesinta Burton
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 29-Jul-25

Western Australia plans to resist growing calls for changes to the way that the GST is distributed, with WA having benefited greatly from a 2018 decision by the then Coalition government to introduce a GST floor. It has resulted in states getting at least $0.75 for every dollar raised, while the federal government makes top-up payments to ensure that no state is worse off under the decision. It is understood the WA government is planning a national campaign in defence of its favourable deal, ahead of a Productivity Commission review of the GST reforms that is due to be handed down next year.

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AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Another exec to board Suburban Rail Loop gravy train

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Original article by Ryan Bourke
The Australian – Page: 6 : 29-Jul-25

The Victorian government is seeking to recruit a director of engineering for its Suburban Rail Loop project. The salary range for the position is beween $290,000 and $419,000. This compares with an average salary of $210,000 to $230,000 for a director of engineering in Australia, according to jobs website Jora. A spokewoman for the SRL says the high salary range is justified, given that the role requires highly specialised expertise, technical skill and experience. She adds that the SRL is competing with major projects in Australia and overseas to hire staff for such roles.

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VICTORIA. SUBURBAN RAIL LOOP AUTHORITY, JORA

PM defends Farrell over his tariff gaffe

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Original article by Rhiannon Down
The Australian – Page: 2 : 29-Jul-25

Trade Minister Don Farrell has come under fire for incorrectly claiming that US President Donald Trump had raised Australia’s ban on US beef imports in a conversation with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Albanese has come out in defence of Farrell, who now says he confused comments made by Trump in the White House rose garden about Australia with a conversation between Trump and Albanese. The federal government has now lifted restrictions on US beef derived from ­cattle raised in Canada and ­Mexico being imported into Australia, with the Coalition calling for an inquiry into the decision.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Employers pitch Fair Work reform

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 29-Jul-25

The Australian Resources & Energy Employers Association is calling for an end to politically-biased appointments to the Fair Work Commission ahead of the federal government’s productivity roundtable. With both Coalition and Labor governments having been accused of favouring people with employer or union backgrounds, respectively, when making FWC appointments, the AREEA has used its submission to the roundtable to call for them to be made by an independent panel; it would comprise the federal industrial relations minister, the ACTU and employer groups.

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AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND ENERGY EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU