O75 Public Administration

Telcos accused of Triple-Zero death cover-up

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Original article by Jenny Wiggins, Nicola Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 10-Dec-25

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has accused the nation’s telecommunications companies of a "cover-up" during the second hearing of an inquiry into Optus’s triple-zero outage, which has been linked to several deaths. She was responding to the revelation that a person had died after an outdated Samsung mobile phone was used to call triple-zero; the device defaulted to Vodafone’s decommissioned 3G network. This incident had been reported six days after the Optus outage on 24 September, but it was not publicly disclosed. Communications Minister Anika Wells was also criticised over her handling of the Optus outage; she had been in New York at the time, promoting the government’s social media age restrictions.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, VODAFONE AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS

Secret state backing anti-mining activists

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Original article by James Dowling
The Australian – Page: 5 : 10-Dec-25

The Minerals Council of Australia has criticised a court’s decision to impose a 30-year suppresssion order on much of the evidence that informed the federal government’s decision to block development of the McPhillamys gold mine in NSW. Federal Court judge James Stellios contended amongst other things that the suppression order was necessary to "prevent prejudice to the proper administration of justice" and to uphold Indigenous traditional law. However, a spokesman for the MCA says the decision has made Australia a "secret state" that supports the interests of anti-mining activists

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MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

We will stand firm against the tech giants

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Original article by Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 4 : 10-Dec-25

Communications Minister Anika Wells says the federal government is proud of its "world-leading" social media age restrictions, which come into effect today. She adds that the government is on the side of kids, parents and families with regard to online safety, rather than social media platforms. Wells has emphasised that Labor will defend its ban on under-16s’ use of social media platforms, amid several legal challenges and resistance to the policy amongst some technology companies. Meanwhile, Reddit has advised that it will comply with the ban, having previously flagged a legal challenge.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, REDDIT

Turnbull slams secrecy over AUKUS demands

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Original article by Jessica Gardner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 10-Dec-25

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated after the annual AUSMIN talks that his nation is seeking "practical, realistic" ways to improve AUKUS alliance. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Richard Marles says the federal government is still "working through" the Pentagon’s review of the alliance, which is believed to have recommended a number of changes. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull contends that Marles should reveal details of the changes that the US has requested before the government makes its next $US1bn AUKUS downpayment. Turnbull adds that there is still a real possibility that Australia will not receive any Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines.

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UNITED STATES. DEPT OF DEFENSE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE

Overall Australian unemployment and under-employment at 3.34 million in November – 12 months straight above 3 million

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Dec-25

In November 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment was virtually unchanged at 1,628,000 (10.2% of the workforce). There were fewer people looking for full-time work (down 89,000 to 599,000), which was largely offset by the rise in people looking for part-time work (up 80,000 to 1,029,000). In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.71 million Australians (10.7% of the workforce, up 0.3%) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work (63,000 from October). In total 3.34 million Australians (20.9% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in November. Meanwhile, employment increased by 119,000 to 14,339,000; Roy Morgan estimates the overall workforce size (which adds together the employed and unemployed) at 15,967,000 in November, up 110,000 on a month ago, and representing 68.8% of Australians aged 14+.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 2pts to 83.5, as buying sentiment plunges after Black Friday sales weekend

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Dec-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 2pts to 83.5 in the week to 7 December; it is now 2pts lower than a year ago (85.5), and 0.9pts below the 2025 weekly average of 86.4. Analysis by State shows a split result, with Consumer Confidence down significantly in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, but up slightly in New South Wales and Victoria. Now 21% of Australians (unchanged) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 45% (also unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 25% (down 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 35% (up 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 9% (unchanged) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 31% (up 1ppt) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 26% (down 3ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 34% (up 3ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Overheating economy pushes RBA to uncomfortable hike talks

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-Dec-25

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to leave the cash rate unchanged at 3.6 per cent on Tuesday had been widely expected, given the rise in both headline and underlying inflation in November. However, RBA governor Michele Bullock has stated that the underlying momentum in the economy suggests that further interest rate cuts may not be needed. Meanwhile, HSBC’s chief economist Paul Bloxham says his firm believes that the RBA may increase the cash rate in the September quarter, while Andrew Ticehurst from Nomura expects interest rates to remain on hold throughout 2026. Financial markets in turn have priced in the potential for two interest rate rises next year.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD, NOMURA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Albanese says his use of family travel allowance in accordance with the rules as MPs call for fresh look at entitlements

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Original article by Josh Butler, Krishani Dhanji
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 10-Dec-25

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has become embroiled in the federal government’s controversy over travel expenses. Data from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority shows that Albanese has claimed a total of $2,778 in travel expenses on three separate occasions since 2022 for his family to join him on trips to attend sports events in Melbourne and Brisbane. A government spokesperson has indicated that all of Albanese’ disclosures were "in accordance with the rules". Meanwhile, Communications Minister Anika Wells has referred herself to IPEA for an audit of her travel expenses, although she believes all of her expenses complied with parliamentary rules. However, some MPs and senators have called for a review of travel expense claims.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY EXPENSES AUTHORITY

New Zealand: In November, National-led Government extends lead to largest since June 2025

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 3-Dec-25

Roy Morgan’s New Zealand Poll for November 2025 shows the National-led Government (National, ACT & NZ First) on 50%, up 0.5% points from a month earlier, extending its lead over the Labour-Greens-Maori Party Parliamentary Opposition on 44.5%, down 0.5% points. Within the National-led Government support for National was up 1% point to 33% (its highest level of support since September 2024), while support for NZ First was virtually unchanged at 9% and support for ACT was unchanged at 8%. For the Parliamentary Opposition, support for Labour fell 2.5% points to 28% (its lowest level of support since March 2025), support for the Greens increased 2.5% points to 14.5% (its highest level of support since March 2025) and support for the Maori Party was virtually unchanged at 2%. A further 5.5% (unchanged) of electors supported a minor party outside Parliament. This latest New Zealand Roy Morgan Poll on voting intention was conducted by telephone – both landline and mobile – with a New Zealand-wide cross-section of 829 electors from 27 October 27 to 23 November. Meanwhile, the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating was up 3pts to 85 in November.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, NATIONAL PARTY OF NEW ZEALAND, ACT NEW ZEALAND, NEW ZEALAND FIRST PARTY, LABOUR PARTY (NEW ZEALAND), GREEN PARTY OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND, THE MAORI PARTY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 1.6pts to 85.5, despite net buying sentiment reaching its highest level since March 2022 amid the growing Black Friday sales weekend

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 3-Dec-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 1.6pts to 85.5 in the week to 30 November; it is now 2.9pts lower than a year ago (88.4), but 0.9pts above the 2025 weekly average of 86.4. Analysis by State shows a split result, with Consumer Confidence down in New South Wales and Victoria, but up in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. Now 21% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 45% (up 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 27% (down 1ppt) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 34% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 9% (down 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 30% (up 1ppt) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 29% (up 2ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 31% (down 2ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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