O75 Public Administration

PM’s Asia fix as state urges oil shift

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Original article by Greg Brown, Marcus de Blonk Smith
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 8-Apr-26

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will commence a two-day official visit to Singapore tomorrow, in the wake of the two nations’ recent fuel supply agreement. Albanese will visit a major oil refinery hub at Jurong Island and meet with Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong. Senior government figures have indicated that the visit is primarily aimed at ensuring that Australia is not subjected to export controls in the event of new restrictions on global oil exports. Singapore accounts for 26 per cent of Australia’s refined oil, including 55 per cent of petrol imports and 15 per cent of diesel imports. Albanese also discussed the issue of energy security with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SINGAPORE. PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

Renewables goal off ALP platform

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Original article by Greg Brown, Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 8-Apr-26

Sources within the Australian Labor Party have stated that it remains committed to the 2030 target of generating 82 per cent of the nation’s energy via renewables. This is despite the fact that explicit references to the target have been removed from Labor’s draft national policy platform. The sources contend that the renewables target is covered in a broader reference to ‘ambitious and achievable 2030 and 2035 targets’. Amongst other things, the draft policy platform also emphasises Australia’s role as a middle power, calls for Australians to receive a ‘fairer return’ from natural resources and says Labr should consider appointing more union representatives to the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy board. The policy platform for the next federal election will be ­debated at Labor’s national ­conference in July.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Roberts-Smith charged over Afghan deaths

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Original article by Paul Karp, Josh Hohne
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 8-Apr-26

Former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has spent his first night in jail after being arrested on Tuesday and officially charged with committing war crimes in Afghanistan. The Victoria Cross recipient will appear in a NSW court for a bail hearing on Wednesday, after being charged with five counts of murder; it follows a five-year investigation by the Office of the Special Investigator and the Australian Federal Police into alleged war crimes by members of the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan. It will be alleged that Roberts-Smith was involved in the murder of five Afghan civilians and prisoners between 2009 and 2012. He lost a defamation case in 2023 over media reports which alleged that he had been involved in war crimes in Afghanistan.

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SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGIMENT, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE, AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE

No boost in support for Albanese Government after cutting the fuel excise for three months

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Apr-26

In the last week the ALP’s primary was virtually unchanged at 30.5%, but support for the L-NP Coalition increased 1.5% to 24% (Liberals up 0.5% to 20% and Nationals up 1% to 4%), likely at the expense of One Nation (down 2% to 21.5%). Support for the Greens dropped 1.5% to 12%, while Other Parties/Independents were up 1.5% to 12%, according to the latest Roy Morgan survey. On a two-party preferred basis (based on how electors said they would ‘vote’ their preferences) the ALP on 56% (down 0.5%) is well ahead of the L-NP 44% (up 0.5%). When preferences are allocated based on how Australians voted at the 2025 Federal Election, the ALP on 53.5% (down 1%) leads the L-NP 46.5% (up 1%). If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be returned to Government with a clear majority under either method. The latest Roy Morgan survey is based on interviewing a representative cross-section of 1,411 Australian electors from 30 March 30 to 5 April.

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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

US alliance paralysed as Trump lashes out

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Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 8-Apr-26

Australia’s alliance with the US is under renewed scrutiny in the wake of President Donald Trump’s latest criticism of the nation’s failure to provide military assistance in the Persian Gulf. Trump again singled out Australia in a press conference at the White House, as well as Japan, South Korea and members of NATO. Marcus Hellyer from Strategic Analysis Australia says a point may be reached where it is no longer in the nation’s interest to retain the US alliance. Malcolm Davis from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in turn says Australia is unlikely to end the US alliance or the AUKUS defence pact if Trump destroys Iran’s power stations; however, he expects the federal government to be critical of the Trump administration if it carries out this threat.

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UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC ANALYSIS AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE LIMITED

Roy Morgan New Zealand Poll: Support for National-led Government and Labour-led Opposition now tied

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Apr-26

Roy Morgan’s New Zealand Poll for March 2026 shows the National-led Government (National, ACT & NZ First) on 47.5%, up 1% point and effectively tied with the Labour-Greens-Maori Party Parliamentary Opposition on 48% (up 1% point). Amongst the Government support for National fell 4.5% to 26.5% (its lowest level of support since National was elected to Government in late 2023), support for NZ First was up 1.5% to 11% (its highest level of support since being elected to Government), and support for ACT increased by 2% to 10%. For the Parliamentary Opposition, support for Labour increased 4% points to 34%, support for the Greens dropped 3.5% points to 11%, and support for the Maori Party was up 0.5% to 3%. A further 4.5% (unchanged) of electors supported a minor party outside Parliament. The survey results for March would lead to the National-led Government winning 60 seats (down eight seats from the election) and the Labour-led Parliamentary Opposition would win 60 seats (up five seats). 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 872 electors from 23 February 23 to 22 March. Meanwhile, the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating dropped 6.5 points to 78 in March

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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

Seismic 40pc pay ruling set to reshape teen jobs

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 1-Apr-26

Coles, Woolworths and McDonald’s are expected to be amongst the large companies that will be affected by the Fair Work Commission’s decision to abolish junior pay rates for young adults. The landmark ruling will apply to more than 500,000 employees aged 18-20 across the fast food, retail and pharmacy sectors; they will be progressively shifted to adult wages over the four years from December, resulting in them receiving pay rises of up to 42 per cent. The Shop, Distributive & Allied Employees’ Association has likened the decision to the awarding of equal pay for women in the 1970s. However, the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s CEO Andrew McKellar warns that employers in the affected sectors are likely to hire staff who are older and have more experience.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, SHOP, DISTRIBUTIVE AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, COLES GROUP LIMITED – ASX COL, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, McDONALD’S AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Labor’s draft party platform more assertive on China and omits mandatory jail term stance

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Original article by Dan Jervis-Bardy
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 1-Apr-26

The first draft of Labor’s 2026 national party platform shows that some key issues have been omitted since the last such document was prepared ahead of the 2025 election. Amongst other things, the initial draft does not include any references to carbon, capture and storage technology or Labor’s long-standing opposition to mandatory jail terms. However, it does reaffirmed Labor’s support for the AUKUS alliance and a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, while stating that Labor will continue to assert Australia’s interests in the "face of China projecting power" in the Indo-Pacific region. The new national platform will be refined before it is debated at Labor’s triennial national conference in July.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence down 4.3 points to 58.8 – a record low for Consumer Confidence as average retail petrol prices hit record high above $2.50 per litre

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Apr-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 4.3 points to 58.8 in the week to 29 March; it is now 26.5pts lower than a year ago (85.3), and 16.5pts below the 2026 weekly average of 75.3. This is a second consecutive record low level for Consumer Confidence in the index stretching back over 50 years since 1972, and the first time the index has ever dipped below 60. Analysis by State shows Consumer Confidence falling in all five mainland States this week. Now just 12% of Australians (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year (a new record low for this indicator), while 61% (up 4ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’ (a new record high for this indicator). Looking forward, 17% (down 1ppt) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year (a new record low for this indicator), while 51% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’ (a new record high for this indicator). Only 4% (down 2ppts) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months (the lowest figure for this indicator since April 2020), while 56% (up 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’ (the highest figure for this indicator since April 2020). Meanwhile, just 13% (down 1ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items (the lowest figure for this indicator for six years since March 2020), while 54% (down 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Card surcharge ban to lift fees, rates

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 & 17 : 1-Apr-26

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to ban credit and debit card surcharges from 1 October will provide cost-of-living relief for consumers and businesses. The federal government itself had previously committed only to banning debit card surcharges. The RBA estimates that the move will save consumers about $1.6bn a year; however, Alan Machet from Visa warns that credit card fees and interest rates will rise, while the RBA has conceded that some businesses may seek to offset the abolition of surcharges by increasing their prices. The central bank has also advised that the cap on interchange fees for credit cards will be reduced to 0.3 per cent of the value of a transaction, compared with 0.8 per cent at present.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, VISA INTERNATIONAL