O75 Public Administration

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.

CORPORATES
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.

CORPORATES
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

Australia won’t receive AUKUS nuclear submarines unless US doubles shipbuilding, admiral warns

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Original article by Ben Doherty
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 29-Jul-25

The rate of construction of Virginia-class submarines is currently about 1.13 per year. This is well below the US Navy’s estimate that two of the nuclear-powered vessels will need to be built each year to meet its own needs, and 2.33 per year to supply vessels to Australia via the AUKUS alliance. US Admiral Daryl Caudle has told a Senate committee that a "100% improvement" in the shipbuilding rate will be necessary if the US is to sell any of the vessels to Australia. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says there is a "very, very high" chance that Australia will never buy a Virginia-class submarine; he has questioned the federal government’s lack of a ‘plan B’, given that AUKUS-class vessels will not enter service until the 2040s.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES NAVY, UNITED STATES. SENATE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

Roy Morgan Poll: ALP maintains strong two-party preferred lead in July: ALP 57% cf. L-NP 43%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Jul-25

In July the ALP maintained its commanding two-party preferred lead on 57% (down 0.5% from June 23-29, 2025) ahead of the L-NP Coalition on 43% (up 0.5%), the latest Roy Morgan survey finds. The Albanese Government’s two-party preferred lead is significantly higher than the 2025 Federal Election result in early May: ALP 55.2% cf. L-NP 44.8%. In the month of July primary support for the ALP was at 36.5% (unchanged from June 23-29, 2025) and is again clearly ahead of the Liberal-National Coalition on 31% (up 0.5%). Support for the Greens was unchanged at 12% and support for One Nation was down 1.5% to 7%. In addition, support for Independents/Other Parties was at 13.5% (up 1%).

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

Australia can’t sue UK for dud subs

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 29-Jul-25

Defence Minister Richard Marles and British counterpart John Healey recently signed a 50-year AUKUS treaty. The document was tabled in federal parliament on Monday, and many of its clauses heavily favour the UK. Amongst other things, Australia will not be able to sue the UK if there are defects in the design of the AUKUS-class nuclear-powered submarines or any equipment supplied by the UK; this includes the nuclear reactors that will be made in the UK and installed in the vessels to be built in Adelaide. In addition, although the two nations will jointly design the new vessels, Britain will approve the final design and will effectively be able to veto any Australian input into this.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, GREAT BRITAIN. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Trust in Indonesian Government increases since inauguration of President Prabowo

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Jul-25

Roy Morgan’s latest research shows an increase in trust in the Indonesian Government since new President Prabowo’s inauguration in October 2024. For the first six months of Prabowo’s Presidency, a majority of 69% of Indonesians say they trust the current government, up 8% points from the 61% recorded for the six months before the inauguration. This rise in trust is mirrored by a sharp increase in the approval of government performance. A large majority of 79% of Indonesians agree that "the government is doing a good job running the country", up 7% points compared to the prior six months before President Prabowo came to power. While trust and approval of government performance have risen, concern about corruption remains widespread. In the first six months of the new presidency, 84% of Indonesians agreed that "corruption is one of the major problems facing this country", up 3% points since before Prabowo’s inauguration.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

A culture of dependency has taken root

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 23-Jul-25

Research by the Centre for Independent Studies shows that more than 50 per cent of Australian voters now rely on federal or state governments for most of their income. This includes public sector workers, welfare recipients and people who receive subsidies of some kind. Robert Carling from the think tank says this dependence presents a major challenge for politicians who might attempt to reduce government spending. Analysis shows that total federal and state government spending has increased to 39 per cent of GDP; this is its highest level since the end of the second world war, and compares with about 35 per cent of GDP prior to the global financial crisis in 2008.

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THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED