O75 Public Administration

Hunt for budget savings to extend beyond public service

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Original article by Luke Kinsella, John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 3-Dec-25

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says the federal government has asked cabinet ministers to identify the five per cent of spending across their portfolios that is deemed to be the lowest priority. Her comments at a Senate estimates hearing suggest that Labor is seeking to cut spending across the public sector, rather than just the public service. Meanwhile, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that public sector demand increased by 1.2 per cent in the September quarter, following two quarters of negative growth.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Decade of spending discipline

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 3-Dec-25

Official data shows that total borrowing by governments across Australia topped $42bn in the September quarter, which is about 40 per cent higher year-on-year. Meanwhile, the OECD has warned that the federal and state governments will require "fiscal discipline and consolidation" in order to stabilise public debt at about current levels. The Paris-based organisation adds that this fiscal discipline will most likely be needed beyond the current decade, as governments are facing spending pressures linked to factors such as the nation’s ageing population, defence and the transition to net-zero emissions. The OECD has upgraded its GDP growth forecast for Australia in 2026 from 2.2 per cent to 2.3 per cent.

CORPORATES
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations are at 5.4% in late November – up 0.4% points from the month of October

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Nov-25

The weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations hit a near two-year high at 5.4% for the week of November 17-23, up 0.4% points from the full month of October; this is the highest the index has been on a weekly basis since December 2023. A look at monthly Inflation Expectations for October shows the measure at 5.0% for the month – up 0.1% points from September, although since then inflationary pressures have increased. Looking back over the last six months, since early June, weekly Inflation Expectations have moved in a band of 4.7% to 5.4% and averaged 5.0%. A look at Monthly Inflation Expectations on a State-based level for October shows increases around Australia in all six States. 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 5,099 Australians aged 14+ in October 2025.

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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 2.9pts to 87.1 driven higher for second straight week by more confidence about buying conditions ahead of Black Friday sales weekend

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Nov-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 2.9pts to 87.1 in the week to 23 November; it is now 1.4pts higher than a year ago (85.7), and 0.7pts above the 2025 weekly average of 86.4. Analysis by State shows that Consumer Confidence is up in most States including New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, but it is down in Queensland. Now 20% of Australians (unchanged) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 43% (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 28% (up 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 32% (down 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 10% (up 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 29% (unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 27% (up 3ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 33% (down 3ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Australian Youth Barometer 2025: Financial pressures intensify for young Australians as confidence in the future weakens

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Nov-25

Roy Morgan has conducted the fieldwork for Monash University’s Australian Youth Barometer on behalf of the Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice since 2021, with insights from this research currently part of the national conversation around issues facing young people. For the 2025 study, Roy Morgan interviewed 527 Australians aged 18-24 via an online survey using our probability panel. Insights from the 2025 Youth Barometer highlight concerns centring around financial insecurity, mental health challenges, and heavy reliance on family support amid perceived government inadequacy.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MONASH UNIVERSITY

China and Australia in new rare earths and iron ore disputes

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Original article by Tim Treadgold
Forbes – Page: Online : 26-Nov-25

Northern Minerals is concerned that Chinese investors may have failed to comply with a federal government directive to divest shares in the rare earths miner. Its Browns Range project contains heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium, and Northern Minerals is in talks with the US government-owned Export-Import Bank regarding a $US250m loan to help finance further work at the undeveloped project. In separate but potentially related action – given that China is a common link – media reports have suggested that the China Mineral Resources Group has extended a ban on steel mills purchasing certain types of iron ore from BHP. CMRG initially banned BHP’s Jimbelbar fines earlier this year, but this is said to have been expanded to include Jingbao fines.

CORPORATES
NORTHERN MINERALS LIMITED – ASX NTU, CHINA MINERAL RESOURCES GROUP COMPANY LIMITED, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Labor to slash $5.6b from public sector

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Original article by Luke Kinsella, John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 26-Nov-25

The cost of running the federal public service is expected to top $111bn in 2025-26, having increased by 38 per cent since Labor took office in May 2022. Cabinet ministers and public service heads have been directed to find savings in their budgets of up to five per cent, in addition to the existing ‘efficiency dividend’ of one per cent. It is estimated that a five per cent spending cut across the public sector would result in savings of about $5.6bn. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has indicated that any savings are likely to be redirected to other policy priorities.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

PM has a secret China chat, as Xi’s Trump call sparks Taiwan fears

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Nov-25

The federal government’s commitment to transparency is under renewed scrutiny after it declined to reveal what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed in a private meeting with one of China’s most senior politicians, Zhao Leji. Albanese’s office said the meeting with the chairman of the National People’s Congress was a private conversation, and contended that it is only required to disclose the details of meetings with a nation’s leader. It is uncertain as to whether Albanese raised the issue of Taiwan with Zhao; however, Chinese President Xi Jinping has asserted during a phone call to US counterpart Donald Trump that returning Taiwan to China’s control is on his government’s agenda.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

As Russia’s influence in Asia surges, Australia’s ranking slips

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Original article by Matthew Knott
The Age – Page: Online : 26-Nov-25

The latest edition of the Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index shows that the US is still the most powerful nation in the region. China is ranked second, followed by India and Japan; however, Australia has fallen from fifth place in the annual rankings to sixth. Russia has in turn risen to fifth place in the index, which assesses the relative power of 27 countries and territories in the Indo-Pacific region. The report notes that Russia’s power in Asia is rising, aided by support from other ‘authoritarian revisionist powers’ such as China and North Korea; the authors warn that the growing collaboration between these nations will continue to challenge the US and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

CORPORATES
LOWY INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 0.7pts to 84.2 driven higher by more confidence about buying conditions heading towards next week’s Black Friday sales weekend

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Nov-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 0.7pts to 84.2 in the week to 16 November; however, it is now 2.6pts lower than a year ago (86.8), and 2.2pts below the 2025 weekly average of 86.4. Analysis by State shows mixed results, with Consumer Confidence up in New South Wales and Queensland, unchanged in Victoria, but down in Western Australia and South Australia. Now 20% of Australians (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 44% (unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 26% (down 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 33% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 9% (up 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 29% (down 1ppt) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 24% (up 4ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 36% (down 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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