O75 Public Administration

Employers urge Ley to expand IR changes

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 22-Oct-25

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has committed to reviewing the federal government’s multi-employer bargaining laws. However, business groups want the Coalition to consider more extensive industrial relations reforms. The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s CEO Andrew McKellar says the Coalition should look at increasing the legal definition of a small business from 15 employees to 25, contending that getting a fair deal for small business should be a priority. The Australian Resources & ­Energy Employer Association’s CEO Steve Knott in turn has identified the abolition of laws expanding union delegate rights, right-of-entry provisions and the Fair Work Commission’s intractable bargaining powers as reforms the Coalition should be pursuing.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND ENERGY EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION

Scientists slam budget cuts that threaten Nobel Prize-generating research

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Original article by Liam Mannix, Angus Dalton
The Age – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

Science Minister Tim Ayres recently described Professor Richard Robson’s Nobel Prize in chemistry as a "tribute to the effectiveness and capability" of Australia’s research sector. However, the federal government proposes to shut down two of the beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron, which is being used to study the metal-organic frameworks that were pioneered by Professor Robson. Professionals Australia estimates that about 10 per cent of the synchrotron’s 150 employees are likely to be retrenched. The government also proposes to shut down the KOALA Laue diffractometer at the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney. Critics have warned that this will jeopardise Australia’s progress in achieving net-zero emissions.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES, AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON COMPANY LIMITED

Companies could have profits from breaking environment laws stripped under Australian reforms

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Original article by Graham Readfearn
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

The federal government hopes to get its proposed changes to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act passed by the end of this year, with the legislation to be put before parliament in coming weeks. Environment Minister Murray Watt says he wants the overhauled environmental laws to include a definition of "unacceptable impact". He has also flagged harsher penalties for breaching environmental laws, including giving the government powers to strip companies of any financial gains made from such breaches. Watt adds that the proposed federal Environmental Protection Authority will be able to issue a ‘stop work order’ to prevent environmental harm.

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

Albanese hits critical mass

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 22-Oct-25

The $US8.5bn ($13bn) critical minerals framework agreement between Australia and the US will result in each country contributing at least US$1bn to critical minerals and rare earths projects over the next six months. They include a gallium project in Western Australia and the Nolans rare earths project in the Northern Territory. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says the AUKUS alliance will be a "deterrence" to Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump contends that AUKUS will not be needed to defend Taiwan, because he does not think China will invade the self-governed territory. Trump has also ruled out reviewing the current tariffs on Australian imports, stating that the nation "pays among the lowest tariffs"; this includes a baseline tariff of 10 per cent and a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium products

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UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Roy Morgan Poll: In October, ALP and One Nation support up and support for the Coalition down

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

The latest Roy Morgan survey shows that primary support for the ALP was up 1% to 35% in October, with One Nation up 2.5% to 12% and the Greens up 1% to 13%; however, support for the Coalition dropped 3% to 27%, and support for Independents/Other Parties was down 1.5% to 13%. On a State-by-State basis support for the ALP increased significantly in the two largest States of New South Wales and Victoria, while One Nation support surged in all States (now at least 10% in all States except Victoria); in contrast, Coalition support fell in all States except Western Australia. On a two-party preferred basis the ALP increased its lead to 57% (up 1.5% from September) ahead of the Coalition on 43% (down 1.5%). If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be returned to Government with an increased majority. The latest Roy Morgan survey is based on interviewing a representative cross-section of 4,908 Australian electors from 22 September 22 to 19 October 2025.

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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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 1pt to 84.0

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 1pt to 84.0 in the week to 19 October. However, Consumer Confidence is now 3.5pts below the same week a year ago (87.5), and 2.6pts below the 2025 weekly average of 86.6. Analysis by State shows mixed results, with increases in New South Wales and South Australia, down in Western Australia, and virtually unchanged in Victoria and Queensland. Now 19% of Australians (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 43% (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 25% (unchanged) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 32% (also unchanged) expect to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, just 8% (down 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 30% (down 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Only 22% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 34% (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

Scramble for super CGT clarity

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 15-Oct-25

The federal government’s decision to abandon a proposal to tax the unrealised capital gains of large superannuation accounts has been welcomed by financial advisers. The government will now only tax the realised capital gains of super accounts with balances of more than $3m, with the tax rate to be doubled to 30 per cent; super accounts with more than $10m will be taxed at 40 per cent. The reforms are slated to take effect from mid-2026, but financial advisers and their clients want Treasurer Jim Chalmers to clarify whether the higher tax rates will apply to gains that are accrued before this date.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence down 2.1pts to 83.0 – down for a second straight week after RBA leaves rates unchanged

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-Oct-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 2.1pts to 83.0 in the week to 12 October. Consumer Confidence is now at its lowest for over a year, but it is virtually unchanged on the same week a year ago (83.4) and 3.7pts below the 2025 weekly average of 86.7. Analysis by State shows mixed results, with declines in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia being only partially offset by small increases in Queensland and Western Australia. Now 20% of Australians (unchanged) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 45% (up 4ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 25% (down 1ppt) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 32% (up 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, just 9% (unchanged) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 32% (up 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Only 23% (up 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 35% (up 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

Growing majority of Australians believe AI creates more problems than it solves

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-Oct-25

Research from Roy Morgan shows that Australians are increasingly concerned about artificial intelligence, with 65% (up 8% points since 2023) believing that "overall, AI creates more problems than it solves"; just 35% (down 8% points) now say AI "solves more problems than it creates". Meanwhile, 25% of Australians believe that AI presents a risk of human extinction in the next twenty years, up from 20% in 2023. Women are more sceptical about AI than men, with 69% of women compared to 61% of men believing that overall, AI creates more problems than it solves. By age, Australians aged 35-49 are the least sceptical, with 62% saying AI creates more problems, while older Australians aged 65+ are the most sceptical at 68%.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

US interested in critical minerals deal

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 15-Oct-25

Trade Minister Don Farrell recently met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Malaysia; he says Greer indicated that the US is interested in striking a deal with Australia regarding critical minerals. The issue is set to be a key issue on the agenda when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holds talks with President Donald Trump at the White House next week. The federal government remains hopeful that it can use critical minerals as ‘leverage’ in tariff negotiations. The US has imposed a 50 per cent tariffs on Australia’s aluminium and steel imports, and the baseline tariff of 10 per cent on other imports.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE