O75 Public Administration

PM stares down Hard Left

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Original article by Ben Packham, James Dowling
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 11-Feb-26

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has praised the federal government’s efforts to combat anti-Semitism; however, he said the test will be in these measures’ full implementation and their outcome. Herzog also stated that he is on a mission to improve Israel’s relations with the federal government after a number of disagreements, including his nation’s right to defend itself. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the people involved in violent protests against Herzog on Monday night to "turn the temperature down"; he told parliament that Herzog deserves to be treated with respect during his official visit, and stated that he will not walk away from his support for Herzog’s presence in Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Taylor backers plot mass resignations as Ley’s allies invoke Turnbull hardball tactics

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Original article by Paul Sakkal
The Age – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

Opposition leader Sussan Ley is under renewed scrutiny amid growing speculation of an imminent move to oust her. Sources have indicated that Liberal MP Angus Taylor is preparing to resign from the shadow frontbench as a prelude to launching a leadership challenge. Supporters of Taylor are also believed to be planning to quit the frontbench en masse in order to put further pressure on Ley. MPs from the Liberals’ moderate and conservative factions have urged Taylor to declare his hand. Meanwhile, Ley’s supporters want her to invoke a rule that requires a majority of the partyroom to sign a petition calling for a leadership ballot. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull used the same rule in 2018 in an attempt to ward off a challenge by Peter Dutton; Scott Morrison won the resulting ballot.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

The Geoff Wilson model for CGT change

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-Feb-26

Wilson Asset Management’s founder Geoff Wilson supports changes to the capital gains tax discount for existing homes. He stresses that any such reforms must be revenue-neutral rather than a budget "cash grab". Wilson adds that CGT reforms must ensure that capital is moved from non-productive assets such as property to productive assets. He says one option would be to reduce the CGT discount for purchases of existing houses for investors to about 25 per cent while increasing the discount on investing in Australian businesses to 75 per cent. Wilson will appear before a Senate Inquiry into CGT in coming weeks. The CGT discount applies to any asset that has been held for at least 12 months.

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WILSON ASSET MANAGEMENT

Federal Voting Intention: ALP loses support as Reserve Bank raises interest rates – on a two-party preferred basis ALP 53.5% (down 2.5%) cf. L-NP Coalition 46.5% (up 2.5%)

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Feb-26

The Roy Morgan Poll from February 2-8, 2026 shows primary support for the ALP down 2% to 28.5%, One Nation down 0.5% to 24.5%, and the L-NP Coalition up 2% to 22.5% – interviewing for the survey was completed before the Coalition re-united on Sunday afternoon. Support for the Greens was up 1% to 13.5% and support for Independents/Other Parties was down 0.5% to 11%, according to the latest Roy Morgan survey conducted with a representative Australia-wide cross-section of 1,584 electors. On a two-party preferred basis, the ALP is 53.5% (down 2.5% from a week ago) ahead of the Coalition on 46.5% (up 2.5%). When preferences from this week’s Roy Morgan survey are allocated based on how Australians voted at the 2025 Federal Election the two-party preferred result is closer than the respondent allocated preferences with the ALP on 53% (down 1.5%) leading the L-NP Coalition on 47% (up 1.5%).

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

Royal commission at risk over secrecy concerns

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 10-Feb-26

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland told Senate estimates on Monday that $131.1 million had been allocated to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. It comes as Rowland has agreed to meet with Teal independent Allegra Spender to discuss Spender’s concerns about current or former intelligence agents who may want to give evidence to the commission. Spender, whose seat of Wentworth takes in Bondi Beach, the site of the December massacre that saw 15 people killed, wants stronger protections for those agents, due to concerns that whistleblowers could face jail time for appearing before the commission

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM AND SOCIAL COHESION

Taylor claims to have numbers but Ley digs in

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 10-Feb-26

Sources close to Opposition leader Sussan Ley contend that there is "zero chance" of her stepping aside, despite ongoing scrutiny over her future and dismal public opinion polls. Members of the Liberal Party’s moderates faction have expressed support for Ley, and dispute claims by supporters of would-be leadership contender Angus Taylor that he has sufficient numbers in the party-room to force a spill and win the resulting ballot. However, shadow attorney-general Andrew Wallace says the focus should be on rebuilding the newly-unified Coalition, arguing that the Liberals will face a backlash if the party’s first female leader is ousted.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

RBA issues dire growth warning

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Original article by Lea Jurkovic
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-Feb-26

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest forecasts shows that the domestic economy is expected to grow by just 1.6 per cent in the year to June 2028. This is the central bank’s lowest medium-term growth outlook since it began releasing forecasts in 1990. Stephen Smith from Deloitte Access Economics notes that this compares with the Treasury’s growth forecast of 2.75 per cent in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook; he adds that a GDP hit of more than one percentage point would have "fairly material implications" for budget revenue forecasts. Meanwhile, Labor used question time on Monday to refute suggestions that rising government spending contributed to last week’s interest rate increase.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD

Herzog issues warning to Australia, and the world: Hatred of Jews never ends with the Jews

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Original article by Stephen Rice, Lachlan Leeming
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 10-Feb-26

Israeli’s President Isaac Herzog visited the Bondi Pavilion on Monday, where he laid a wreath and stones that he had brought from Jerusalem and met survivors of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and relatives of the 15 victims. He expressed frustration that more was not done to address anti-Semitism in the lead-up to the terrorist attack, and warned that "hatred that starts with the Jews never ends with the Jews". Herzog added that the rise of anti-Semitism is a global emergency, and said that "we must all act to fight against it". Herzog also accused pro-Palestinian protesters of seeking to undermine Israel’s existence, and stressed that his country did not seek the war with Hamas that began with the attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.

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In first NZ Roy Morgan Poll of 2026 National opens largest lead on Labour for over a year – since September 2024

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Feb-26

Roy Morgan’s New Zealand Poll for January 2026 shows the National-led Government (National, ACT & NZ First) on 52%, up 1.5% points from a month earlier, and now 8% points in front of the Labour-Greens-Maori Party Parliamentary Opposition on 44% (down 3% points). This is the largest lead the National-led Government has had since September 2024. Amongst the Government support for National increased 1.5% to 34.5%, support for NZ First was down 1% to 9%, while support for ACT increased by 1% to 8.5%. For the Parliamentary Opposition, support for Labour dropped 2% points to 30.5%, support for the Greens dropped 1.5% points to 10.5%, and support for the Maori Party was up 0.5% to 3%. The survey results for January would lead to the National-led Government winning 65 seats (down three seats from the last election) and the Labour-led Parliamentary Opposition would win 55 seats (unchanged). 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 881 electors from 6-26 January. Meanwhile, the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating was unchanged for a third straight month at 85 in January.

CORPORATES
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

Bernardi backs One Nation to replace Libs

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Original article by David Penberthy
The Australian – Page: 7 : 4-Feb-26

Former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi says that frustration over the lack of a viable opposition in South Australia was a key driver of his decision to re-enter politics. The state election will be held on 21 March, and Bernardi says the SA Liberals have failed to make any inroads against Premier Peter Malinauskas. Bernardi will be the lead candidate on One Nation’s ticket for the state’s upper house; he says that One Nation could potentially replace the Liberals as Australia’s major conservative party. He adds that voters are desperate for both a political alternative and an open environment where they can state their views without being criticised.

CORPORATES
ONE NATION PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA