O75 Public Administration

Labor races to secure fertiliser and diesel

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Original article by Ronald Mizen, Ryan Cropp
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 22-Apr-26

The federal government is confident that Australia will have sufficient petrol supplies for the month of May and at least the first part of June. However, government sources have indicated that the outlook is less certain for diesel, jet fuel and fertiliser. Australia is likely to face competition for these commodities in coming months, as European and Asian countries begin to rebuild their stockpiles. The government is set to announce new deals for Wesfarmers and Incitec Pivot to underwrite the purchase of fertiliser on the international market; this will be similar to a recent deal for Export Finance Australia to underwrite to fuel cargo purchases on the global spot market.

CORPORATES
WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, INCITEC PIVOT LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. EXPORT FINANCE AUSTRALIA

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged at 64.3 in mid-April

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Apr-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 64.3 in the week to 19 April, although this is still the fourth lowest Consumer Confidence reading of all time. Consumer Confidence is 21.1pts lower than a year ago (85.5), and 8.7pts below the 2026 weekly average of 73.0. Analysis by State shows that Consumer Confidence improved in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia, but was down in Victoria and South Australia. Now 15% of Australians (up 3ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 57% (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 21% (up 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 45% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 4% (unchanged) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 53% (up 3ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 15% (up 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 51% (unchanged) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

BHP tapped to advise on fuel crisis fix

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Original article by Perry Williams, Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 13 & 19 : 22-Apr-26

Resources Minister Madeleine King says the federal government has been working with companies across the economy to shore up the nation’s diesel fuel supplies since the Iran war began. It has been revealed that the government accepted an offer from BHP to provide expert advice on securing diesel supplies; Rio Tinto has also been assisting Labor to navigate the fuel market, although neither of procured physical supplies for the government. However, sources have indicated that Labor had been slow to accept assistance from the corporate sector.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES

Tax take hits record $30,633 per person

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The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 22-Apr-26

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the combined tax revenue of the federal and state governments rose to a record $839bn in 2024-25. This was boosted by higher revenue from the goods and services tax and personal income tax. The latter increased by 1.5 per cent and accounted for 11.1 per cent of GDP; the Parliamentary Budget Office has estimated that this will increase to 14.5 per cent in 2036, due to the impact of ‘bracket creep’. The ABS figures also show that the cost of disability benefits – including the NDIS – increased by 9.4 per cent in 2024-25 to a record high of $87.3bn.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE

Allan handouts put Vic credit rating at risk

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Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 21-Apr-26

Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan has defended the state government’s decision to extend cost-of-living relief for public transport users. Allan says the government’s strong budget position means it can afford to extend the fare-free period until the end of May, followed by half-price fares for the rest of the year. However, S&P Global Ratings analyst Martin Foo says policies that were initially meant to be temporary can be hard to unwind, and could potentially jeopardise the state’s credit rating.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS

NDIS infiltrated by organised crime gangs using intimidation and threats of violence against Australians

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 21-Apr-26

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission has warned that the National Disability Insurance Scheme is being exploited by criminals. The ACIS has told an NDIS integrity review that organised crime gangs are using the scheme to launder money, earn income and hide assets. The ACIS has also told the review that lack of sufficient surveillance has allowed NDIS providers who have been banned from the system to reapply and resume their rorting. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has advised that NDIS cost reductions will be a key savings measure in the federal budget on 12 May.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Federal support looms for smelter to save jobs

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 21-Apr-26

A number of potential buyers have been conducting due diligence on the Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter in Tasmania, which was placed in administration in March. However, a deal between administator EY and unions to keep paying the smelter’s workers is set to expire this week, and about 175 jobs will be lost unless the workers agree to take leave without pay. The federal government is expected to intervene with a support package to fund the smelter’s $1.6m fortnightly payroll until prospective buyers have completed due diligence. Industry Minister Tim Ayres has described Australia’s only manganese smelter as "efficient" and "capable".

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ERNST AND YOUNG

Big business says Chalmers must reign in welfare for the wealthy

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 21-Apr-26

The Business Council of Australia has used its pre-budget submission to urge the federal government to cap real spending growth at per cent a year. Government spending currently comprises nearly 27 per cent of GDP – its highest level in four decades excluding the pandemic – and the BCA warns that it will reach a record high within a decade if action is not taken. The BCA notes that untargeted government spending that supports wealthy Australians and middle-income earners is increasing, while more targeted income support payments for the unemploy and people on the age pension are declining.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Beware Chalmers, the anti-economist Treasurer at helm

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Original article by Judith Sloan
The Australian – Page: 11 : 21-Apr-26

Even if there is an early resolution to the Iran war, which looks unlikely, there will be a hit to Australia’s economic growth rate with headline inflation increasing. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is essentially an anti-economist who is trying to transform the Australian economy from Canberra. He distrusts markets and thinks government intervention and spending can produce superior outcomes. Without a coherent economic framework, Chalmers’ response to war-induced economic difficulties is likely to be ill-advised and ineffective. His instinct will be to ditch any budget plans for real savings and to pour money into pump-priming the economy through more handouts. The minor tax reforms in the budget will be piecemeal and designed to shift attention away from the loose fiscal settings.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

JD Vance to lead US delegation in Pakistan if Iran agrees to talks

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Original article by Dan Sabbagh, Hannah Ellis-Petersen
The Guardian – Page: Online : 21-Apr-26

The ceasefire in the Persian Gulf had been expected to end on Tuesday night, US time; however, US President Donald Trump has stated that it will now end 24 hours later, although he said a further extension is "highly unlikely". Trump also said that he will not be rushed into making a "bad deal", and the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until an agreement is reached. Vice-President JD Vance is expected to head the US diplomatic team that will hold a second round of peace talks in Pakistan, although it remains uncertain as to whether Iran will participate. Iran has yet to confirm that it will send a delegation to Islamabad, although sources have indicated that regional mediators have been informed that it will do so. Meanwhile, Trump has stated that Israel Israel had not persuaded him to attack Iran.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT