O75 Public Administration

Dutton pledges mandatory sentences for terror

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Original article by Rhiannon Down, Ellie Dudley
The Australian – Page: 4 : 21-Jan-25

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to convene a meeting of the national cabinet to address the growing problem of anti-Semitism and extremism. Dutton has also committed to introducing a minimum mandatory sentence of six years for terrorism offences and 1-5 years for displaying Nazi symbols and those of prohibited terrorist organisations. However, Law Council of Australia president Juliana Warner and Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Greg Barns have criticised Dutton’s push for mandatory sentencing for such crimes.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LAW COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LAWYERS ALLIANCE

Trump sworn in as 47th president as US braces for a new era of disruption and division

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Original article by Joan E Greve, David Smith, Robert Tait
The Guardian – Page: Online : 21-Jan-25

US President Donald Trump has used his inauguration address to state that "America’s decline is over" and the nation’s golden age "begins right now". Trump also vowed to "put America first" during every single day of his second administration. He took the oath of office from the Supreme Court’s chief justice John Roberts indoors due to sub-zero temperatures in Washington DC, and in the presence of the nation’s four other surviving presidents. Meanwhile, Trump’s aides have indicated that one of his first acts as the 47th president will be to sign 10 executive orders, which will primarily focus on immigration-related issues.

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UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Roy Morgan Poll: Coalition lead over ALP strengthens in mid-January: L-NP 52% cf. ALP 48%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-Jan-25

A Coalition Government, with a slim majority, would now win a Federal Election with a marginally improved two-party preferred vote from last week: L-NP 52% (up 0.5%) cf. ALP 48% (down 0.5%), the latest Roy Morgan survey finds. Primary support for the Coalition increased 1.5% to 42% at the expense of the ALP, down 1.5% to 28.5%. Support for the Greens was up 0.5% to 13%, One Nation was down 0.5% to 4%, Other Parties were up 0.5% to 4% while Independents dropped 0.5% to 8.5%. The rising level of anti-Semitic attacks has raised questions about how seriously the Albanese Government is taking the issue. The Coalition is clearly benefiting from the strong stance it has taken in condemning these actions forthrightly and consistently under Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

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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

Seeds of positivity for Albanese-Trump relationship: ex-envoy

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 9 : 21-Jan-25

Australia’s ambassador to Washington, Dennis Richardson, says comments by Marco Rubio are a promising sign that the relationship between new US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be a positive one. Rubio, the incoming US secretary of state, recently backed the AUKUS security agreement, while Richardson says there could be uncertainties in the trade relationship between the US and Australia. Foreign Minister Penny Wong says she will lobby for Australia to be exempt from any US tariffs while she is in Washington for Trump’s inauguration; she notes that the US has had a trade surplus with Australia since the time of President Truman.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

In December Australian unemployment increased to 9.7% as overall employment dropped by 150,000

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

In December 2024, Australian ‘real’ unemployment increased by 180,000 to 1,542,000 (up 1.1% to 9.7% of the workforce), with many fewer people in part-time employment following the Black Friday sales period in November. In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.68 million Australians (10.6% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work (up 132,000 from November to a new record high). In total, 3.22 million Australians (20.3% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in December; this is the highest combined figure since August 2020. Meanwhile, Australian employment fell by 154,000 to 14,276,000; this decrease was driven by a fall in part-time employment (down 210,000 to 4,953,000 following the Black Friday sales period), while full-time employment increased by 56,000 to 9,323,000. The total workforce in December was 15,818,000 (up 26,000 from November, and up 866,000 from two years ago). Roy Morgan’s unemployment figure of 9.7% is clearly more than double the ABS estimate of 3.9% for November, but it is approaching the combined ABS unemployment and under-employment figure of 10.3%.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged at 87.1 in mid-January as buying sentiment softens

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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 87.1 in mid-January, sustaining most of the traditional ‘New Year’s bump’. Consumer Confidence is now 2.7 points above the same week a year ago (84.4), and 4.2 points above the 2024 weekly average of 82.9. A look at Consumer Confidence by State shows small increases in New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia, a decline in Victoria and unchanged in Queensland. Now 22% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 49% (up 3ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 34% (up 1ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 28% (down 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since January 2023). Now 10% (up 1ppt) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 29% (unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 27% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 46% (up 4ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

‘National day January 26 by law’: Dutton

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Original article by Brendan Kearns
The Australian – Page: 3 : 15-Jan-25

Some 81 local councils shifted the date of their citizenship ceremonies in 2024 via federal government’s laws that allow them to be held within three days on either side of 26 January. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has indicated that he would be open to formally legislating 26 January as the national holiday if the Coalition wins the upcoming election. Dutton has also urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to "stand up to mayors" whose local councils refuse to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day. There is growing support for Dutton’s stance on Australia Day amongst many mayors, including some in federal seats that are held by Labor or independents.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

‘Democracy is at stake’: SOS from PM’s envoy

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Original article by Alexi Demetriadi, Bianca Farmakis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 15-Jan-25

Australia’s inaugural envoy on anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, has urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to convene a meeting of national cabinet to address the issue. Segal has called for harsher sentences and more prosecutions for hate crimes directed at Jewish Australians, arguing that the judiciary’s soft approach to sentencing is giving anti-Semites "effective impunity". Segal adds that politicians at federal and state level must take legislative action if current laws are not "up to the task". Segal notes that the recent attacks on the Jewish community are part of a "systematic pattern of intimidation" that began when no action was taken against people who targeted Jews at the Sydney Opera House on 9 October 2023.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Biden lauds AUKUS as key achievement

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 2 : 15-Jan-25

US President Joe Biden has praised his administration’s management of foreign policy in a State Department speech. Biden stated that the US is in a better strategic position regarding long-term competition with China than when he took office in 2021. Biden also said over the last four years the US has created new partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region in order to challenge China’s "aggressive behaviour". He praised the AUKUS alliance with Australia and the UK, and noted that the majority of NATO member nations have increased their defence spending during his administration.

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UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION

Roy Morgan Poll: Coalition lead over ALP narrows in mid-January: L-NP 51.5% cf. ALP 48.5%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 14-Jan-25

A Coalition Government, with a slim majority, would now win a Federal Election with two-party preferred vote narrowing from last week: L-NP 51.5% (down 1.5%) cf. ALP 48% (up 1.5%), the latest Roy Morgan survey finds. Primary support for the Coalition was unchanged at 40.5% and remains well ahead of the ALP on 30% (down 1%). Support for the Greens increased 0.5% to 12.5% – and their preferences shifted decisively in favour of the ALP this week after a closer than usual Greens preference split a week ago favoured the Coalition’s two-party preferred vote. Support for One Nation rebounded 1% to 4.5%, Other Parties were unchanged at 3.5% while support for Independents dropped 0.5% to 9%. On a State-based level the Coalition has retained its lead in Victoria, after the Coalition leadership change in that State, and also leads in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.

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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