O75 Public Administration

Adult crime laws top Qld agenda

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Original article by Bimini Plesser, Lydia Lynch
The Australian – Page: 7 : 26-Nov-24

Queensland parliament returns this week for the first time since the October elections, with new ‘adult crime, adult time’ legislation expected to be introduced as a matter of priority. It will require that juveniles who commit serious crimes such as murder and manslaughter be sentenced as adults, with the Queensland opposition unlikely to oppose the legislation. Criminal defence lawyer Bill Potts is critical of the legislation, saying that the government’s focus should be on what causes crime, rather than locking up juvenile offenders. Queensland Law Society president Rebecca Fogerty says she is concerned that the government wants to pass the legislation before Christmas, claiming that that does not provide enough time for the legislation to be properly scrutinised.

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QUEENSLAND LAW SOCIETY INCORPORATED

‘Punitive regime’: X tells Labor social media ban won’t work

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 26-Nov-24

The federal government and the Opposition are seeking to rush through legislation this week that will bar children aged under 16 from accessing social media, with a parliamentary inquiry given just three hours on Monday to examine the legislation. Elon Musk’s X has used a written submission to the inquiry to claim that the proposed ban will not work and is likely to be unlawful, while youth mental health charity Headspace told the inquiry that the ban would drive children into using unregulated sections of the internet such as encrypted apps. Meanwhile, Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind told the inquiry that she supports the essential intent of the legislation, but she has concerns about the privacy implications of making an age ban work in practice.

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X CORPORATION, HEADSPACE, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PRIVACY COMMISSIONER

Former spy boss pans ignorant Cash over Bali Nine

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 26-Nov-24

Dennis Richardson has attacked the federal opposition for criticising a possible deal to free the remaining members of the Bali Nine from an Indonesian prison, with the former ASIO director-general saying the opposition was not aware of the circumstances behind their original arrest. The father of one of the nine, who were arrested in Bali for possession of four kilograms of heroin, was concerned he was up to no good and had told the Australian Federal Police, hoping it would intercept him and the others before they left Australia. However, the AFP allowed them to go ahead and tipped off Indonesian officials, knowing they could face penalties that included execution or a life in prison. Richardson says that under the circumstances, he considers it "extraordinary that anyone in the opposition would query what the government has done"

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AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

Deficit disorder: spending blows budget

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Original article by Jack Quail
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 26-Nov-24

Deloitte Access Economics expects the federal government to post a budget deficit of $33.5bn for 2024-25, following a surplus of $15.8bn for the 2023-24 financial year. The Treasury itself had forecast a 2024-25 deficit of $28.3bn, and a cumulative deficit of $122.1bn over the four-year estimates period; Deloitte now expects the latter figure to be $149bn. Deloitte partner Stephen Smith adds that both the government and the Opposition will face pressure to provide further cost-of-living relief ahead of the 2025 election. Deloitte also notes that there has been a sharp increase in ‘off-budget’ spending, while the firm expects net debt to reach $727.6bn by mid-2028.

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DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

We will comply with international law on Netanyahu arrest: Wong

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Original article by Matthew Knott
The Age – Page: Online : 26-Nov-24

Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the Senate on Monday that the federal government will ‘comply with international law’ when it comes to the possible arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he decides to travel to Australia. Her comments come after the International Criminal Court last week issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. The government has declined to denounce the warrants, further straining its relations with Israel, while the Coalition has attacked the government for not adopting a similar view to US President Joe Biden, who has labelled the ICC’s move as "outrageous".

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

I’ll cut more foreign students: Dutton

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Original article by Rhiannon Down
The Australian – Page: 5 : 20-Nov-24

The Coalition is under scrutiny for joining forces with the Greens to block legislation to cap new international student numbers from 2025. Education Minister Jason Clare says Opposition leader Peter Dutton has no credibility with regard to immigration, given that he stated in his budget reply speech in May that a Coalition government would introduce a cap on international students. Dutton says the Coalition will pursue a more aggressive reduction in international students than Labor. Meanwhile, former bureaucrat Abul Rizvi says the Coalition’s policy of reducing net overseas migration to 160,000 in 2025-26 would not be possible without a big increase in the unemployment rate.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EDUCATION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

A large majority of Australians (61%) want to retain the current National Flag, but down 5% from 2010

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 20-Nov-24

A special Roy Morgan SMS Poll shows that 61% of Australians (down 5% points since 2010) believe that Australia should keep the current National Flag, while only 39% (up 10% points) say there should be a new design for the National Flag. Analysis of the results by gender shows that 63% of women and 60% of men favour retaining the current National Flag. Meanwhile, Australians of all ages are in favour of retaining the National Flag, although support is strongest among those aged 50+. The SMS poll was conducted on 22 and 23 October 22, with a nationwide cross-section of 1,312 Australians. The survey was conducted as King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s first visit to Australia as reigning monarchs came to an end. Australians were asked about their views on the retention of the Monarchy; 57% (down 3% points since September 2022) believe that Australia should remain a Monarchy, while only 43% (up 3% points) say Australia should become a Republic with an elected President.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Jobs rush likely to postpone rate cut

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Original article by Jack Quail
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 20-Nov-24

The Reserve Bank of Australia has noted in the minutes of its board meeting for November that there are signs that the job market is beginning to tighten. The unemployment rate was steady at 4.1 per cent in October, and RBA governor Michelle Bullock has previously indicated that the strength of the labour market is amongst the reasons why further interest rate increases could be on the agenda. HSBC’s chief economist Paul Bloxham agrees with the RBA’s assessment that the labour market may not weaken further, which is likely to rule out an interest rate cut in the near-term.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, HSBC HOLDINGS PLC

Xi, PM tout best relations in decade

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 20-Nov-24

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. The private meeting coincided with the 10th anniversary of Xi’s historic speech to federal parliament in Canberra. Xi told Albanese that there has been a ‘turnaround’ in relations between the two nations over the last decade, and expressed hope that this will continue. Albanese in turn said that the entire Indo-Pacific region will benefit from the prosperity arising from peace, security and stability. Albanese also indicated that he raised a number of issues that matter to Australia, including Taiwan, human rights, cyber security and the ongoing detention of Yang Hengjun in China.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20)

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged at 86.8 in mid-November – now five weeks above 85

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 20-Nov-24

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 86.8 in the week to 17 November; it has nevertheless stayed above the mark of 85 for a fifth consecutive week for the first time since October 2022. Consumer Confidence is now 12.1 points above the same week a year ago (74.7), and 4.2 points above the 2024 weekly average of 82.6. A look at Consumer Confidence by State shows varied results around the country with small increases in Victoria, Queensland and WA, and small declines in New South Wales and South Australia. Now 23% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 47% (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 35% (up 1ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 30% (unchanged) expect to be ‘worse off’. Now 9% (down 1pp) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 27% (down 3ppts) expect ‘bad times’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since April 2022). Meanwhile, 24% (down 2ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 45% (unchanged) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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