O75 Public Administration

Australian navy ready to defend Strait of Hormuz if asked

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Original article by Jessica Wang, Sophie Elsworth
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 14-Apr-26

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the federal government wants to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened and the resumption of negotiations to end the Iran war. Albanese has confirmed that the Trump administration has not asked Australia to assist with its blockade of the Strait. However, incoming Australian Defence Force chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond says the Royal Australian Navy is "as ready as it ever has been" to assist if the federal government is asked to do so. He adds that Australia’s fleet of surface naval vessels are equipped with world-leading radar technology and state-of-the-art missile systems, and could be used to defend the Strait against Iranian drones.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE

Federal Voting Intention: Albanese Government maintains strong two-party preferred lead built on large support amongst women

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 14-Apr-26

Last week ALP primary support was virtually unchanged at 30%, but support for One Nation increased 3% to 24.5% at the expense of the L-NP Coalition, down 1.5% to 22.5% – Liberals down 0.5% to 19.5% and Nationals down 1% to 3%. Support for the Greens was up 0.5% to 12.5% while Other Parties/ Independents, were down 1.5% to 10.5%. A look at voting results by gender shows the ALP leading strongly amongst women on a two-party preferred basis: ALP 61% (up 3.5% points) cf. L-NP 39% (down 3.5% points). However, amongst men, there has been a quite different result this week with the ALP 50% (down 4% points) cf. L-NP 50% (up 4% points) according to the Roy Morgan survey conducted from April 6-12, 2026, with a representative Australia-wide cross-section of 1,512 electors.

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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

Kennett calls Liberal infighting a disgrace

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Original article by Anthony Galloway
The Australian – Page: 8 : 9-Apr-26

The Liberal Party of Victoria’s executive team is under growing scrutiny in the wake of the botched preselection ballot for the upper house seat of Moira Deeming. The Liberals’ president Philip Davis recently criticised some members of the state executive, while members of the party’s conservative faction have in turn called for Davis to step down. Former premier Jeff Kennett says the conduct of some members of the Liberal Party is "grossly depressing" and an "absolute disgrace"; he has urged the party’s factions to end the hostilities and focus on pitching the Liberals as a credible alternative government ahead of the election in November. Kennett also contends that the Coalition should work with One Nation to defeat the "corrupt" state government.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA

Bowen says renewables target remains, experts differ

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Original article by Thomas HenryElizabeth Pike
The Australian – Page: 6 : 9-Apr-26

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has rejected suggestions that the federal government is no longer committed to its 2030 target of generating 82 per cent of the nation’s electricity via renewables. He stated in Sydney yesterday that the 2030 renewables target is still government policy, despite the fact that explicit references to it have been removed from Labor’s draft national policy platform for the next federal election. Bowen added that this omission does not mean that Labor has conceded that it may fall short of the target. Saul Kavonic from MST Financial expects the 82 per cent renewables target to be downgraded to an "ambition" by 2028, given that the operating life of the Eraring coal-fired power station has been extended by two years.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATERMST FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD

Strike looms at major gas plant as workers pursue $500,000 pay deals

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 8 : 9-Apr-26

The Offshore Alliance has applied to the Fair Work Commission to hold a ballot on protected industrial action at Inpex’s Ichthys LNG project. The Offshore Alliance – which comprises the Maritime Union of Australia and the Australian Workers’ Union – has been in talks about a new pay deal for more than 400 workers at Ichthys’s offshore and onshore operations for about six months. Inpex contends that its pay offer is "fair and competitive", while the Australian Resources & Energy Employer Association says the unions’ log of claims is unsustainable. AREEA says the Ichthys workers typically earn between $300,000 and $400,000 a year, and the unions’ demands would increase their annual earnings to more than $500,000.

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INPEX CORPORATIONICHTHYS LNG PTY LTDOFFSHORE ALLIANCEMARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIAAUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNIONAUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND ENERGY EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence increases 3.5 points to 62.3 after the Albanese Government slashes the fuel excise

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Apr-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 3.5 points to 62.3 in the week to 5 April; however, it is now 24.5pts lower than a year ago (86.8), and 12pts below the 2026 weekly average of 74.3. Although an improvement on last week’s record low, this is the second lowest Consumer Confidence in the index stretching back over 50 years since 1972. An analysis by State shows that Consumer Confidence improved in all five mainland States this week. Now 13% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 60% (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 19% (up 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 47% (down 4ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 5% (up 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 54% (down 2ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 16% (up 3ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 55% (up 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITEDAUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Roy Morgan Business Confidence increased 2.1pts to 90.7 in March despite the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Apr-26

In March 2026, Roy Morgan Business Confidence rose 2.1pts to 90.7, recovering slightly from its lowest level since 2024. The small increase in March came after large consecutive falls in January (down 7.6 points) and February (down 8.8 points), and the index remains well below the neutral level of 100. Business Confidence is now 18.8pts below the long-term average of 109.5, and down 15.3 points from a year ago. Now 25.3% (up 0.6ppts) of respondents say their business is ‘better off’ financially than a year ago, while 38.1% (down 3.2ppts) say the business is ‘worse off’. Just 35.6% (down 1.6ppts) of respondents expect the business to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 21.2% (down 3.6ppts) expect the business to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, 31.6% (down 2.2ppts) of respondents say the next 12 months will be a ‘good time to invest’ in growing the business (a record low figure for this indicator), while 43.1% (up 2.1ppts) say the next 12 months will be a ‘bad time to invest’.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Roberts-Smith arrest a test for nation: Howard

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Original article by Steve BracksLachlan Leeming
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 9-Apr-26

Ex-SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith will remain in jail until at least 17 April, when his application for bail is scheduled to be heard. Former prime minister John Howard says Roberts-Smith’s war crimes trial will "test to the limits" Australians’ respect for the rule of law and the nation’s defence forces. He adds that some Australians regard Roberts-Smith as the "modern personification of the great ANZAC tradition", given that he is a Victoria Cross recipient. Roberts-Smiths has been accused of murdering five unarmed detainees in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart contends that the money that has been spent on war crimes investigations should have been used to strengthen Australia’s security and protect the nation from terrorism.

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SPECIAL AIR SERVICE REGIMENT

ALP MPs join chorus of calls for urgent boost to fuel stocks

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Original article by Sarah IsonRosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 9-Apr-26

The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s CEO Andrew McKellar says the federal government should capitalise on the temporary ceasefire in the Persian Gulf to increase the nation’s fuel security. A number of Labor backbenchers have urged the government to take action to increase Australia’s on-shore fuel reserves to 90 days, in line with the International Energy Agency’s recommendation. Meanwhile, Energy Minister Chris Bowen has ruled out ending the temporary reduction in the fuel excise tax before 30 June. Economists in turn have warned that extending the excise cut in the May budget would give consumers more spending power if petrol prices fall, which could boost inflation.

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AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRYINTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCYAUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

War a bigger economic wrecking ball than fires, floods or financial crisis

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Original article by Shane Wright
The Age – Page: Online : 9-Apr-26

The International Monetary Fund has released a report which concludes that a major war reduces cumulative GDP by about seven per cent over five years. In contrast, the IMF estimates that a natural disaster reduces GDP growth by less than six per cent over the same time-frame, while a sovereign debt crisis cuts GDP by just 4.25 per cent. A separate report from the IMF notes that half of the world’s nations increased their defence spending between 2020 and 2024; the IMF says that about 40 per cent of all nations’ defence budgets now comprises at least two per cent of GDP, compared with just 27 per cent in 2018. The IMF researchers have also warned that a substantial increase in defence spending would require governments to reduce expenditure in other areas, such as health and education.

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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY CONFERENCE