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.

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

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

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.

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AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

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.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

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.

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BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Special Channel Seven-Roy Morgan SMS Poll shows Australian views on Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit to Australia

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-Apr-26

A special Channel Seven-Roy Morgan SMS Poll conducted on the weekend with 1,767 Australians aged 18+ shows importantly, over 80% knew that Harry & Meghan were here – 82% (18.1 million to be exact). A series of questions were asked of those who did know they were here these are the questions and top line results. "Did Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit to Australia improve your opinion of them?" Yes (19%) cf. No (81%); "Do you think this visit will help Prince Harry repair his relationship with the King?" Yes (13%) cf. No (87%); "Has this trip shown you a more positive side of Meghan?" Yes (25%) cf. No (75%); "After this trip, would you welcome Prince Harry and Meghan moving to Australia?" Yes (41%) cf. No (59%); "Do you think Harry and Meghan have been treated unfairly by the Royal Family?" Yes (31%) cf. No (69%); "Do you think the Queen would have approved of this trip, given Harry stepped back as a working royal?" Yes (49%) cf. No (51%).

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Federal Voting Intention: Albanese Government maintains large two-party preferred lead as One Nation loses support to other parties

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-Apr-26

Last week ALP primary support was virtually unchanged at 30.5%, and the L-NP Coalition virtually unchanged at 23% – Liberals on 19.5% and Nationals on 3.5%. One Nation lost support, down 3% to 21.5%, while support for the Greens was up 1% to 13.5%, and up 1% to 11.5% for Independents/ Other Parties. A look at voting results by gender shows the ALP leading strongly amongst women on a two-party preferred basis: ALP 60.5% (down 0.5% points) cf. L-NP 39.5% (up 0.5% points). However, amongst men, there continues to be a much closer result. On a two-party preferred: ALP 50.5% (up 0.5% points) cf. L-NP 49.5% (down 0.5% points) according to the Roy Morgan survey conducted from April 13-19, 2026, with a representative Australia-wide cross-section of 1,620 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

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.

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UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

BHP’s iron ore head issues dire IR warning

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Original article by Tom Rabe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 21-Apr-26

BHP’s iron ore asset president Tim Day has warned that the re-unionisation of the Pilbara is probably inevitable and it is likely to happen regardless of what BHP does. Day also told an event hosted by the Chamber of Minerals & Energy of Western Australia that the re-unionisation of the Pilbara under the federal government’s industrial relations reforms will drive investment offshore. Members of the Electrical Trades Union at BHP’s sites in the Pilbara have already imposed partial work bans, while BHP recently lost a High Court bid to appeal against a ruling under the ‘same job same pay’ laws that forced it to increase the pay of 2,000 labour-hire workers in Queensland by up to $30,000 a year.

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BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

More BHP coal mines sitting on rocky ground

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 15 : 21-Apr-26

BHP is believed to have commenced a review of its coking coal mines in Queensland, which are owned by its BMA joint venture with Japan-based Mitsubishi. The future of the coal mines has been under scrutiny since the state’s former Labor government introduced a controversial coal royalty scheme in 2022. The spot price of premium hard coking coal is trading above $300 per tonne, so BHP is currently paying the top royalty rate of 40 per cent. There are fears of more job losses at BMA after 750 workers were retrenched in September 2025, a move that was partially attributed to the royalty regime.

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BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, BM ALLIANCE COAL OPERATIONS PTY LTD, MITSUBISHI CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY