Gender on the cards for census

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Original article by Stephen Lunn
The Australian – Page: 6 : 18-Feb-25

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has advised that the 2026 census will see people asked their "sex recorded at birth" for the first time. The change to how the census asks people about their sex at birth is intended to distinguish it from new questions on gender and sexual orientation. Other changes to the census in 2026 will include counting the number of children who are home-schooled and increasing the the number of ancestries collected from two to four, so as to get a better understanding of cultural diversity.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Cost hit for health: bulk billing going backwards in every seat since ALP came to power

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Original article by Noah Yim
The Australian – Page: 5 : 18-Feb-25

Analysis of data from the Department of Health shows that the national bulk-billing rate for general practitioners fell to 77.3 per cent in 2023-24, compared with 88.3 per cent in 2021-22. It equates to a decline of about 40 million bulk-billed GP visits over this period. Shadow health Anne Ruston says it is particularly concerning that bulk-billing rates have declined in all federal electorates since Labor took office in May 2022; she adds that many Australians simply cannot afford to see a doctor. Health Minister Mark Butler contends that Labor’s record investment in Medicare resulted in an additional six million bulk-billed GP visits between November 2023 and December 2024.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH AND AGED CARE

In January Australian unemployment increased to 10.1% due to a growing workforce with not all new entrants finding jobs

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 18-Feb-25

In January 2025, Australian ‘real’ unemployment increased 78,000 to 1,620,000 (up 0.4% to 10.1% of the workforce) with more people looking for both part-time and full-time work. The Australian workforce increased by 297,000 to a record high of 16,115,000 with unemployment up 78,000 to 1,620,000 and employment up 219,000 to 14,495,000. The increase in unemployment was driven by rises in people looking for part-time work (up 36,000 to 837,000), and people looking for full-time work (up 42,000 to 783,000). In addition to the unemployed, a further 1.81 million Australians (11.3% of the workforce) were under-employed, i.e. working part-time but looking for more work, up 137,000 from December – a new record high level of under-employment. In total 3.43 million Australians (21.4% of the workforce) were either unemployed or under-employed in January – the highest combined figure since June 2020.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

PM, Dutton get ready to rumble – officially

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Original article by Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 5 : 18-Feb-25

Federal government MPs are believed to have been told to prepare for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to formally announce the date of the election sometime between 3 and 11 March. Strategists from all political parties and activist groups such as Climate 200 now anticipate an election on either 5 or 12 April, with the latter seen to be the most likely. Climate 200 will help fund candidates in 35 seats nationwide, although this includes just four seats that are currently held by Labor. Meanwhile, history may be against Opposition leader Peter Dutton, given that no federal government has lost office after only one term since 1931.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CLIMATE 200 PTY LTD, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Roy Morgan Poll: Federal vote unchanged; Coalition 51.5% cf. ALP 48.5%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 18-Feb-25

If a Federal Election were held now the result would be a hung parliament, with the Coalition on 51.5% (unchanged) just ahead of the ALP on 48.5% (also unchanged) on a two-party preferred basis. The Coalition or ALP would require the support of minor parties and independents to form a government, the latest Roy Morgan survey finds. This week primary support for both major parties decreased, with the Coalition down 1% to 39.5% and the ALP down 1% to 28%. Support for the Greens increased 1.5% to 12.5%. Support for One Nation increased 1.5% to 5.5%, support for Other Parties dropped 1.5% to 4.5% and support for Independents increased 0.5% to 10%.

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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

Bob Carr blasts Labor’s facile policy on Trump

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Original article by Paul Karp
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 18-Feb-25

Former foreign minister Bob Carr has accused the Trump administration of "taking a wrecking ball to NATO", while he claims Trump’s vice-president JD Vance and his main adviser Elon Musk have deliberately encouraged far-right challengers to NATO governments. Speaking on the sidelines of the Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum, Carr called on the federal government to abandon its deference to the US, labelling it a "woeful policy response" to what he described as Trump’s radical agenda. Carr said that Australia should "under-react" if Trump hits it with tariffs on steel and aluminium, if only to reduce the likelihood of being hit with ‘across the board’ tariffs.

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NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION

ALP’s Michele bollocking: cut rates now

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Original article by Greg Brown, Jack Quail
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 18-Feb-25

Labor MP Mike Freelander says the Reserve Bank of Australia should reduce the cash rate by 50 basis points at its board meeting today. He is among a number of Labor backbenchers who have urged the RBA to ease monetary policy, even though Treasurer Jim Chalmers has told government MPs to avoid publicly commenting on the issue. Opposition leader Peter Dutton favours a rate cut, arguing that families need interest rates relief after 12 increases under the current government. However, EQ Economics’ chief economist Warren Hogan says the case for a rate cut is pretty weak at present, and the RBA should leave the cash rate on hold.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, EQ ECONOMICS PTY LTD

Murdochs at war – through media

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Original article by Myriam Robin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 18-Feb-25

A dispute among the members of the Murdoch family over the future control of their media empire has been aired in public in recent days, with particular reference to an interview with James Murdoch. The dispute centres around the attempts of Rupert Murdoch to change the terms of a family trust so that his favoured son Lachlan gets sole control of it, while his siblings James, Elisabeth and Prudence miss out on what would be eventually gaining a majority control of it. Rupert Murdoch’s efforts have so far failed, and an appeal against a legal decision that went against him is not likely to succeed. It is suggested that the dispute could be settled by buying out James, Elisabeth and Prudence on terms that are more favourable than the 60 per cent of market value that they have been offered.

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Libs pan Chalmers over gross politicisation of public service

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Original article by Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 12-Feb-25

Shadow finance minister Jane Hume has criticised the federal government for getting Treasury officials to undertake costings for the Coalition’s proposal to give small businesses a tax deduction of up to $20,000 a year for business lunches. The major political parties have traditionally not costed each others policies since the independent Parliamentary Budget Office was established. Hume says public servants must not engage in ‘political activities’ as part of their employment, and she has urged Public Service Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer to emphasise this in the lead-up to the federal election.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE, AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Albanese government says it will acquire collapsed Rex Airlines if no other buyers emerge

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Original article by Natassia Chrysanthos, Mike Foley
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 12-Feb-25

The federal government has indicated that it will provide support to any potential buyers of the failed Rex Airlines to ensure that the carrier’s regional services continue. The government has emphasised that it is not participating in the sale process, but would be open to acquiring Rex if no private-sector buyer emerges. The government became Rex’s biggest creditor in January after agreeing to buy the $50m debt of the airline’s key investor. The government also provided Rex with an $80m loan facility to enable it to continue servicing regional routes until mid-2025. Rex has total debt of about $500m.

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REX AIRLINES PTY LTD, REGIONAL EXPRESS HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX REX