AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Our tolerant country is no more

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Original article by James Dowling
The Australian – Page: 6 : 6-May-26

The Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion has heard further evidence from Jewish Australians who have been targeted due to their religion. The second day of public hearings was told that Jewish Australians have had to endure verbal abuse and death threats in public places; in one instance a victim of anti-Semitism was told by NSW police that his complaint would not be investigated because it would be a "wasted effort". The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s co-CEO Peter Wertheim said the far right had been largely responsible for anti-Semitism in past years; however, he noted that the far left and Islamist groups have become drivers of anti-Semitism since the anti-Israel movement started to gather pace in Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM AND SOCIAL COHESION, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN JEWRY

Handouts row: Take a hike, says Reserve

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Original article by Matthew Cranston, Thomas Henry
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 6-May-26

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to increase the cash rate to 4.35 per cent yesterday will add to the pressure that families and businesses are already facing. He adds that the federal governments intends to play a helpful rather than harmful role in the fight against inflation. However, RBA governor Michele Bullock has cautioned against giving households more money in next week’s budget, arguing that this would make it harder for the central bank to bring inflation under control. AMP’s chief economist Shane Oliver says the government should reduce public spending in the budget to help alleviate underlying inflation pressures, while also introducing reforms aimed at boosting productivity and capacity in the economy.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP

Plea for certainty on fuel excise as tourism braces for school holiday hit

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Original article by Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 4 : 1-May-26

Transport & Tourism Forum CEO Margy Osmond says the federal government must soon decide whether to extend the temporary fuel excise tax reduction beyond 30 June. Osmond says the tourism industry needs more certainty regarding the excise tax relief ahead of the mid-year school holidays. The TTF has also joined forces with Accommodation Australia and the Caravan Industry Association of Australia to urge the government to develop a ­national fuel dashboard, which would allow motorists to track fuel prices and shortages across state borders.

CORPORATES
TOURISM AND TRANSPORT FORUM, ACCOMMODATION AUSTRALIA, CARAVAN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Super funds set to avoid CGT change

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Original article by John Kehoe, Lucas Baird
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 1-May-26

The federal government’s widely-tipped changes to the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount are likely to affect personal investors who have held assets such as property and shares for more than one year. However, sources claim that the government has told superannuation funds that the budget on 12 May will not include any major changes that will affect them. This suggests that super funds’ current CGT discount on their earnings will be retained. Meanwhile, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has not explicitly ruled out exempting any existing assets from potential changes to the CGT discount, although he has indicated that any impact on such assets would be minimal.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Budget leak: Chalmers’ productivity centrepiece

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Original article by Matthew Cranston, Greg Brown
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-May-26

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has indicated that the federal govenment’s budget on 12 May will include a "productivity package". There is growing expectation within the business community that the focus of this package will be reducing red tape, rather than major new company tax incentives. However, Chalmers is believed to favour making the asset write-off for businesses with annual turnover of less than $10m a permanent feature of the tax system; the instant asset write-off of up to $20,000 a year was extended for 12 months in 2025. Tax & Transfer Policy Institute director Bob Breunig contends that broader tax reform than simply extending the asset write-off is needed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. CRAWFORD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY. TAX AND TRANSFER POLICY INSTITUTE

Chinese spy fears tossed in the boot: more EV choices for MPs

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Original article by Ben Packham, Elizabeth Pike
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 29-Apr-26

Special Minister of State Don Farrell has added Chinese-made electric vehicles to the list of taxpayer-funded cars that are available to federal MPs and senators for their private use. The revised list includes six vehicles made by BYD and one made by MG; the Toyota Prado and four utes are the only internal conbusion engine cars among the 22 on the list of approved vehicles. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess has previously raised concerns about the potential security concerns associated with Chinese-made vehicles, warning that conversations of a classified nature should not be held in them due to the potential for eavesdropping. The US is set to to ban the installation of Chinese software in electric vehicles.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION

Albanese Government maintains large two-party preferred lead while One Nation and the Coalition are tied on primary

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Apr-26

A Roy Morgan survey shows that primary support for the ALP was virtually unchanged at 30% last week; the L-NP Coalition was also virtually unchanged at 22.5% (Liberals 19% and Nationals 3.5%). One Nation gained support (up 1% to 22.5%), while support for the Greens was 14% and support for Independents/ Other Parties was 11%. On a two-party preferred basis (based on how electors said they would ‘vote’ their preferences) the ALP was on 54.5% (down 1%), but still well ahead of the L-NP on 45.5% (up 1%). When preferences are allocated based on how Australians voted at the 2025 Federal Election, the ALP on 54% (down 0.5%) leads L-NP on 46% (up 0.5%). If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be returned to Government with a clear majority under either method. This Roy Morgan survey was conducted from 20-26 April, with a representative Australia-wide cross-section of 1,587 electors.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Big tech hits back at Labor government’s Media Bargaining Incentive plan

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Original article by Clare Armstrong
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 29-Apr-26

The draft legislation for the federal government’s proposed Media Bargaining Incentive was released yesterday, and immediately attracted criticism from Meta and Google. The MBI aims to ensure that media companies are fairly compensated by technology giants that use their content; Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says it will prevent digital platforms from sidestepping their "obligations" under existing rules such as the News Media Bargaining Code. They will incur a tax of 2.25 per cent on their Australian gross revenue unless they make deals with news publishers to pay for use of their content. A Meta spokeswoman has described the MBI as a "government-mandated transfer of wealth", while Google had questioned why LinkedIn owner Microsoft is among the companies that will be exempt.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, META PLATFORMS INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, MICROSOFT CORPORATION, LINKEDIN CORPORATION

Higher tariffs on Chinese steel could raise construction costs

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Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 22-Apr-26

Economist Huw McKay says the federal government’s decision to increase the tariffs on Chinese steel products is "potentially counterproductive". McKay warns that this will increase construction costs, which will in turn add to inflation and the housing supply crisis. The government recently increased the tariff on Chinese-made steel reinforcing bar from 19 per cent to 24 per cent, in response to a recommendation from the Anti-Dumping Commission. The government has previously increased the tariffs on a range of other Chinese steel products, including bolts, hot-rolled coil and ceiling frames.

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AUSTRALIA. ANTI-DUMPING COMMISSION

Labor races to secure fertiliser and diesel

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Original article by Ronald Mizen, Ryan Cropp
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 22-Apr-26

The federal government is confident that Australia will have sufficient petrol supplies for the month of May and at least the first part of June. However, government sources have indicated that the outlook is less certain for diesel, jet fuel and fertiliser. Australia is likely to face competition for these commodities in coming months, as European and Asian countries begin to rebuild their stockpiles. The government is set to announce new deals for Wesfarmers and Incitec Pivot to underwrite the purchase of fertiliser on the international market; this will be similar to a recent deal for Export Finance Australia to underwrite to fuel cargo purchases on the global spot market.

CORPORATES
WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, INCITEC PIVOT LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. EXPORT FINANCE AUSTRALIA