AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Albanese says his use of family travel allowance in accordance with the rules as MPs call for fresh look at entitlements

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Original article by Josh Butler, Krishani Dhanji
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 10-Dec-25

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has become embroiled in the federal government’s controversy over travel expenses. Data from the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority shows that Albanese has claimed a total of $2,778 in travel expenses on three separate occasions since 2022 for his family to join him on trips to attend sports events in Melbourne and Brisbane. A government spokesperson has indicated that all of Albanese’ disclosures were "in accordance with the rules". Meanwhile, Communications Minister Anika Wells has referred herself to IPEA for an audit of her travel expenses, although she believes all of her expenses complied with parliamentary rules. However, some MPs and senators have called for a review of travel expense claims.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIA. INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY EXPENSES AUTHORITY

Platforms must show how they enforce under-16 ban

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 3-Dec-25

Communications Minister Anika Wells says the federal government must be as "agile and dynamic" as technology companies in enforcing the looming social media age restrictions. Australians under the age of 16 will initially be banned from using 10 social media platforms, but Wells has warned that other platforms will lose their exemption if minors migrate to them and are subjected to the same online conduct that prompted the ban in the first place. Wells adds that social media platforms will be required to provide monthly updates on the number of under-age accounts they have closed, following an initial report one day after the ban takes effect next week.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS

We give up $8b defence dividend

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 4 : 3-Dec-25

The federal government’s support for local military suppliers is under scrutiny in the wake of its plans to establish an independent defence procurement agency. Government data shows that the list of the nation’s 15 biggest suppliers of military equipment includes just two that are Australian-owned; they accounted for about $5bn of the $87bn worth of procurement contracts over the last five years. The rest of these contracts were awarded to the subsidiaries of foreign defence contractors. Modelling undertaken on behalf of the Sovereign Australian Prime Alliance suggests that a modest increase in procurement from locally-owned defence companies could boost GDP by up to $8.1bn and create more than 25,000 jobs.

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Hunt for budget savings to extend beyond public service

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Original article by Luke Kinsella, John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 3-Dec-25

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher says the federal government has asked cabinet ministers to identify the five per cent of spending across their portfolios that is deemed to be the lowest priority. Her comments at a Senate estimates hearing suggest that Labor is seeking to cut spending across the public sector, rather than just the public service. Meanwhile, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that public sector demand increased by 1.2 per cent in the September quarter, following two quarters of negative growth.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Labor to slash $5.6b from public sector

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Original article by Luke Kinsella, John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 26-Nov-25

The cost of running the federal public service is expected to top $111bn in 2025-26, having increased by 38 per cent since Labor took office in May 2022. Cabinet ministers and public service heads have been directed to find savings in their budgets of up to five per cent, in addition to the existing ‘efficiency dividend’ of one per cent. It is estimated that a five per cent spending cut across the public sector would result in savings of about $5.6bn. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher has indicated that any savings are likely to be redirected to other policy priorities.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE

PM has a secret China chat, as Xi’s Trump call sparks Taiwan fears

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Nov-25

The federal government’s commitment to transparency is under renewed scrutiny after it declined to reveal what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed in a private meeting with one of China’s most senior politicians, Zhao Leji. Albanese’s office said the meeting with the chairman of the National People’s Congress was a private conversation, and contended that it is only required to disclose the details of meetings with a nation’s leader. It is uncertain as to whether Albanese raised the issue of Taiwan with Zhao; however, Chinese President Xi Jinping has asserted during a phone call to US counterpart Donald Trump that returning Taiwan to China’s control is on his government’s agenda.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Roy Morgan Poll: In November, support for One Nation increased to its highest since 1998; ALP maintains two-party preferred lead

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Nov-25

The latest Roy Morgan survey shows that primary support for the ALP was down 2% to 33% in November, with support for the Coalition unchanged on 27% and the Greens down 0.5% to 12.5%. However, primary support for One Nation was up 2% to 14%, which is its highest level since July 1998. On a State-by-State basis, support for One Nation increased in the four largest States of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, but support was down in the smaller States of South Australia and Tasmania. This increasing support for One Nation should come as no surprise; Roy Morgan has been monitoring the rise of disaffected, disengaged Australians, who are 2.5 times more likely to support One Nation. On a two-party preferred basis the ALP has maintained its lead at 56.5% (down 0.5% from October), ahead of the Coalition on 43.5% (up 0.5%). If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be returned to Government with an increased majority. The latest Roy Morgan survey is based on interviewing a representative cross-section of 5,248 electors over the four weeks from 20 October to 16 November 2025.

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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

Shaky Liberals fears party split

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Ryan Cropp
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 19-Nov-25

There is growing concern within the Liberal Party of Australia that its stance on net-zero emissions could potentially cause the party to split. Multiple sources have indicated that some members of the Liberals’ moderate faction have held discussions about splitting from the party. However, Liberal senator and moderate Andrew Bragg contends that the recent decision to abandon the commitment to net-zero is not a reason to walk away from the party, and he argues that the fragmentation of the centre-right of Australian politics would result in less coherent policy.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Victoria hits back at worst for business ranking

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Original article by Marcus de Blonk Smith
The Australian – Page: 4 : 12-Nov-25

The Victorian government has responded to the Business Council of Australia’s finding that the state is the nation’s worst place to do business for a second consecutive year. The government contends that investment in Victoria has been "the strongest among all states" over the last decade, growing by 53 per cent over this period. A government spokesman also contends that Victoria continues to rank first in terms of home approvals and home completions, adding that the government has also reduced or scrapped taxes 65 times. The BCA has again ranked South Australia as the best place to do business.

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BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

States attack federal Labor’s tobacco policy

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Original article by Mohammad Alfares, Lachlan Leeming
The Australian – Page: 6 : 12-Nov-25

The federal government is attracting growing criticism over its tobacco policy, including its refusal to reduce excise tax in order to combat the burgeoning black market. Tasmania’s Police Minister Felix Ellis says the federal government’s response to the illegal tobacco trade has been one of the "worst public policy disasters" in the world at present. He adds that Tasmania intends to crack down on the illicit trade, but warns that the issue needs to be addressed at federal level. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park says federal counterpart Mark Butler has ignored his call to reduce the excise tax.

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TASMANIA. DEPT OF JUSTICE, NEW SOUTH WALES. MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, DISABILITY AND AGEING