AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Steady as we go despite Trump’s 20pc tariff threat

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 4 : 30-Jul-25

US President Donald Trump has flagged an increase in his ‘liberation day’ baseline tariff to between 15 per cent and 20 per cent. Trump said countries that do not negotiate a special deal with the US will face an increase in the baseline tariff, which was originally set at 10 per cent. Trade Minister Don Farrell says the federal government has yet to be informed of any change in its baseline tariff, and it will assume that this will remain at 10 per cent until the Trump administration advises to the contrary. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox says there is real concern that the nation will face the higher baseline tariff; he adds that tariffs of 15- 20 per cent would have a "real impact", whereas a tariff of 10 per cent would be an "irritant".

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

Employers pitch Fair Work reform

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 29-Jul-25

The Australian Resources & Energy Employers Association is calling for an end to politically-biased appointments to the Fair Work Commission ahead of the federal government’s productivity roundtable. With both Coalition and Labor governments having been accused of favouring people with employer or union backgrounds, respectively, when making FWC appointments, the AREEA has used its submission to the roundtable to call for them to be made by an independent panel; it would comprise the federal industrial relations minister, the ACTU and employer groups.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND ENERGY EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ACTU

Roy Morgan Poll: ALP maintains strong two-party preferred lead in July: ALP 57% cf. L-NP 43%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Jul-25

In July the ALP maintained its commanding two-party preferred lead on 57% (down 0.5% from June 23-29, 2025) ahead of the L-NP Coalition on 43% (up 0.5%), the latest Roy Morgan survey finds. The Albanese Government’s two-party preferred lead is significantly higher than the 2025 Federal Election result in early May: ALP 55.2% cf. L-NP 44.8%. In the month of July primary support for the ALP was at 36.5% (unchanged from June 23-29, 2025) and is again clearly ahead of the Liberal-National Coalition on 31% (up 0.5%). Support for the Greens was unchanged at 12% and support for One Nation was down 1.5% to 7%. In addition, support for Independents/Other Parties was at 13.5% (up 1%).

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

Australia can’t sue UK for dud subs

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 29-Jul-25

Defence Minister Richard Marles and British counterpart John Healey recently signed a 50-year AUKUS treaty. The document was tabled in federal parliament on Monday, and many of its clauses heavily favour the UK. Amongst other things, Australia will not be able to sue the UK if there are defects in the design of the AUKUS-class nuclear-powered submarines or any equipment supplied by the UK; this includes the nuclear reactors that will be made in the UK and installed in the vessels to be built in Adelaide. In addition, although the two nations will jointly design the new vessels, Britain will approve the final design and will effectively be able to veto any Australian input into this.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, GREAT BRITAIN. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

A culture of dependency has taken root

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 23-Jul-25

Research by the Centre for Independent Studies shows that more than 50 per cent of Australian voters now rely on federal or state governments for most of their income. This includes public sector workers, welfare recipients and people who receive subsidies of some kind. Robert Carling from the think tank says this dependence presents a major challenge for politicians who might attempt to reduce government spending. Analysis shows that total federal and state government spending has increased to 39 per cent of GDP; this is its highest level since the end of the second world war, and compares with about 35 per cent of GDP prior to the global financial crisis in 2008.

CORPORATES
THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED

‘Stronger together’: Congress pushes AUKUS before Morrison hearing

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Original article by Jessica Gardner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 23-Jul-25

Australia’s former prime minister Scott Morrison will shortly appear before the US House of Representatives’ Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Morrison will testify about China’s use of "economic coercion", amid the Pentagon’s ongoing review of the AUKUS alliance. The committee is headed by Republican John Moolenaar and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, who have stated that all three members of the alliance are stronger because of it. They also contend that AUKUS will be vital to containing China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.

CORPORATES
REPUBLICAN PARTY (UNITED STATES), DEMOCRATIC PARTY (UNITED STATES)

ALP ups its attack on Israel over Gaza

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 23-Jul-25

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has defended the federal government’s decision to issue a joint statement with 27 other nations urging Israel to end the war in Gaza. Amongst other things, the statement contended that Israel’s "drip feeding" of aid into Gaza is "dangerous and unacceptable", and that the suffering of civilians in Gaza has "reached new depths". Burke had described Israel’s conduct in Gaza as "indefensible", but acknowledges that Hamas must release its remaining hostages. The joint statement has in turn been criticised by Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, who says it is "disconnected from reality" and "sends the wrong message to Hamas".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS

Non-market job boom a drag on productivity

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 16-Jul-25

The Department of Employment & Workplace Relations has warned that a rapidly expanding ‘non-market sector’ presents a challenge for the federal government. The department’s briefing for incoming Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth also notes that overall productivity growth has been impacted by the non-market sector’s increasing share of the economy. This sector includes the health care and social assistance, education and training and public administration and safety industries; it includes both public and private service providers that receive government funding. Four out of five jobs created in the last two years have been in this sector, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

Back to future on carbon with Rio

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Original article by Greg Brown, Noah Yim
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 16-Jul-25

Rio Tinto has used its submission to the Productivity Commission’s so-called ‘five pillars’ review to call for Australia to introduce a market-based price on carbon. The resources group contends that this is the most effective way to encourage the private sector to make low-carbon investments and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, Rio Tinto has also argued that further government subsidies will be needed, as a carbon price alone will not be enough to reduce heavy industries’ emissions while allowing them to remain globally competitive.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Xi defiant on navy drills in talks with Albanese

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Original article by Ben Packham, Will Glasgow
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 16-Jul-25

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed a range of issues during their meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, including the Chinese navy’s live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea earlier this year. Albanese acknowledged that the Chinese vessels had been operating in international waters when they carried out the drills and subsequently circumnavigated Australia; however, he asked China to provide more notice of future drills near Australian waters. Xi responded by stating that China’s naval forces will conduct exercises "wherever they want" in international waters. Albanese also agreed to a review of the China-Australia free-trade agreement, which took effect a decade ago. Landbridge Group’s lease over the Port of Darwin and Australia’s ban on Chinese investment in critical infrastructure were not raised.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET