AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Setka threat to AFL may be unlawful

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 14-Jun-24

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke says the CFMEU’s proposed work-to-rule campaign against the AFL is likely to constitute unlawful industrial action. Steven Amendola, a partner at law firm Kingston Reid, adds that the threat of industrial action unless the AFL agrees to sack head of umpiring Stephen McBurney could breach adverse action laws; he also suggests that the threat could potentially fall within Victoria’s blackmail laws. The CFMEU’s John Setka contends that the proposed action is not unlawful as construction workers will simply adhere to their regular hours and not work overtime or on rostered days off.

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CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, KINGSTON REID

‘We’ll lift social media access age in first 100 days’: Dutton

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Original article by Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 4 : 13-Jun-24

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says legislation to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media would be a top priority for a Coalition government. Dutton says the Coalition will introduce such legislation within its first 100 days in office if it wins the next federal election. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland contends that many social media platforms already have age limits, but they are often not enforced and can be easily bypassed. She notes that the federal government is investing $6.5m in a trial of age assurance technology.

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

Dutton’s surprise climate policy proves he ‘can’t be taken seriously’, Albanese says

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Original article by Karen Middleton, Josh Butler
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 13-Jun-24

The Coalition’s stance on climate policy is under scrutiny after Opposition leader Peter Dutton indicated that its 2030 emissions reduction target will not be disclosed until after the federal election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised his refusal to commit to a firm emissions target; he contends that Dutton cannot be taken seriously as the alternative prime minister without a serious policy on energy and climate. However, the Coalition has emphasised that it remains committed to the Paris climate agreement and a net zero emissions target of 2050.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Dutton delays climate target, blasts teals

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-Jun-24

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says a Coalition government would scrap Labor’s legislated 2030 target to reduce carbon emissions by 43 per cent on 2005 levels. He contends that this target is not achievable and would result in higher power prices. Dutton adds that the Coalition will not release its alternative emissions reduction target until after the federal election, stating that it will take into account the "prevailing economic conditions" at the time. Dutton has also reiterated the Coalition’s support for a net zero emissions target of 2050. Meanwhile, he contends that teal MPs are out of touch with average families who are struggling to pay their power bills, and argues that some of them are essentially Greens.

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LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Economy on track for soft landing: Chalmers

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Original article by Patrick Commins, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 4 : 12-Jun-24

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will use a speech on Wednesday to defend the federal government’s high-spending 14 May budget. He will contend that it would be irresponsible for the government to cut its expenditure too deeply in the current environment of flat economic growth and high interest rates. He will also state that Labor’s "more balanced approach" will bring inflation under control without "crunching the economy". Chalmers will in turn state that the government is "cautiously confident" that the economy will experience a ‘soft landing’.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

ALP Government strengthens its two-party preferred lead over the Coalition to the largest for three months: ALP 53.5% cf. L-NP 46.5%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 12-Jun-24

The Albanese Government has increased its two-party preferred lead over the Coalition: ALP 53.5% (up 1.5%) cf. Coalition 46.5% (down 1.5%). If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be re-elected with an increased majority, the latest Roy Morgan survey shows. Support for the Government improved for a second straight week on a two-party preferred basis to its highest for over three months since the first week of March. For the second straight week the major States of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland all swung to the ALP on a two-party preferred basis. The Albanese Government now leads clearly in NSW (56% cf. 44%) and Victoria (57.5% cf. 42.5%) and has narrowed the gap in Queensland (47% cf. 53%). Primary support for both major parties dropped this week. Support for the ALP was down 0.5% to 30.5% while support for the Coalition was down 1% to 35%. Looking at support for the minor parties shows support for the Greens increased 1.5% to 15.5%, support for One Nation was up 1% to 5.5%, support for Other Parties was down 1.5% to 4% and support for Independents was up 0.5% at 9.5%.

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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

Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine comments on drop in support for the ALP in the latest Roy Morgan Poll on Federal Voting Intention

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 12-Jun-24

The primary support for both major parties fell slightly this week. The main beneficiaries were the Greens (up 1.5% to 15.5%) and One Nation (up 1% to 5.5%). The strong protests by Greens supporters against Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza over the last week, including with Greens Leader Adam Bandt addressing the crowd, have clearly been a factor behind the rising support for the Greens. This week’s results show over a third of Australian electors (34.5%) now supporting either a minor party or independent – up almost 3% points from the 2022 Federal Election (31.7%). The rising proportion of Australians supporting minor parties and independents increases the likelihood we will end up with a hung Parliament after the next Federal Election. However, the clear lead for the ALP this week means that if a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be re-elected with an increased majority.

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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

Clashes to mar panda diplomacy

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 12-Jun-24

The federal government has confirmed the itinerary for the official visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. He will arrive in Adelaide on Sunday, where he will attend a state lunch and visit Adelaide Zoo; Li is expected to announce that China will extend its loan of two pandas to the zoo, which is part of the nation’s policy of "panda diplomacy". Li will travel to Canberra on Monday for talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, while they will both go to Perth on Tuesday to visit Fortescue’s hydrogen plant and a Chinese-backed lithium processing plant. There are concerns that Li’s official visit to Australia will be marred by disruptions caused by pro-China activists and human rights protestors.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

PM locked out by war protests

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Original article by Dennis Shanahan, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 5-Jun-24

The security protection of federal MPs and Parliament House has been ramped up in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on 7 October and the resultant pro-Palestine demonstrations across Australia. It has been revealed that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not used his electorate office in Marrickville since early January due to concerns about the safety of his staff. Meanwhile, federal police and intelligence agencies are believed to have advised parliamentarians that anti-Israel demonstrations have been infiltrated by Islamic extremists.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

PC: mining subsidy not tax reform

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Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 5-Jun-24

Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood has defended the federal government’s critical minerals production tax credit regime, which was a key measure in the 14 May budget. Wood has told a Senate estimates hearing that the tax credit scheme is tax policy rather than tax reform. However, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has repeatedly described the tax credits scheme as tax reform. Wood also contended that reducing Australia’s company tax rate of 30 per cent would make the nation more internationally competitive.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY