AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Cost-of-living relief possible before May: PM

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 16-Jan-24

The federal government could potentially unveil further measures aimed at addressing the rising cost of living ahead of the budget on 14 May. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government understands that Australians are "doing it tough", and it may be open to additional cost-of-living relief. However, the government has ruled out cash handouts, although potential measures could include further rebates for household energy bills. The upcoming by-election in the Melbourne seat of Dunkley could affect the timing any household relief.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Roy Morgan’s latest Federal voting intention poll shows ALP 51.5% cf. L-NP 48.5% after inflation drops to two-year low of 4.3%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Jan-24

Support for Labor has increased 2.5% to 51.5% ahead of the Coalition on 48.5% (down 2.5%) on a two-party preferred basis after the official inflation figure dropped to a two-year low, according to the second Roy Morgan survey on Federal voting intention for 2024. The sharp fall in inflation, down 0.6% to 4.3%, means further interest rate increases in 2024 are unlikely. This week saw a reversal of trends evident a week ago with ALP support increasing 2.5% to 31.5% while Coalition support dropped 2% to 37%. The Greens dropped 1% to 12% and One Nation was down 0.5% to 4.5%. Support for Independents & Other Parties increased 1% to 15%. The latest Roy Morgan survey is based on interviewing a representative cross-section of 1,727 Australian electors from January 8-14, 2024. Further details will be released on Tuesday in Roy Morgan’s weekly video update presented by Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine here: http://www.youtube.com/roymorganaus

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

Coalition MPs snub 2035 target

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-Jan-24

The Paris Agreement requires the federal government to finalise a 2035 emissions reduction target by February 2025. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under pressure to adopt a 2035 target of at least 70 per cent, and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has previously stated that the government’s 2035 target will be announced "in due course". Meanwhile, a number of Liberal and National MPs have cautioned Opposition leader Peter Dutton against taking an emissions reduction target to voters at the next election. Amongst other things, they are concerned that it would exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis, particularly for people in regional areas.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Emerson to keep supermarkets in check

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 3 : 10-Jan-24

The federal government has appointed former Labor trade minister Craig Emerson to head a review of the food and grocery code of conduct. The government will consider a range of options to ensure that businesses are passing on lower costs to consumers, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says supermarkets have a duty to ensure that they are providing affordable options for all Australians. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt says major retailers do not have to wait until the review is ­completed to lower their prices.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

Dutton pushes stronger stance on hate speech

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Original article by Alexi Demetriadi
The Australian – Page: 3 : 9-Jan-24

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has urged the federal government to strengthen the nation’s laws on hate speech, stating that the Coalition would fully support any such move. Dutton adds that the government should pay the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s legal costs if it goes ahead with legal action against Muslim clerics who have racially vilified Jewish people in sermons. Former ECAJ president and Holocaust survivor Nina Bassat says the existing legislation is not working; she adds that if hate speech is not prosecuted it becomes normalised and people start to think they can get away with it.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN JEWRY

ALP holding us back: miners

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 9-Jan-24

Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable says the federal government is "taking the resources sector for granted" and its policy settings are aimed at making the industry anti-competitive. She has called for major government support for the resources sector to ensure that Australia continues to be attractive to investors. Constable adds that the government needs to support the sector as a whole, rather than focusing on critical minerals. Analysis shows that 72 coal, iron ore and oil and gas projects have been shelved, delayed or failed to progress in the last 12 months.

CORPORATES
MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Roy Morgan’s latest Federal voting intention poll shows L-NP 51% cf. ALP 49%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Jan-24

The Coalition has overtaken Labor as the Cost-of-Living crisis intensifies, reaching 51% (up 1%) while ALP stands at 49% (down 1%) on a two-party preferred basis, according to the first Roy Morgan survey on Federal voting intention for 2024. This week saw notable shifts in the primary votes of both major parties. The Coalition’s support increased to 39%, reflecting a 1% rise from December, while the ALP faced a significant setback with a 3% decline, leaving them at 29%. The Greens are up 1.5% to 13% and One Nation is up 0.5% to 5%; support for Independents & Other Parties is unchanged at 14%. The latest Roy Morgan survey is based on interviewing a representative cross-section of 1,716 Australian electors from January 1-7. Further details will be released in Roy Morgan’s weekly video update presented by Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine.

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

Labor pledges ongoing support for Ukraine

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 9-Jan-24

Australia has provided around $730 million in military aid to Ukraine to date, while it has sent off its latest rotation of soldiers to the UK to train Ukrainian infantry. Farewelling the soldiers on Monday, acting Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the federal government is committed to providing support to Ukraine to the "end of 2024 and beyond" against what he labelled "the illegal and unprovoked aggression and invasion by Russia". Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says support for Ukraine has to be a priority.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE

Labor plan would give home affairs minister powers over critical infrastructure during cyber-attacks

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Original article by Josh Butler
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 20-Dec-23

The federal government has released a consultation paper on proposed changes to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act. Amongst other things, Home Affairs and Cyber Security Minister Clare O’Neil could potentially be given the power to direct providers of criticial infrastructure – such as energy or transport companies – to take certain actions in the event of a cyber attack; this could include suspending their operations for the duration of the crisis. The minister may also be given the powers to direct companies that are hit by a cyber attack to replace customers’ personal documents that have been compromised, such as passports.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS

Two in five Australians had flight cancelled or delayed over 12 months, survey says

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Original article by Elias Visontay
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 19-Dec-23

Consumer advocate group Choice has used a submission to the federal government’s aviation green paper to call for increased protection for airline passengers, including compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Choice has also released the findings of its research on the performance of Australia’s airlines. It found that 40 per cent of respondents had a flight cancelled or delayed in the year to October 2023; 63 per cent stated that they will given no reason for the flight’s failure to depart on schedule. Meanwhile, 20 per cent had to wait at least six months for a refund, and just 47 per cent received a refund within a month.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CONSUMERS’ ASSOCIATION