AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

$2b boost for critical minerals

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Original article by Andrew Tillett, Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 25-Oct-23

The federal government initially allocated $2bn to its Critical Minerals Facility when it was announced earlier in 2023. However, this will be increased to $4bn as part of measures to be announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his official visit to the US. Albanese said critical minerals and rare earths are the ‘building blocks’ of a clean energy future, adding that Australia is committed to building sustainable and secure critical minerals supply chains with the US. The two nations aim to reduce global reliance on China for the processing of critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Albanese must talk with Netanyahu, send Wong to Israel: Opposition

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Original article by Paul Sakkal
The Age – Page: Online : 25-Oct-23

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has spoken to Israel’s ambassador to Australia several times since the war against Hamas began. However, Albanese has confirmed that he has not spoken to Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and has no plans at present to visit Israel. Albanese reiterated Australia’s support for Israel at a press conference during his official visit to the US, stating that the nation has picked "a side against Hamas". Meanwhile, shadow home affairs minister James Paterson argues that Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong should visit Israel if Albanese’s schedule means that he cannot do so.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

ALP support plunges after the defeat of The Voice Referendum: ALP 49.5% (down 4.5%) cf. L-NP Coalition 50.5% (up 4.5%)

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 24-Oct-23

The L-NP Coalition would now win a Federal Election as ALP two-party preferred support plunged 4.5% to 49.5% and is now behind the L-NP Coalition on 50.5% (up 4.5%) after all six States voted against the proposed ‘Voice to Parliament’ at the nation-wide referendum on Saturday October 14, according to the latest Roy Morgan Poll taken in the first week after the referendum from Monday October 16 – Sunday October 22, 2023. This is the first time the Roy Morgan Poll shows the Coalition leading the Albanese Government on a two-party preferred basis since the Federal Election. Primary support for the ALP was down 3% to 32% and the Coalition increased 2% to 36%. Another 32% chose another party or independent, including the Greens on 14% and One Nation on 4.5%. The results are based on Roy Morgan surveying of a representative sample of 1,383 Australian electors. Further details on the Roy Morgan Poll on Federal Voting Intention, including the States, will be provided in Roy Morgan’s Market Research Update and Weekly Update Video.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

PM to back Biden on AUKUS, Israel and Ukraine

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 23-Oct-23

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew to Washington on Sunday for an official state visit and dinner at the White House with US President Joe Biden. Albanese says he will lobby the US Congress to pass Biden’s $105 billion military aid bill, which includes $3.4 billion to boost US submarine production to help promised sales to Australia as part of the AUKUS treaty; the bill also will provide aid for Israel and Ukraine. Albanese has also confirmed that he will visit China to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing and attend the Shanghai International Import Expo in early November.

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

China wine tariffs under review

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Original article by Will Glasgow
The Australian – Page: 4 : 23-Oct-23

The Chinese government imposed tariffs of more than 200 per cent on Australian wine in 2020 as part of a widespread imposition of tariffs on Australian exports after the former Coalition government called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. However, China has announced that it will review its tariffs on Australian wine. Shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham – who was trade minister at the time the tariffs were imposed – said they were "an attempt at economic coercion by China".

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Delivery prices could soar under gig laws: DoorDash

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 18-Oct-23

Uber Eats recently estimated that the gig economy reforms in the federal government’s Closing Loopholes Bill could increase the cost of using food delivery services by up to 85 per cent. However, rival food delivery platform DoorDash has told a Senate inquiry into the legislation that prices could potentially rise by more than 260 per cent. The legislation would give the Fair Work Commission powers to set minimum pay and conditions for gig workers, but DoorDash has argued that these powers should be limited to setting minimum pay, insurance, portable leave and payment times. Nick McIntosh from the Transport Workers’ Union says there is broad support for the reforms among gig economy workers and companies.

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DOORDASH, UBER EATS, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION

Teal MPs deeply polarised over Israel attack

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Original article by James Robertson
The New Daily – Page: Online : 18-Oct-23

The House of Representatives voted 107-7 on Tuesday to defeat the Greens’ proposed amendment to a motion condemning the attacks on Israel by Hamas on 7 October. Amongst other things, the Greens sought to amend the motion to refer to "war crimes perpetrated by the State of Israel" and remove a sentence stating that Australia “stands with Israel and recognises its inherent right to defend itself”. Teal MPs Kylea Tink and Sophie Scamps voted in favour of the Greens’ amendment, along with independent MP Andrew Wilkie. However, several other teal MPs distanced themselves from the vote.

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AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Doha views Qatar Airways flight block as national insult

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Original article by Robyn Ironside
The Australian – Page: 2 : 27-Sep-23

Australian Qatar Business Council chairman Simon Harrison has appeared before a Senate hearing into the federal government’s decision to reject Qatar Airways’ request for more flights to Australia. He said the decision has caused "sensitivities" in the local Qatar business community. He added that Qatar regards it as a "national insult" that the decision has been linked to an incident in which Australian women were strip-searched at Doha airport in 2020. Qantas chairman Richard Goyder and CEO Vanessa Hudson will appear before the committee on Wednesday; former CEO Alan Joyce may be summonsed to appear when he returns from overseas.

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AUSTRALIAN QATAR BUSINESS COUNCIL, QATAR AIRWAYS, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN

Economists rip into Labor’s white paper

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 27-Sep-23

The federal government’s employment white paper is continuing to attract scrutiny from economists and the Opposition. Labour economist Mark Wooden says the white paper lacks substantive measures to meet the government’s stated goal of making the economy more "productive, dynamic and competitive". The Centre for Independent Studies’ chief economist Peter Tulip doubts that the government’s policies will reduce the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment, adding that Labor’s industrial relations reforms may increase the NAIRU. Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor in turn says the government should focus on policies that result in low inflation and low unemployment.

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THE CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT STUDIES LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Business blasts flawed IR bill

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 2 : 27-Sep-23

The federal government has estimated that the proposed labour hire and gig economy changes in its Closing Loopholes bill would cost employers up to $9bn in extra wages over the next decade. However, the Business Council of Australia contends that this estimate is based on outdated, limited and flawed data; the employers’ group notes that the explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill acknowledges this fact. BCA CEO Bran Black says the flaws call into question the government’s estimates of the impact of the proposed changes on individual businesses.

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BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA