AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Pezzullo faces Home Affairs axe

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Sep-23

Former Australian Public Service commissioner Lynelle Briggs will undertake an independent review into the conduct of Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo. This follows revelations that Pezzullo had sent hundreds of encrypted text messages to Liberal Party powerbroker Scott Briggs over several years. The federal government has advised that Pezzullo has agreed to step aside pending the outcome of the review, and senior public service officials believe that he will not return to the role that has a remuneration package of up to $928,340. The Greens contend that Pezullo’s position is untenable and that he should resign.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Business alarmed at Labor’s work goal

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Original article by Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 4 : 26-Sep-23

The federal government has attracted criticism over its employment white paper’s revised definition of ‘full employment’. The government’s goal is for ‘everyone who wants a job to be able to find one without searching for too long’. Treasurer Jim Chalmers say the technical definition of full employment – the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment, which is used by the Reserve Bank – is distinct but complementary to the government’s objective. However, Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Andrew McKellar contends that having dual definitions for full employment could undermine the RBA’s efforts to restore inflation to its target range. The white paper estimates that about 2.8 million people are either unemployed and looking for work or underemployed and seeking more work.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Tax bounty brings record $22b surplus

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 22-Sep-23

The federal government will confirm on Friday that the budget surplus for 2022-23 was $22.1bn. This represents a significant turnaround from the $77.9bn deficit that former treasurer Josh Frydenberg had forecast in March 2022. It will also be the first surplus since 2007-08 and the first under a Labor government since Paul Keating was treasurer more than three decades ago. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Labor has delivered a surplus while providing cost-of-living relief and investing in the long-term growth of the economy. The budget bottom-line was boosted by factors such as high commodity prices and rising income tax revenue due to a strong labour market.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Immunity for mates: PM’s Covid cop-out

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Original article by Geoff Chambers, Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 22-Sep-23

The federal government has been widely criticised over the limited scope of its commission of inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay has questioned why the actions of state and territory governments during the pandemic will be excluded from the inquiry. She argues that this will make it harder to prepare for future pandemics. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of prioritising the interests of Labor premiers over those of the general public. Dutton wants the inquiry to be given the powers of a royal commission, including the ability to compel people to give evidence.

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AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Labor gets to work on jobs plan

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 4 : 20-Sep-23

Treasurer Jim Chalmers say the federal government’s employment white paper will outline Labor’s vision for a more "dynamic and inclusive labour market". The white paper to be released on Monday will outline five key objectives, including sustained full employment, productivity growth and sustainable wage growth. The ACTU used its submission to the white paper to call for a target of zero involuntary unemployment. The terms of reference for the employment white paper were released following the jobs and skills summit in 2022.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, ACTU

Greens vow to keep fighting on housing as party takes aim at Labor’s help to buy scheme

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Original article by Paul Karp
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 13-Sep-23

The federal government’s Housing Australia Future Fund bill will be put to a final vote in the Senate on Wednesday, after the Greens agreed to back it in return for additional funding for public and community housing. The minor party abandoned its push to include a rent cap and freeze in the bill, but Greens leader Adam Bandt says this is still on its agenda. The government’s shared equity scheme is likely to be the Greens’ next target in its bid to introduce a cap and freeze on rents.

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AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Treasury, Trade not consulted on Qatar call

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Original article by Dennis Shanahan, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 4 : 13-Sep-23

The federal government continues to attract scrutiny over its decision to reject Qatar Airways’ request for additional flights to Australia. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Trade Minister Don Farrell have confirmed that their departments were not asked for advice from Transport Minister Catherine King regarding the request from Qatar Airways. King has stated that she had consulted "relevant ministers" before making the decision on 10 July. Shadow transport minister Bridget McKenzie has questioned why the Treasurer was not deemed to be a relevant minister. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have also stated that they were not consulted until after the decision had been made.

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

‘Base racism’: Yes leader in no-holds-barred call

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Original article by Rosie Lewis, Joe Kelly, Sarah Ison, Paige Taylor
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 13-Sep-23

Voice advocate Professor Marcia Langton has rejected claims that she accused No voters of racism in a speech in Bunbury on Sunday. Professor Langton said in her speech that if you start pulling apart the No case’s arguments, it either gets down to base racism or sheer stupidity. However, she stresses that she does not believe that the majority of Australians are racist, and contends that No campaigners are using racist tactics. Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney has called for both sides of the debate on an Indigenous Voice to parliament to "act respectfully and with care for their fellow Australians".

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Developers scoff at 1.2m homes target

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Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 13-Sep-23

Housing Minister Julie Collins has told a property summit that the federal government’s target of building 1.2 million new homes in five years is "ambitious but achievable". However, Western Australian property developer Nigel Satterley says that at best about 600,000 to 650,000 dwellings are likely to be completed within this time-frame, citing a labour supply shortage. Melbourne-based developer Tim Gurner agrees that the target will be difficult to achieve, noting that high costs and poor planning laws are also a challenge for the sector.

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Key crossbenchers in bid to split up IR bill

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 13-Sep-23

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has reiterated that the federal government wants the entire Closing Loopholes Bill to be passed by the end of 2023. This follows a push by Senate crossbenchers to remove four provisions from the bill and legislate them by the end of the year. They include proposed changes that would make it easier for first responders such as firefighters and ambulance crews to claim workers’ compensation for job-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Independent senator David Pocock says this would allow more time to consider the more contentious elements of the bill.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS