AUSTRALIA – POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Audit for PM’s flagship housing fund

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 29-Oct-25

The Australian National Audit Office will undertake a review of the federal government’s $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund, amid growing criticism of the fund. Auditor-General Caralee McLiesh has advised that the ANAO wil also examine the effectiveness of the Treasury’s design and delivery of the HAFF. Liberal senator Andrew Bragg has described the HAFF as one of the nation’s biggest public policy disasters, likening it to the previous Labor government’s Pink Batts home-insulation scheme. The HAFF aims to build 40,000 social and affordable homes by 2028, and it is part of the government’s target of building 1.2 million new dwellings over five years.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. HOUSING AUSTRALIA FUTURE FUND, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Employers urge Ley to expand IR changes

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 22-Oct-25

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has committed to reviewing the federal government’s multi-employer bargaining laws. However, business groups want the Coalition to consider more extensive industrial relations reforms. The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s CEO Andrew McKellar says the Coalition should look at increasing the legal definition of a small business from 15 employees to 25, contending that getting a fair deal for small business should be a priority. The Australian Resources & ­Energy Employer Association’s CEO Steve Knott in turn has identified the abolition of laws expanding union delegate rights, right-of-entry provisions and the Fair Work Commission’s intractable bargaining powers as reforms the Coalition should be pursuing.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES AND ENERGY EMPLOYER ASSOCIATION

Scientists slam budget cuts that threaten Nobel Prize-generating research

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Original article by Liam Mannix, Angus Dalton
The Age – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

Science Minister Tim Ayres recently described Professor Richard Robson’s Nobel Prize in chemistry as a "tribute to the effectiveness and capability" of Australia’s research sector. However, the federal government proposes to shut down two of the beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron, which is being used to study the metal-organic frameworks that were pioneered by Professor Robson. Professionals Australia estimates that about 10 per cent of the synchrotron’s 150 employees are likely to be retrenched. The government also proposes to shut down the KOALA Laue diffractometer at the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney. Critics have warned that this will jeopardise Australia’s progress in achieving net-zero emissions.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES, AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON COMPANY LIMITED

Companies could have profits from breaking environment laws stripped under Australian reforms

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Original article by Graham Readfearn
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

The federal government hopes to get its proposed changes to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act passed by the end of this year, with the legislation to be put before parliament in coming weeks. Environment Minister Murray Watt says he wants the overhauled environmental laws to include a definition of "unacceptable impact". He has also flagged harsher penalties for breaching environmental laws, including giving the government powers to strip companies of any financial gains made from such breaches. Watt adds that the proposed federal Environmental Protection Authority will be able to issue a ‘stop work order’ to prevent environmental harm.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

Roy Morgan Poll: In October, ALP and One Nation support up and support for the Coalition down

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Oct-25

The latest Roy Morgan survey shows that primary support for the ALP was up 1% to 35% in October, with One Nation up 2.5% to 12% and the Greens up 1% to 13%; however, support for the Coalition dropped 3% to 27%, and support for Independents/Other Parties was down 1.5% to 13%. On a State-by-State basis support for the ALP increased significantly in the two largest States of New South Wales and Victoria, while One Nation support surged in all States (now at least 10% in all States except Victoria); in contrast, Coalition support fell in all States except Western Australia. On a two-party preferred basis the ALP increased its lead to 57% (up 1.5% from September) ahead of the Coalition on 43% (down 1.5%). If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be returned to Government with an increased majority. The latest Roy Morgan survey is based on interviewing a representative cross-section of 4,908 Australian electors from 22 September 22 to 19 October 2025.

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

Scramble for super CGT clarity

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Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 15-Oct-25

The federal government’s decision to abandon a proposal to tax the unrealised capital gains of large superannuation accounts has been welcomed by financial advisers. The government will now only tax the realised capital gains of super accounts with balances of more than $3m, with the tax rate to be doubled to 30 per cent; super accounts with more than $10m will be taxed at 40 per cent. The reforms are slated to take effect from mid-2026, but financial advisers and their clients want Treasurer Jim Chalmers to clarify whether the higher tax rates will apply to gains that are accrued before this date.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

US interested in critical minerals deal

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 15-Oct-25

Trade Minister Don Farrell recently met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Malaysia; he says Greer indicated that the US is interested in striking a deal with Australia regarding critical minerals. The issue is set to be a key issue on the agenda when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holds talks with President Donald Trump at the White House next week. The federal government remains hopeful that it can use critical minerals as ‘leverage’ in tariff negotiations. The US has imposed a 50 per cent tariffs on Australia’s aluminium and steel imports, and the baseline tariff of 10 per cent on other imports.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF COMMERCE

Mount Isa smelter set for bailout

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Original article by Ryan Cropp
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 8-Oct-25

The federal and Queensland governments are set to announce a taxpayer-funded support package for Glencore’s Mount Isa copper smelter. Industry sources have indicated that the package to be announced today will enable the plant to remain open for at least another four years. The federal and NSW governments are still holding talks with Rio Tinto regarding similar support for the Tomago aluminium smelter, while taxpayer assistance has previously been announced for the Whyalla steelworks and two zinc and lead smelters that are owned by Nyrstar Australia.

CORPORATES
GLENCORE PLC, GLENCORE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, TOMAGO ALUMINIUM COMPANY PTY LTD, NYRSTAR AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Israel and Frydenberg blast PM, Premier over pro-Hamas graffiti

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Original article by Josephine Quattrocchi, Ryan Bourke, Tom Wenn, Clare Armstrong
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 8-Oct-25

The Australian Federal Police will investigate a series of graffiti attacks in Melbourne that praised Hamas on the second anniversary of its terrorist attack on Israel. Amongst other things, a billboard in Fitzroy was vandalised with the phrase "Glory to Hamas", Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that defacing a billboard with terrorist propaganda is abhorrent, and those responsible must face the full force of the law. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel has urged Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan to take swift action in response to the vandalism, while former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the two leaders must end the violence and hatred directed at Jewish Australians. Meanwhile, about 100 people attended a demonstration organised by the Free Palestine Coalition in the Melbourne CBD to mark the anniversary.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE

ALP two-party preferred lead reduced in September but in line with Federal Election result: ALP 55.5% cf. L-NP 44.5%

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 24-Sep-25

In September the ALP has a commanding two-party preferred lead, although this lead has been cut since August. The ALP is on 55.5% (down 1% from August), ahead of the L-NP Coalition on 44.5% (up 1%), according to the latest Roy Morgan survey. The Albanese Government’s two-party preferred lead in September is in line with the Federal Election result in early May: ALP 55.2% cf. L-NP 44.8%. In the month of September primary support for both major parties was unchanged with the ALP at 34%, ahead of the Liberal-National Coalition on 30%. Support for all other parties and independents was unchanged at 36% in September. This includes the Greens (unchanged at 12%), One Nation (up 0.5% to 9.5%), and Independents/Other Parties (down 0.5% to 14.5%). The latest Roy Morgan survey is based on interviewing a representative cross-section of 5,084 Australian electors from 25 August 25 to 21 September 2025.

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