Australian Politics

A few days ago now but haven't seen this discussed anywhere with the cyclone in the headlines but still important to keep an eye on what's going on. Another privatisation move because there is so much evidence to suggest that this is a good idea that will lower costs. Can only hope this doesn't go through.

Archive link (de-paywalled): https://archive.is/8Tb7H

Tayeh, who has become a prominent leader of the protest movement after the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s 15-month war on Gaza, repeatedly said “all Zionists are terrorists”.

On Friday, police charged Tayeh with four counts of “using insulting words in public” for uttering the statement four times during a May rally.

The punishment is up to two months in prison for a first offence and six months for three or more offences.

Both major parties have an opportunity to clearly state they will preserve and even increase Australia’s overseas aid budget, after cuts by London and Washington.

Less haste, more verification and independent calling out of lies would be a good starting point.

In fact, virtually all significant economic indicators except gross domestic product (GDP) growth show Australia’s economy is among the world’s best-performed.

• record employment growth;
• record employment to population ratio at 64.6%;
• record job participation at 67.3%;
• inflation in the lower half of the RBA’s optimum band;
• wages growth above inflation for five straight quarters;
• median wealth per adult as the second highest in the world;
• ASX200 above 8,000 since last September;
• poverty and homelessness reducing, according to the Productivity Commission;
• emergency calls to the National Debt Helpline declining,
• record high new car sales in 2024;
• record sales of new private aircraft;
• overseas trips in 2024 at a new record high of 11.6 million;
• enrolments in fee-paying private schools at an all-time high;
• record manufacturing gross profits last financial year (2023-24) at $47.4 billion;
• record construction profits last year, at $31.1 billion;
• record profits in several other sectors;
• household spending at a record high.

There are several factors behind why Labor hasn't gone on a celebratory tour to boast about having "pulled off" something that's never been achieved in Australia.

Backed by the US, Australia has been increasingly asserting its power in the Indo-Pacific region. Has this strategy served it well?

Summary:

Today, Australia’s 39 universities endorsed a dangerous and politicised definition of antisemitism which threatens academic freedom, will have a chilling effect on legitimate criticism of Israel, and risks institutionalising anti-Palestinian racism. They did so without meaningful consultation with Palestinian groups or diverse Jewish groups who are critical of Israel.

The Jewish Council of Australia strongly opposes the antisemitism definition developed by the Group of Eight (Go8) universities and adopted by Universities Australia. By categorising Palestinian political expression as inherently antisemitic, it will be unworkable and unenforceable, and stifle critical political debate, which is at the heart of any democratic society.

The definition dangerously conflates Jewish identities with support for the state of Israel and the political ideology of Zionism.

I was going to include some key dot points, but this statement is succinct enough that you should just read it, or at least skim it.

I'm lost for words at the gaul of this!

In short:

Australia's 39 universities have endorsed a new definition of antisemitism.

The antisemitism statement was drafted by leaders from the Group of Eight (GoE), Australia's largest universities.

What's next?

The definition will now be swiftly adopted on campuses nationwide.

The Labor Party has reached a crisis point as polling ahead of the upcoming election suggests they may lose, meaning they have been forced to pull out their last resort: policies that are actually pretty decent.

All outdoor areas of Australia would have mobile coverage by 2027 under laws proposed by Labor.

While Australia has previously had a universal service obligation for landlines and payphones, it has not extended to mobile phone coverage.

Laws setting up the requirement would be introduced to parliament later in 2025, with the mobile obligation to focus at first on SMS and phone calls. The universal service could be expanded to include mobile data in the future as technology improves.

Dutton is as Dutton does

In short:

Australia's peak climate body has published new modelling showing the Coalition's proposed nuclear pathway would result in an additional 2 billion tonnes of emissions in the atmosphere.

The analysis has sparked attacks from the Coalition on the credibility of Australia’s independent Climate Change Authority.

What's next?

The Climate Change Authority's chair Matt Kean said the current pathway of transitioning to renewable energy as quickly as possible was "the only viable option".

The Reserve Bank’s behaviour last week can only be described as bizarre. It’s a sign that it’s lost its bearings and isn’t sure what’s happening in the economy or where it’s headed. What has caused its befuddlement? Our unexpected return to near full employment.

In short:

The Coalition has vowed to match Labor's pledge to boost Medicare funding by $8.5 billion over four years, describing a drop in bulk billing rates as a "mess" created by the government.

Labor has promised nine out of 10 GP visits will be free from out-of-pocket expenses by the end of the decade, in what will be a cornerstone of its re-election pitch.

What's next?

The Coalition said their funding would come in from November if they win this year's federal election, due on or before May 17, which is the same timeline given by Labor.

Labor has repeatedly warned that Medicare would be worse off under Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, but the Coalition was quick to announce their own $9 billion funding commitment for GPs as Mr Albanese was detailing his plans at a campaign-style rally in Launceston.

The Coalition's $9 billion commitment includes matching Labor's pledge plus $500 million previously announced for mental health support.

In short:

Labor says nine out of 10 GP visits will be free from out-of-pocket expenses by 2030 under an $8.5 billion cornerstone Medicare election funding promise, to be announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday.

The money will fund 18 million extra bulk-billed visits a year, as the government moves to widen free GP access from children and pensioners to a near universal system.

What's next?

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who has accused Labor of reckless spending, will need to decide whether to campaign against Labor's plan, which will cost at least $2.5 billion a year once fully rolled out.

The government has cited one ABS estimate that around 8.8 per cent of visits are delayed on such grounds. The number of people in their 20s not going to the doctor has tripled because of cost over the past three years.

But Labor's plan will also depend heavily on whether doctors take up the proposed incentive, particularly in metropolitan areas where rents and staff costs are higher.

The cost to the taxpayer of the bulk-billing expansion when it begins in November if Labor is re-elected starts at $1.1 billion in 2025-26 rising to $2.4 billion in 2028-29. Over the first four years, the total will reach $8.5 billion.

cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/17920934

A major push by Australian superannuation companies to build ties with the Trump administration begins this week in the United States.

The government is hoping the four-day showcase in Washington and New York will help convince Donald Trump not to impose tariffs on Australia, by demonstrating how heavily Australians are investing in the US through their super.

No text article from the ABC yet. The only text article I could find was, ironically enough, from 9 News: https://www.9news.com.au/national/nurses-and-midwives-hold-strike-at-sydney-northern-beaches-hospital/dbe6328b-a810-460f-a301-221999847bef

Paywalled, archive link below

https://archive.md/TDAdY

“You simply can’t achieve something like that by accident. Reckless indifference, perhaps. Wilful acts of bastardry, more likely. Accident, no,” he said.

Henry, who called for personal income tax rates to move with inflation, said not only were young people being hurt by increasingly high average tax rates, other policy areas were stacked against them.

“Young workers are also being denied a reasonable prospect of homeownership,” he said.

“They are burdened by the punishing costs of securing a tertiary education.

“And it is they who will have to bear the multiple burdens of catastrophic environmental destruction.”

As an older Gen X, I agree.

In my defence, I voted Independent for the first 20 years and have only Voted Green for the last 20 and I have never voted for any politicians who has ever won either at a local, state, or federal election.

That said, look what happened when Shorten tried some reform polices at the election before last, Australin's voted en masse for fcuking Morrison! So... what do voters ?