Why net zero targets are impoverishing our nation
The energy sector, the paper said, had played 'a key role' in Australia's sustained economic growth, high labour and general productivity and strong environmental record.
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Sky News AU
38 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
‘Relying on government': TV host uncovers Australia's biggest issues
Sky News host Steve Price unpacks Australia's issues from its economic health to unprecedented migration numbers. 'First, though, on the economic health of our country, let's get serious – we have become a nation of leaners, not leaders,' Mr Price said. 'We have continued to swamp the country with unprecedented numbers of migrants. 'Workers relying on governments for their pay packets, that grows alarmingly…and a report out today should surprise but not shock anyone. 'The Centre for Independent Studies has found that more than half of Australian workers rely on one government or another, federal or state, presumably, for most of their income.'
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
New dawn as leaders face off in first question time
Familiar battle lines have been drawn as MPs locked horns for the first question time of the 48th parliament. Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley faced off for the first time in the parliamentary showcase, with the size of Labor's second-term majority on full display as MPs got down to business on the first working day. Ms Ley used her opening appearance in question time as leader to push the government on looming superannuation tax changes. But with the coalition commanding 43 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the scale of the election wipeout was clear on the benches. Promising to deliver on election commitments, the prime minister batted away suggestions of plans for taxes on unrealised capital gains. "The time to run a scare campaign is before an election," he told parliament. "Tax was an issue at the last election ... we had not one tax cut but two tax cuts." With Labor holding 94 seats in the parliament, the government now sits on both sides of the aisle in the lower house, for the first time in the party's history. It was the newest members of parliament who took centre stage for the government during question time, with Labor questions all being asked by first-term MPs. Among them were Ali France, who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton, and Sarah Witty who beat ex-Greens leader Adam Bandt in his seat of Melbourne. Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who narrowly won the blue-ribbon seat of Bradfield from the Liberals by 26 votes, also pressed the government on climate action during the first session. Although question time and first speeches from MPs made up much of the lower house agenda, the government wasted no time in kicking off its agenda with Education Minister Jason Clare using the first hour of sitting to introduce priority legislation. A proposal to slash university debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians was delivered in the house first-thing, after Labor campaigned heavily on the promise. People with an average HECS debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their loans. Mr Clare also introduced legislation that would strengthen safety in the childcare system after promising to expedite the bill in response to shocking sexual abuse allegations against a Victorian childcare worker. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. Labor's newest MPs used the first full sitting day to lay out their own priorities for the term ahead. Banks MP Zhi Soon paid tribute to the multicultural community in southwest Sydney that helped raise him. "One moment I was eating a Devon sandwich, the next a curry laksa, a kibbeh, a banh xeo, or a pani puri," he told the chamber. "I'm a proud Asian-Australian, I'm a proud Malaysian-Australian, I'm a proud Chinese-Australian, but most of all, I am a proud Australian." Former school teacher and Deakin MP Matt Gregg used his address to lay bare the consequences of social media on education and young Australians. "Some of the toughest teachers I've ever worked with have felt they need to leave the profession - harassed with misogynistic and other antisocial behaviours like never before," he said. "Young people themselves feel it in their own sense of self-worth - they know something is wrong. "We must continue to meet the challenges posed by social media and the landscape it's created, not with panic, but with serious, thoughtful action." Familiar battle lines have been drawn as MPs locked horns for the first question time of the 48th parliament. Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley faced off for the first time in the parliamentary showcase, with the size of Labor's second-term majority on full display as MPs got down to business on the first working day. Ms Ley used her opening appearance in question time as leader to push the government on looming superannuation tax changes. But with the coalition commanding 43 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the scale of the election wipeout was clear on the benches. Promising to deliver on election commitments, the prime minister batted away suggestions of plans for taxes on unrealised capital gains. "The time to run a scare campaign is before an election," he told parliament. "Tax was an issue at the last election ... we had not one tax cut but two tax cuts." With Labor holding 94 seats in the parliament, the government now sits on both sides of the aisle in the lower house, for the first time in the party's history. It was the newest members of parliament who took centre stage for the government during question time, with Labor questions all being asked by first-term MPs. Among them were Ali France, who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton, and Sarah Witty who beat ex-Greens leader Adam Bandt in his seat of Melbourne. Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who narrowly won the blue-ribbon seat of Bradfield from the Liberals by 26 votes, also pressed the government on climate action during the first session. Although question time and first speeches from MPs made up much of the lower house agenda, the government wasted no time in kicking off its agenda with Education Minister Jason Clare using the first hour of sitting to introduce priority legislation. A proposal to slash university debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians was delivered in the house first-thing, after Labor campaigned heavily on the promise. People with an average HECS debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their loans. Mr Clare also introduced legislation that would strengthen safety in the childcare system after promising to expedite the bill in response to shocking sexual abuse allegations against a Victorian childcare worker. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. Labor's newest MPs used the first full sitting day to lay out their own priorities for the term ahead. Banks MP Zhi Soon paid tribute to the multicultural community in southwest Sydney that helped raise him. "One moment I was eating a Devon sandwich, the next a curry laksa, a kibbeh, a banh xeo, or a pani puri," he told the chamber. "I'm a proud Asian-Australian, I'm a proud Malaysian-Australian, I'm a proud Chinese-Australian, but most of all, I am a proud Australian." Former school teacher and Deakin MP Matt Gregg used his address to lay bare the consequences of social media on education and young Australians. "Some of the toughest teachers I've ever worked with have felt they need to leave the profession - harassed with misogynistic and other antisocial behaviours like never before," he said. "Young people themselves feel it in their own sense of self-worth - they know something is wrong. "We must continue to meet the challenges posed by social media and the landscape it's created, not with panic, but with serious, thoughtful action." Familiar battle lines have been drawn as MPs locked horns for the first question time of the 48th parliament. Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley faced off for the first time in the parliamentary showcase, with the size of Labor's second-term majority on full display as MPs got down to business on the first working day. Ms Ley used her opening appearance in question time as leader to push the government on looming superannuation tax changes. But with the coalition commanding 43 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the scale of the election wipeout was clear on the benches. Promising to deliver on election commitments, the prime minister batted away suggestions of plans for taxes on unrealised capital gains. "The time to run a scare campaign is before an election," he told parliament. "Tax was an issue at the last election ... we had not one tax cut but two tax cuts." With Labor holding 94 seats in the parliament, the government now sits on both sides of the aisle in the lower house, for the first time in the party's history. It was the newest members of parliament who took centre stage for the government during question time, with Labor questions all being asked by first-term MPs. Among them were Ali France, who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton, and Sarah Witty who beat ex-Greens leader Adam Bandt in his seat of Melbourne. Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who narrowly won the blue-ribbon seat of Bradfield from the Liberals by 26 votes, also pressed the government on climate action during the first session. Although question time and first speeches from MPs made up much of the lower house agenda, the government wasted no time in kicking off its agenda with Education Minister Jason Clare using the first hour of sitting to introduce priority legislation. A proposal to slash university debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians was delivered in the house first-thing, after Labor campaigned heavily on the promise. People with an average HECS debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their loans. Mr Clare also introduced legislation that would strengthen safety in the childcare system after promising to expedite the bill in response to shocking sexual abuse allegations against a Victorian childcare worker. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. Labor's newest MPs used the first full sitting day to lay out their own priorities for the term ahead. Banks MP Zhi Soon paid tribute to the multicultural community in southwest Sydney that helped raise him. "One moment I was eating a Devon sandwich, the next a curry laksa, a kibbeh, a banh xeo, or a pani puri," he told the chamber. "I'm a proud Asian-Australian, I'm a proud Malaysian-Australian, I'm a proud Chinese-Australian, but most of all, I am a proud Australian." Former school teacher and Deakin MP Matt Gregg used his address to lay bare the consequences of social media on education and young Australians. "Some of the toughest teachers I've ever worked with have felt they need to leave the profession - harassed with misogynistic and other antisocial behaviours like never before," he said. "Young people themselves feel it in their own sense of self-worth - they know something is wrong. "We must continue to meet the challenges posed by social media and the landscape it's created, not with panic, but with serious, thoughtful action." Familiar battle lines have been drawn as MPs locked horns for the first question time of the 48th parliament. Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley faced off for the first time in the parliamentary showcase, with the size of Labor's second-term majority on full display as MPs got down to business on the first working day. Ms Ley used her opening appearance in question time as leader to push the government on looming superannuation tax changes. But with the coalition commanding 43 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the scale of the election wipeout was clear on the benches. Promising to deliver on election commitments, the prime minister batted away suggestions of plans for taxes on unrealised capital gains. "The time to run a scare campaign is before an election," he told parliament. "Tax was an issue at the last election ... we had not one tax cut but two tax cuts." With Labor holding 94 seats in the parliament, the government now sits on both sides of the aisle in the lower house, for the first time in the party's history. It was the newest members of parliament who took centre stage for the government during question time, with Labor questions all being asked by first-term MPs. Among them were Ali France, who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton, and Sarah Witty who beat ex-Greens leader Adam Bandt in his seat of Melbourne. Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who narrowly won the blue-ribbon seat of Bradfield from the Liberals by 26 votes, also pressed the government on climate action during the first session. Although question time and first speeches from MPs made up much of the lower house agenda, the government wasted no time in kicking off its agenda with Education Minister Jason Clare using the first hour of sitting to introduce priority legislation. A proposal to slash university debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians was delivered in the house first-thing, after Labor campaigned heavily on the promise. People with an average HECS debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their loans. Mr Clare also introduced legislation that would strengthen safety in the childcare system after promising to expedite the bill in response to shocking sexual abuse allegations against a Victorian childcare worker. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. Labor's newest MPs used the first full sitting day to lay out their own priorities for the term ahead. Banks MP Zhi Soon paid tribute to the multicultural community in southwest Sydney that helped raise him. "One moment I was eating a Devon sandwich, the next a curry laksa, a kibbeh, a banh xeo, or a pani puri," he told the chamber. "I'm a proud Asian-Australian, I'm a proud Malaysian-Australian, I'm a proud Chinese-Australian, but most of all, I am a proud Australian." Former school teacher and Deakin MP Matt Gregg used his address to lay bare the consequences of social media on education and young Australians. "Some of the toughest teachers I've ever worked with have felt they need to leave the profession - harassed with misogynistic and other antisocial behaviours like never before," he said. "Young people themselves feel it in their own sense of self-worth - they know something is wrong. "We must continue to meet the challenges posed by social media and the landscape it's created, not with panic, but with serious, thoughtful action."
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Student debt cuts: Government talks as Opposition steps up attack on super tax plans
Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers have avoided ruling out ever taxing unrealised capital gains beyond existing plans for multimillion-dollar superannuation accounts, fuelling accusations Labor has secret plans to go after family homes and trusts. Legislation for the reduced tax breaks for superannuation balances above $3 million is yet to be re-introduced to Parliament but it was the key lines of attack from an Opposition regrouping after its election loss. The first question time of the 48th Parliament got off to a slow start as Mr Albanese and new Opposition Leader Sussan Ley took each other's measure. Coalition strategists had planned to focus on Treasury advice that flagged a need for higher taxes or spending cuts to tackle deficits but ultimately canvassed the superannuation tax plan that has been in Parliament for almost two years. Ms Ley misfired with a question that failed to mention the word 'superannuation.' 'The name of the tax would be helpful for future questions,' Speaker Milton Dick advised. It was Nationals leader David Littleproud – under fire internally from would-be rivals – who asked new Assistant Treasurer Daniel Mulin a specific question about how the changes would affect farmers in a failed season. The Prime Minister and Treasurer continued their reluctance to bind themselves to 'never ever' positions ahead of next month's economic roundtable discussions. 'The time to run a scare campaign is just before an election, not after one,' Mr Albanese said when shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien asked if Labor was considering going after capital gains on family trusts and family homes next. 'It's a bit early, on day one … to start the rule-in-rule-out game that they themselves said on Sunday said was juvenile and absurd.' Mr O'Brien claimed a win, suggesting the Government should be embarrassed about its performance. 'Both the Prime Minister and the Treasurer refused to rule out expanding Labor's tax on unrealised capital gains to include family homes and family trusts. This should send a chill down the spine of every Australian family,' he said. The super tax was a key revenue measure from the previous term, slated to raise $2.3 billion in its first year in effect from about 80,000 people but it was stalled in the Senate. Dr Chalmers is hopeful of winning support from the Greens. The minor party wants the threshold lowered to $2 million and indexed, paving the way for a possible compromise. 'This is not his Tinder profile, this is his dream ticket. He's not looking to swipe right, he's looking to swipe out (Mr Littleproud),' Mr Bowen said. The Government used the political theatre to highlight its almost-fulfilled promise to cut student debts by 20 per cent. Education Minister Jason Clare said it was 'a lot of help for a lot of people just out of uni, just getting started, help them to buy a home, thinking about starting a family'. He also put forward measures to strengthen childcare safety regulation in the wake of the allegations that a Melbourne childcare worker committed dozens of instances of child abuse. Under the bill, care providers could have childcare subsidies – which make up the bulk of their funding – blocked over a single breach of quality standards. Regulators would also have the power to conduct snap inspections of centres and there would be more transparency around breaches and sanctions. 'This is not about leaving parents stranded without care for their children because of fixable or minor shortcomings at their service. But this legislation is also not an idle threat to services,' Mr Clare said, adding the ultimate aim was to lift standards. The Coalition had signalled broad support for improving safety at childcare centres but raised concerns about whether the measures went far enough, while the Greens want the Government to bolster its plan by creating a national watchdog. 'I can't think of many issues in my time in this Parliament that have made me feel as physically sick as this one has,' Ms Ley said. 'This is an issue well and truly above politics. We will all work incredibly hard to get this right.' Late night sittings are already planned for next week to get the vital legislation through swiftly as Parliament gets down to business.
