Jim Chalmers says government has more work to do on regulatory reform

SBS Australia

07-08-2025

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TRANSCRIPT:
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government has more work to do on regulatory reform
Young Australians urge government to set bold 2035 climate target
Rookie Tane Edmed not surprised he's been picked for the Wallabies Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers admits the government has more work to do on regulatory reform, as the Productivity Commission releases its interim report on potential reforms to National Competition Policy. It's found aligning Australian standards with international and overseas standards could provide an economic boosts of between 1.9 and 3.8 billion dollars per year. And it's found greater labour mobility for high-risk licensed occupations could be worth up to 846 million dollars per year. Dr Chalmers says reform in these areas would ease burdens on business. The government will hold a conference on reforms later this month. Climate change activists say the federal government has to take into account the concerns of young people when setting its 2035 emissions reduction target. A national poll by YouGov, commissioned by activist groups the Climate Council and the Climate Action Network, has found 61 per cent of people want the government to do more on climate change. Climate Council Chief Executive Amanda McKenzie says support for action is particularly strong amongst younger people. "We know that Australia's largest voting bloc- millennial and Gen Z - are concerned about climate chance. And, again, this shows up in this polling, where almost three-quarters of Gen Z voters expect the government to set a strong 2035 target." Millenials are generally defined as those born between 1981 and 1996, whilst Gen Z are those born between 1997 and 2012. The government is required to set a 2035 emissions reduction target by the UN in the coming months, with activists urging that target to be 60 per cent or more. A new report has found up to a third of schools in Queensland are in poor condition. The Department of Education's Comprehensive Review of Infrastructure Renewal report says there is a maintenance backlog which would cost an $441 million to address. It has identified a number of concerns with unsafe infrastructure that includes rotting ceilings in some school buildings. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek has blamed the report's findings on the previous Labor government, saying it is evidence the party did not spend enough on schools during their term in office. "This is a report that Labor commissioned because they knew there were issues. These were issues we had last time we were in government when we had a significant maintenance backlog. And it's clear they knew about the issue. And the report shows they under-invested in maintenance, and that's to the detriment of our teachers and students." The United Nations is warning any further escalation in Gaza would be catastrophic, as Israel's Security Cabinet considers expanding military operations in areas not yet under its control. More than 61,250 Palestinians have been killed since the war began nearly two years ago, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Most of the population is now displaced and facing extreme hunger. At least 42 more Palestinians were reportedly killed on Thursday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells Fox News Israel intends to completely occupy Gaza to remove Hamas and install a new civilian government, a move still pending cabinet approval. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq says such an escalation would severely worsen the crisis. "We have already made clear the fact that the occupation of the occupied territories cannot and must not continue. It is not accepted under international law. Regarding the comments, we'll have to see what actions the government takes, and we will respond accordingly. But we have already make clear our concerns that any expansion of the conflict will be catastrophic." The UN also warned that delivering aid will become nearly impossible if the fighting expands further. Cambodia and Thailand have formally agreed to a ceasefire following border clashes that began on the 24th of July. The deal was signed at an extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) meeting in Kuala Lumpur, attended by officials from both nations and observers from China, Malaysia, and the US. The agreement commits both sides to halt all forms of fire, maintain current troop positions, and avoid military build-ups. Captured soldiers will be treated according to international humanitarian law. An ASEAN observer team, led by Malaysia, will monitor the ceasefire, with temporary oversight by defence attaches from ASEAN states. The two sides also pledged to keep communication lines open, hold a Regional Border Committee meeting within two weeks, and convene the next G-B-C session within a month. In rugby union, Tane Edmed says he's not surprised to have been picked in the Australian squad for the start of The Rugby Championship, despite recently being out of the team. With first-choice fly-half Tom Lynagh out with a concussion, Edmed has been picked in the 35-man squad to travel to Johannesburg to play South Africa in their tournament-opening game on Sunday week. Edmed has never played a Test for the Wallabies, but says his contact with coach Joe Schmidt made him feel he was a chance to be chosen, despite a poor ending to his Super Rugby season for the ACT Brumbies, and his not being picked in the Australian squad that recently played the British and Irish Lions.
"I definitely thought there was a chance. I've been in close contact with Joe and the coaches, and they've always kind of said: stay ready. And despite the Super comp not going the way I would have liked, I've always thought I was a chance. Everyone potentially could get injured, and stuff can happen. So, you can never count yourself out. I've been ready, and I've stayed ready, and I'm keen to get in there."