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Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Dropped the ball': Productivity going ‘backwards' under Labor
Deputy Opposition Leader Ted O'Brien has slammed Labor's spending and the productivity going 'backwards' under the Albanese government. The Reserve Bank of Australia has revised its productivity forecast, now at 0.7 per cent, down from 1 per cent. 'The Albanese government has dropped the ball,' Mr O'Brien told Sky News Australia.
Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Nobody is above the law': Royal author Andrew Lownie reveals explosive new Prince Andrew claims
Andrew Lownie has revealed the genesis of Prince Andrew's disastrous relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and why Buckingham Palace needs to 'cut loose' the Duke and Duchess of York. The veteran royal biographer is the author of the new book 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York', a warts-and-all account of the Yorks' marriage and three decade partnership. The bombshell book includes embarrassing revelations about the Duke of York's sex life, as well as unprecedented new information about his business dealings while working as a British trade envoy. Meanwhile, the Duke of York's ex-wife and current housemate Fergie is painted as not only financially reckless, but so dangerous to the monarchy that the royal family keep her in the fold to protect themselves. In an exclusive interview with the Sky News Australia digital series Power Hour, Mr Lownie opened up about the bizarre symbiotic relationship between Epstein and the Duke of York. Their friendship, which ended in Prince Andrew's public downfall, was equally transactional for both parties. 'Andrew was a useful piece of respectability for Epstein,' he told host Gabriella Power. 'Epstein provided useful contacts, someone who paid off debts for the couple and supplied women to Andrew.' Andrew's ability to provide 'respectability' and connections for shadowy businessmen was a tool the Duke of York has exploited throughout his public life. From 2001 until July 2011, Andrew worked as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. The role saw the bombastic Duke serve as roving ambassador for British trade around the globe, and Lownie alleges it was in this role that Andrew benefitted financially on the side. According to Mr Lownie, Buckingham Palace were well-aware of Andrew's links to possibly dodgy business figures but ignored the Duke's reckless and brazen behaviour. 'MPs twenty years ago were asking our national crime agency to investigate him, nothing was done,' he said. 'I think (the book) is very damaging to Andrew and indeed to the monarchy who was very much aware what was going on and colluded with him.' Ironically, diplomats also complained that instead of helping British trade, Andrew was a liability on important trade trips. Mr Lownie called on King Charles to cut off his rogue brother once and for all to restore public trust in the monarchy's integrity. 'There's not sufficient transparency about royal finances, and royal activity full stop,' he said. 'We're prepared to support our royal family but not if they're on the take themselves. 'I think they need to look carefully and cut him loose. 'Nobody is above the law, including members of the royal family.' 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York' will be published by HarperCollins on 14 August 2025.
Sky News AU
6 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Former Treasury assistant secretary claims Jim Chalmers' upcoming productivity roundtable ‘stitch up' ploy to raise taxes
A former Treasury official has called Treasurer Jim Chalmers' upcoming productivity roundtable a 'stitch up' which seeks only to 'reinforce' the Albanese government's economic strategies. Former Treasury assistant secretary David Pearl said the Economic Reform Roundtable, set to take place on August 19 to 21, would be as ineffective as the 2022 Jobs and Skill Summit. 'I think this is a stitch up, just like the Labour Party's job summit. We had a job summit in 2022 and we had maximum unemployment,' he told Sky News Australia. 'It was really a ruse to get the union movement to re-regulate the labour market. To the cost of all of us and next week's summit will be no different.' Mr Pearl said none of the 'fundamental shibboleths' of the government's economic policy would be questioned when the roundtable kicks off next week. 'Net zero won't even be mentioned, apart from looking at ways to rip up environmental regulations to allow wind and solar to be further rolled out across the land,' he said. 'There won't be any discussion about industrial relations reform because (Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary) Sally McManus and three other unionists will veto that and there won't be any discussion about how to control government spending. 'It'll just be about increased taxes.' Mr Pearl said the upcoming summit would take place 'under the guise of productivity and growth', but would only seek to reaffirm the Albanese government's economic outlook. '(The Economic Reform Roundtable) will reinforce and seek a consensus in favour of the fundamental economic strategies of this government, which I think most voters have seen are not delivering higher living standards and growth,' he said. Last month, Mr Pearl said the capital gains tax rate could be doubled following the government's brainstorming session, with dividend imputation and negative gearing also potentially coming 'under the gun'. 'The outcomes will be already developed by now, this is just a show. Jim Chalmers and Albanese are from a school of political management that doesn't tolerate any spontaneity or any surprises or any real discussion in this so-called roundtable,' he said. Mr Pearl added he thought the government would revert to Bill Shorten and Chris Bowen's 'disastrous 2019 assault on investors'. 'I think under the gun will be the capital gains tax discount. So we could see a doubling of the capital gains tax rate with no grandfathering,' he said. In his National Press Club address in June, Mr Chalmers said 'no sensible progress' on productivity or budget sustainability could be made without proper consideration of 'more tax reform'.
