Budget woes anything but child's play before snap poll
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dipped his toe into a snap state election campaign in which budget debt is front and centre.
Tasmania is heading to the polls on July 19 after the island state's parliament passed a motion of no-confidence in Liberal minority Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June.
It is the state's second election in as many years, and the fourth in the past seven.
The no-confidence motion, put forward by Labor and supported by three members of the crossbench, lashed Mr Rockliff's budget management.
Figures released by treasury on Wednesday forecast a worse financial position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget.
Treasury predicted net debt would reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion.
It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable and couldn't be addressed solely by economic growth.
"As a state, we are spending more than we earn and the gap is growing," the treasury pre-election financial outlook said.
The Liberals have pledged measures to cut spending in the public service, but abandoned potential state asset sales as a means of paying down debt.
Both major parties have avoided big-spending promises, while Labor says it plans to soon release a more detailed financial strategy.
The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to get the 18 seats required for majority.
There was a big swing, and a gain of two seats, for Labor in Tasmania at the May federal election. But it remains to be seen if the sentiment will translate to state level.
Voter polling taken in May showed Labor had 31 per cent support, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent either minor parties, independents or "other".
Mr Albanese appeared in Launceston on Wednesday alongside state leader Dean Winter and federal Bass MP Jess Teesdale to announce a plan to boost childcare services.
"It's great to be back here in Tasmania, my second visit in this term of government," he told reporters at an early learning centre.
State Labor plans to "change the rules" to ensure any new public schools or major school redevelopments have a childcare centre.
The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, promised a reduction in red tape around residential planning approvals, and spruiked a new agricultural learning centre.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Australia's Iran fallout warning despite uneasy truce
Conflict between Iran and Israel will have consequences for Australia, even if a ceasefire holds, an expert warns. While the federal government has repeatedly called for diplomacy and peace, it differed from other US allies by supporting America's decision to join Israel's offensive and strike Iran. Concerns had been raised if the action was legal, making Australia's position on the strikes "worrying", regardless of whether a ceasefire held, analyst Jessie Moritz told AAP. "Given that the intelligence that Israel was operating under was not confirmed even by the US, that really raised the question of whether this was a legal war and whether this was breaking an international norm," the Australian National University Arab and Islamic studies lecturer said. "Breaking international norms is a huge problem because it allows our enemies to break that norm with us." The Labor government initially took a more neutral stance but backed the US bombings after the coalition came out in support first. Dr Moritz said the government's quick decision was concerning and drew comparisons to the events of 2003, where Australia joined the US war in Iraq under false claims it possessed weapons of mass destruction. Though she hoped a ceasefire would hold, Dr Moritz warned the conflict would have long-term ramifications. US international partners have begun to more closely examine whether American interests align with their own as President Donald Trump emerges as a foreign policy disruptor. The conflict could incentivise Arab states to pursue nuclear weapons and lead Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rebuild its nuclear program. Dr Moritz said Iran could become more repressive and conservative because it might lose some support, using the events as an excuse to violently repress opposition groups. Anyone within the regime who supported diplomatic engagement with the West would be sidelined too. This could impact Australian-Iranian communities, many of whom hoped the conflict could help de-stabilise the Iranian autocracy and pave the way for a new, democratic government. Persian Australian Community Association member Nader Ranjbar said the regime's continuation could lead to his "worst fear". "That somehow they get away from this mess and the first thing they do is start killing Iranian people," he told AAP. Mr Trump attacked both nations for breaching the ceasefire in the early stages, saying "they don't know what the f*** they are doing" on live television. The prime minister was unperturbed by the language. "President Trump made some pretty clear statements. I don't think it needs any further reflection," Mr Albanese said on Wednesday. "We want to see peace in the region, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see de-escalation, and that is consistent with the very clear comments of President Trump." In the early hours of the day, 119 Australians and family members left Tel Aviv on a government-assisted flight. There are still about 3000 Australians in Iran who have registered with the government for help to leave, and more than 1000 in Israel. The latest conflict erupted on June 13, when Israel fired missiles at Iran in a bid to blow up military assets, arguing it was on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons. The battle took a turn on the weekend when the US launched a bombing raid on three underground nuclear facilities in Iran. Conflict between Iran and Israel will have consequences for Australia, even if a ceasefire holds, an expert warns. While the federal government has repeatedly called for diplomacy and peace, it differed from other US allies by supporting America's decision to join Israel's offensive and strike Iran. Concerns had been raised if the action was legal, making Australia's position on the strikes "worrying", regardless of whether a ceasefire held, analyst Jessie Moritz told AAP. "Given that the intelligence that Israel was operating under was not confirmed even by the US, that really raised the question of whether this was a legal war and whether this was breaking an international norm," the Australian National University Arab and Islamic studies lecturer said. "Breaking international norms is a huge problem because it allows our enemies to break that norm with us." The Labor government initially took a more neutral stance but backed the US bombings after the coalition came out in support first. Dr Moritz said the government's quick decision was concerning and drew comparisons to the events of 2003, where Australia joined the US war in Iraq under false claims it possessed weapons of mass destruction. Though she hoped a ceasefire would hold, Dr Moritz warned the conflict would have long-term ramifications. US international partners have begun to more closely examine whether American interests align with their own as President Donald Trump emerges as a foreign policy disruptor. The conflict could incentivise Arab states to pursue nuclear weapons and lead Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rebuild its nuclear program. Dr Moritz said Iran could become more repressive and conservative because it might lose some support, using the events as an excuse to violently repress opposition groups. Anyone within the regime who supported diplomatic engagement with the West would be sidelined too. This could impact Australian-Iranian communities, many of whom hoped the conflict could help de-stabilise the Iranian autocracy and pave the way for a new, democratic government. Persian Australian Community Association member Nader Ranjbar said the regime's continuation could lead to his "worst fear". "That somehow they get away from this mess and the first thing they do is start killing Iranian people," he told AAP. Mr Trump attacked both nations for breaching the ceasefire in the early stages, saying "they don't know what the f*** they are doing" on live television. The prime minister was unperturbed by the language. "President Trump made some pretty clear statements. I don't think it needs any further reflection," Mr Albanese said on Wednesday. "We want to see peace in the region, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see de-escalation, and that is consistent with the very clear comments of President Trump." In the early hours of the day, 119 Australians and family members left Tel Aviv on a government-assisted flight. There are still about 3000 Australians in Iran who have registered with the government for help to leave, and more than 1000 in Israel. The latest conflict erupted on June 13, when Israel fired missiles at Iran in a bid to blow up military assets, arguing it was on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons. The battle took a turn on the weekend when the US launched a bombing raid on three underground nuclear facilities in Iran. Conflict between Iran and Israel will have consequences for Australia, even if a ceasefire holds, an expert warns. While the federal government has repeatedly called for diplomacy and peace, it differed from other US allies by supporting America's decision to join Israel's offensive and strike Iran. Concerns had been raised if the action was legal, making Australia's position on the strikes "worrying", regardless of whether a ceasefire held, analyst Jessie Moritz told AAP. "Given that the intelligence that Israel was operating under was not confirmed even by the US, that really raised the question of whether this was a legal war and whether this was breaking an international norm," the Australian National University Arab and Islamic studies lecturer said. "Breaking international norms is a huge problem because it allows our enemies to break that norm with us." The Labor government initially took a more neutral stance but backed the US bombings after the coalition came out in support first. Dr Moritz said the government's quick decision was concerning and drew comparisons to the events of 2003, where Australia joined the US war in Iraq under false claims it possessed weapons of mass destruction. Though she hoped a ceasefire would hold, Dr Moritz warned the conflict would have long-term ramifications. US international partners have begun to more closely examine whether American interests align with their own as President Donald Trump emerges as a foreign policy disruptor. The conflict could incentivise Arab states to pursue nuclear weapons and lead Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rebuild its nuclear program. Dr Moritz said Iran could become more repressive and conservative because it might lose some support, using the events as an excuse to violently repress opposition groups. Anyone within the regime who supported diplomatic engagement with the West would be sidelined too. This could impact Australian-Iranian communities, many of whom hoped the conflict could help de-stabilise the Iranian autocracy and pave the way for a new, democratic government. Persian Australian Community Association member Nader Ranjbar said the regime's continuation could lead to his "worst fear". "That somehow they get away from this mess and the first thing they do is start killing Iranian people," he told AAP. Mr Trump attacked both nations for breaching the ceasefire in the early stages, saying "they don't know what the f*** they are doing" on live television. The prime minister was unperturbed by the language. "President Trump made some pretty clear statements. I don't think it needs any further reflection," Mr Albanese said on Wednesday. "We want to see peace in the region, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see de-escalation, and that is consistent with the very clear comments of President Trump." In the early hours of the day, 119 Australians and family members left Tel Aviv on a government-assisted flight. There are still about 3000 Australians in Iran who have registered with the government for help to leave, and more than 1000 in Israel. The latest conflict erupted on June 13, when Israel fired missiles at Iran in a bid to blow up military assets, arguing it was on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons. The battle took a turn on the weekend when the US launched a bombing raid on three underground nuclear facilities in Iran. Conflict between Iran and Israel will have consequences for Australia, even if a ceasefire holds, an expert warns. While the federal government has repeatedly called for diplomacy and peace, it differed from other US allies by supporting America's decision to join Israel's offensive and strike Iran. Concerns had been raised if the action was legal, making Australia's position on the strikes "worrying", regardless of whether a ceasefire held, analyst Jessie Moritz told AAP. "Given that the intelligence that Israel was operating under was not confirmed even by the US, that really raised the question of whether this was a legal war and whether this was breaking an international norm," the Australian National University Arab and Islamic studies lecturer said. "Breaking international norms is a huge problem because it allows our enemies to break that norm with us." The Labor government initially took a more neutral stance but backed the US bombings after the coalition came out in support first. Dr Moritz said the government's quick decision was concerning and drew comparisons to the events of 2003, where Australia joined the US war in Iraq under false claims it possessed weapons of mass destruction. Though she hoped a ceasefire would hold, Dr Moritz warned the conflict would have long-term ramifications. US international partners have begun to more closely examine whether American interests align with their own as President Donald Trump emerges as a foreign policy disruptor. The conflict could incentivise Arab states to pursue nuclear weapons and lead Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and rebuild its nuclear program. Dr Moritz said Iran could become more repressive and conservative because it might lose some support, using the events as an excuse to violently repress opposition groups. Anyone within the regime who supported diplomatic engagement with the West would be sidelined too. This could impact Australian-Iranian communities, many of whom hoped the conflict could help de-stabilise the Iranian autocracy and pave the way for a new, democratic government. Persian Australian Community Association member Nader Ranjbar said the regime's continuation could lead to his "worst fear". "That somehow they get away from this mess and the first thing they do is start killing Iranian people," he told AAP. Mr Trump attacked both nations for breaching the ceasefire in the early stages, saying "they don't know what the f*** they are doing" on live television. The prime minister was unperturbed by the language. "President Trump made some pretty clear statements. I don't think it needs any further reflection," Mr Albanese said on Wednesday. "We want to see peace in the region, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see de-escalation, and that is consistent with the very clear comments of President Trump." In the early hours of the day, 119 Australians and family members left Tel Aviv on a government-assisted flight. There are still about 3000 Australians in Iran who have registered with the government for help to leave, and more than 1000 in Israel. The latest conflict erupted on June 13, when Israel fired missiles at Iran in a bid to blow up military assets, arguing it was on the cusp of developing nuclear weapons. The battle took a turn on the weekend when the US launched a bombing raid on three underground nuclear facilities in Iran.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Budget woes anything but child's play before snap poll
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dipped his toe into a snap state election campaign in which budget debt is front and centre. Tasmania is heading to the polls on July 19 after the island state's parliament passed a motion of no-confidence in Liberal minority Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June. It is the state's second election in as many years, and the fourth in the past seven. The no-confidence motion, put forward by Labor and supported by three members of the crossbench, lashed Mr Rockliff's budget management. Figures released by treasury on Wednesday forecast a worse financial position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget. Treasury predicted net debt would reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion. It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable and couldn't be addressed solely by economic growth. "As a state, we are spending more than we earn and the gap is growing," the treasury pre-election financial outlook said. The Liberals have pledged measures to cut spending in the public service, but abandoned potential state asset sales as a means of paying down debt. Both major parties have avoided big-spending promises, while Labor says it plans to soon release a more detailed financial strategy. The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to get the 18 seats required for majority. There was a big swing, and a gain of two seats, for Labor in Tasmania at the May federal election. But it remains to be seen if the sentiment will translate to state level. Voter polling taken in May showed Labor had 31 per cent support, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent either minor parties, independents or "other". Mr Albanese appeared in Launceston on Wednesday alongside state leader Dean Winter and federal Bass MP Jess Teesdale to announce a plan to boost childcare services. "It's great to be back here in Tasmania, my second visit in this term of government," he told reporters at an early learning centre. State Labor plans to "change the rules" to ensure any new public schools or major school redevelopments have a childcare centre. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, promised a reduction in red tape around residential planning approvals, and spruiked a new agricultural learning centre. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dipped his toe into a snap state election campaign in which budget debt is front and centre. Tasmania is heading to the polls on July 19 after the island state's parliament passed a motion of no-confidence in Liberal minority Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June. It is the state's second election in as many years, and the fourth in the past seven. The no-confidence motion, put forward by Labor and supported by three members of the crossbench, lashed Mr Rockliff's budget management. Figures released by treasury on Wednesday forecast a worse financial position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget. Treasury predicted net debt would reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion. It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable and couldn't be addressed solely by economic growth. "As a state, we are spending more than we earn and the gap is growing," the treasury pre-election financial outlook said. The Liberals have pledged measures to cut spending in the public service, but abandoned potential state asset sales as a means of paying down debt. Both major parties have avoided big-spending promises, while Labor says it plans to soon release a more detailed financial strategy. The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to get the 18 seats required for majority. There was a big swing, and a gain of two seats, for Labor in Tasmania at the May federal election. But it remains to be seen if the sentiment will translate to state level. Voter polling taken in May showed Labor had 31 per cent support, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent either minor parties, independents or "other". Mr Albanese appeared in Launceston on Wednesday alongside state leader Dean Winter and federal Bass MP Jess Teesdale to announce a plan to boost childcare services. "It's great to be back here in Tasmania, my second visit in this term of government," he told reporters at an early learning centre. State Labor plans to "change the rules" to ensure any new public schools or major school redevelopments have a childcare centre. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, promised a reduction in red tape around residential planning approvals, and spruiked a new agricultural learning centre. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dipped his toe into a snap state election campaign in which budget debt is front and centre. Tasmania is heading to the polls on July 19 after the island state's parliament passed a motion of no-confidence in Liberal minority Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June. It is the state's second election in as many years, and the fourth in the past seven. The no-confidence motion, put forward by Labor and supported by three members of the crossbench, lashed Mr Rockliff's budget management. Figures released by treasury on Wednesday forecast a worse financial position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget. Treasury predicted net debt would reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion. It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable and couldn't be addressed solely by economic growth. "As a state, we are spending more than we earn and the gap is growing," the treasury pre-election financial outlook said. The Liberals have pledged measures to cut spending in the public service, but abandoned potential state asset sales as a means of paying down debt. Both major parties have avoided big-spending promises, while Labor says it plans to soon release a more detailed financial strategy. The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to get the 18 seats required for majority. There was a big swing, and a gain of two seats, for Labor in Tasmania at the May federal election. But it remains to be seen if the sentiment will translate to state level. Voter polling taken in May showed Labor had 31 per cent support, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent either minor parties, independents or "other". Mr Albanese appeared in Launceston on Wednesday alongside state leader Dean Winter and federal Bass MP Jess Teesdale to announce a plan to boost childcare services. "It's great to be back here in Tasmania, my second visit in this term of government," he told reporters at an early learning centre. State Labor plans to "change the rules" to ensure any new public schools or major school redevelopments have a childcare centre. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, promised a reduction in red tape around residential planning approvals, and spruiked a new agricultural learning centre. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dipped his toe into a snap state election campaign in which budget debt is front and centre. Tasmania is heading to the polls on July 19 after the island state's parliament passed a motion of no-confidence in Liberal minority Premier Jeremy Rockliff in early June. It is the state's second election in as many years, and the fourth in the past seven. The no-confidence motion, put forward by Labor and supported by three members of the crossbench, lashed Mr Rockliff's budget management. Figures released by treasury on Wednesday forecast a worse financial position than estimated in the May 2025/26 state budget. Treasury predicted net debt would reach $13 billion in 2027/28, above the budget forecast of $10.2 billion. It called for "explicit policy choices", warning the rate of debt growth was unsustainable and couldn't be addressed solely by economic growth. "As a state, we are spending more than we earn and the gap is growing," the treasury pre-election financial outlook said. The Liberals have pledged measures to cut spending in the public service, but abandoned potential state asset sales as a means of paying down debt. Both major parties have avoided big-spending promises, while Labor says it plans to soon release a more detailed financial strategy. The Liberals (14 seats) and Labor (10) face an uphill battle to get the 18 seats required for majority. There was a big swing, and a gain of two seats, for Labor in Tasmania at the May federal election. But it remains to be seen if the sentiment will translate to state level. Voter polling taken in May showed Labor had 31 per cent support, the Liberals 29, with the remaining 41 per cent either minor parties, independents or "other". Mr Albanese appeared in Launceston on Wednesday alongside state leader Dean Winter and federal Bass MP Jess Teesdale to announce a plan to boost childcare services. "It's great to be back here in Tasmania, my second visit in this term of government," he told reporters at an early learning centre. State Labor plans to "change the rules" to ensure any new public schools or major school redevelopments have a childcare centre. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, promised a reduction in red tape around residential planning approvals, and spruiked a new agricultural learning centre.
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
EDITORIAL: NATO ‘family' photograph reveals awkward truth about our nation's standing
It's the photograph that illustrates Australia's diminishing place on the world stage, in crystal clear resolution. US President Donald Trump stands to the immediate right of hosts, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. French leader Emmanuel Macron stands to the couple's left, beaming NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte directly behind them. There's a rough hierarchy in the way the dignitaries are arranged in this so-called NATO 'family photo': the closer you are to the centre, the more important you, and your nation, are to the world order. Off in the very far corner in the back row next to Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stands Australia's representative, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles. If this is a family photo, Mr Marles is the second cousin everyone forgot was coming. Mr Marles' awkward presence at The Hague for the NATO summit comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's hopes of meeting for the first time face-to-face with Donald Trump were dashed when the President skipped out early of last week's G7 meeting in Canada to deal with the ongoing Iran conflict. There had been talk Mr Albanese would try his luck again this week in the Netherlands, but ultimately, the risk of embarrassment should he be stood up for a second time outweighed the advantages. Instead, Mr Albanese spent Wednesday talking child care in Launceston, campaigning with Tasmanian Labor leader Dean Winter ahead of the State's July election. When he does eventually get that long-awaited face time with the President — potentially in September — Mr Albanese will no doubt face considerable pressure to dramatically increase Australia's defence spending. Australia currently spends about 2 per cent of its GDP on military spending, and is on track to increase that to 2.3 per cent by 2033. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on Australia to up that to 3.5 per cent — a massive boost but still far below the 5 per cent being demanded of NATO members. It's likely that those NATO members will agree to that demand, if leaked texts from Mr Rutte to Mr Trump are anything to go by. In the messages, published by the Trump camp to social media, Mr Rutte tells the President that his pressure had led to a 'really, really important moment for America and Europe, and the world'. The texts, in which Mr Rutte employs many of Mr Trump's own linguistic conventions, could be construed as embarrassing brown-nosing. But they're also the sign of a pragmatist at work; one who has decided it's worthwhile to sacrifice a little of his own dignity for the greater good. That's a sacrifice Mr Albanese doesn't appear ready to make. Other leaders have managed to find ways to make a relationship with Mr Trump work, without resorting to mortifying flattery (at least publicly). British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer shares much in common with Mr Albanese ideologically. Presumably he holds many of the same views on Mr Trump himself. Yet Mr Starmer has not faced the same difficulties in his relationship with the President. Australia needs to find a way to make this relationship work, or risk being pushed out of frame.
