Big majority doesn't mean big plans, Albanese cautions
Anthony Albanese is hosing down expectations his government is about to embark on a bold new agenda just because it has a commanding majority, saying it must first deliver on what it has already promised so as not to sabotage voter goodwill.
In his first major speech since Labor's election victory last month, the prime minister will tell the National Press Club on Tuesday that his government's immediate focus is the delivery of its current agenda, whether that be the transition to clean energy, housing, bolstering Medicare or seeing people through the cost of living crisis.
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News.com.au
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Sussan Ley to deliver National Press Club address, first Liberal leader to do so since Scott Morrison
Sussan Ley will give a significant speech at the National Press Club in a move aimed to distance herself from her predecessor Peter Dutton. The Opposition Leader is set to outline her vision for the new-look Liberal Party after it suffered its worst election result, with the Coalition reduced to a paltry 43 seats compared with Labor's 94. However, Ms Ley is not expected to share any new policy announcements, with the party still reviewing its agenda following May's blistering loss. Instead, she will detail how the Liberals will aim to win back voters ahead of the next federal poll due in 2028. 'Addressing the National Press Club is an important opportunity to talk to Australians about the work the Liberal Party will do over the next three years to reflect, respect and represent modern Australia,' she said, ahead of her appearance on June 25. 'Aspiration is the thread that connects every single part of Australian society and by focusing on that, the Liberal Party can once again earn the trust of communities across the country.' Anthony Albanese will address the National Press Club on Tuesday, with his speech set to detail Labor's second-term agenda. The Prime Minister was critical of former opposition leader Peter Dutton of eschewing addressing the club, accusing him of being 'unwilling to face up to the scrutiny'. The speeches are generally televised live and speakers are expected to answer questions from journalists following their remarks. 'For a leader, being here in the last week of the election campaign is more than a matter of respect for tradition,' Mr Albanese told the club a week before the May 3 federal election. 'Standing here is about taking responsibility for your plans. Being here is about being accountable, to the people, to the democratic process.' Ms Ley will also be the first female major party leader to address the National Press Club since Julia Gillard, who fronted the venue prior to Labor's losing election in 2013. Ms Ley will also be first Liberal leader to do so since the appearance of then prime minister Scott Morrison in 2022.
AU Financial Review
4 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
Big majority doesn't mean big plans, Albanese cautions
Anthony Albanese is hosing down expectations his government is about to embark on a bold new agenda just because it has a commanding majority, saying it must first deliver on what it has already promised so as not to sabotage voter goodwill. In his first major speech since Labor's election victory last month, the prime minister will tell the National Press Club on Tuesday that his government's immediate focus is the delivery of its current agenda, whether that be the transition to clean energy, housing, bolstering Medicare or seeing people through the cost of living crisis.
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doubles down on renewables and net zero in National Press Club address
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will reaffirm his commitment to renewable energy and net zero targets in his National Press Club address on Tuesday. Mr Albanese will deliver his first speech to the press club after being re-elected as Prime Minister of the 48th Parliament of Australia at around 12.30pm. He has outlined his agenda—focusing on housing, healthcare, education, cost of living relief and renewable energy—in an excerpt of his speech provided to Sky News. will stream Mr Albanese's National Press Club address live at 12.30pm AEST. Mr Albanese will say the path to net zero must be grounded in delivery, not ideology, and stress the importance of seizing the economic opportunity of the global shift to clean energy. He has described his vision of the future, 'where we realise our potential as a renewable energy superpower'. 'We are working to meet the environmental challenges of climate change and seize the economic opportunities of renewable energy,' Mr Albanese will say. 'We have legislated our 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030 and our commitment to Net Zero by 2050. 'We are delivering our energy policy – renewables, backed by gas, batteries and hydro.' The comments come as political pressure mounts over the mounting cost of the government's climate policy. New analysis from the Institute of Public Affairs revealed that annual federal spending on climate and net zero programs has soared to about $9 billion. IPA deputy executive director Adam Creighton described the scale of climate-related spending as 'ridiculous'. 'Decades of poor decision making, based on flawed and misleading advice and ideology, is crushing… household budgets,' he said. Energy Minister Chris Bowen has repeatedly argued that renewables remain the 'cheapest and cleanest' source of power. The Australian Energy Regulator's default market offer has risen by up to 50 per cent in parts of the country since 2022. Neither Mr Bowen nor Mr Albanese have conceded their 2022 election promise to lower household power bills by $275 has not been met. The government's clean energy transition has also drawn criticism from the Greens following its decision to approve the extension of the North West Shelf gas project. 'You can't have renewables unless you have firming capacity. You don't change a transition through warm thoughts,' Mr Albanese said of the decision. The extension of the gas project was made under the existing Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The EPBC does not require consideration of a project's climate impact. Despite long-flagged reforms to the EPBC Act, Sky News understands the government has decided not to include a climate trigger as part of the update, rejecting calls from the Greens. Greens leader Larissa Waters slammed the gas approval, saying it 'totally undermines the government's commitment to net zero by 2050'. Despite criticism from activists, Mr Albanese maintained the transition must be done responsibly and with a clear-eyed understanding of the challenges ahead. 'Our government's vision and ambition for Australia's future was never dependent on the size of our majority,' he will say in his Press Club speech. 'But you can only build for that future vision if you build confidence that you can deliver on urgent necessities.' He said Australia's mix of natural resources, a skilled workforce and geopolitical stability made it the best place in the world to lead the net zero transition. 'When you consider the resources and energy and technology that a world moving to Net Zero needs… there is nowhere else you would rather be than right here in Australia,' he said.
