PM pressed to tackle cost of living while balancing global role
"Labor just won an election with a whole suite of policies about what they're going to do," Ms Scott said.
"They're rolling it out, they've already done student debt relief, they've reduced the costs of medicines.
"They're also recognising that millions of Australians are distressed about the fact that we are seeing images every night on the news of children starving ... this is a clear human rights crisis that Australia cant ignore."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
26 minutes ago
- West Australian
Marco Rubio says Palestine recognition plans by Australia and European nations as ‘largely meaningless'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed Australia's plan to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN next month as 'symbolic' and 'largely meaningless,' saying such moves are driven by domestic politics and won't determine the region's future. Mr Rubio said real change depended on actions and developments within the region itself, rather than external declarations or diplomatic gestures from western countries or Australia. 'It's largely meaningless,' Mr Rubio said, when asked about the Israel-Palestine conflict in an interview with WABC radio overnight. 'It's symbolic, and they're doing it primarily for one reason, and that is their internal politics, their domestic politics. 'The truth of the matter is that the future of that region is not going to be decided by some UN resolution. 'It's not going to be decided by some press release by a prime minister or a president from some country. 'It's difficult and it ain't easy, but that's a fact. But all these statements are meaningless … they're not going to change anything.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday, following a Cabinet meeting, that his government plans to join other nations in recognising Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September. It marked a significant shift in foreign policy after previously stating a string of set conditions would have to be in place first and would align Australia with nations such as France, the United Kingdom, and Canada — which have either formally recognised Palestine or signalled their intention to do so. The Prime Minister, however, was quickly criticised by the Opposition, who argued recognising a Palestinian state while the terrorist group Hamas remained in control only 'rewarded' them, was largely 'symbolic' and did little to address the humanitarian crisis on the ground. Mr Rubio also said the future of the conflict will ultimately be decided by events and actions on the ground, not by external governments. 'It's going to be decided by: when will the day come when Palestinian areas are not governed by terrorist organisations? Because that's truly what this comes down to,' the top US diplomat said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong told a Canberra press conference on Monday that she had called Mr Rubio, who is her US counterpart, before Australia announced its decision to recognise Palestinian statehood as a courtesy to the ally. On Wednesday, Sussan Ley also condemned the PM for being 'distracted' by Palestinian recognition instead of focusing on Australians. 'He's clearly distracted by what he's been talking about now for weeks with respect to Palestinian recognition that is actually not going to make the world actually not going to make the world a safer place, not going to free hostage, not going to deliver aid, not going to deliver the two-state solution,' Ms Ley told Sunrise on Wednesday morning. It comes as concerns grow about whether Hamas will truly be disarmed in Gaza with a new survey published on Wednesday showing support for the Palestinian Authority stands at just 22 per cent, while nearly 60 per cent of Palestinians express support for Hamas. Ms Ley had revealed on Tuesday that the Coalition resolved in a shadow cabinet meeting to revoke unconditional recognition of Palestine if elected at the 2028 federal poll. While maintaining their long-held support for a two-state solution, Ms Ley said the Coalition believed recognition could only occur once Hamas was demilitarised. US President Donald Trump last month criticised the UK and Canada for recognising Palestine, saying it rewards Hamas while the group blocks ceasefire talks and holds hostages. Australia's decision breaks from its key ally the US but it also leaves Washington and a few others like South Korea and Germany as international outliers, holding out on recognition. It also comes as Mr Albanese hasn't rescheduled a meeting with Mr Trump since their planned G7 sideline in Canada was cancelled by the US President in June, with questions raised about whether recent recognition might jeopardise the possibility of talks at next month's UN assembly in New York. In a blitz of media interviews on Wednesday morning, Treasurer Jim Chalmers backed the Albanese Government's recognition decision, stressing it aligned with international momentum toward a two-state solution. He said Australia was working closely with global partners who all wanted Hamas excluded from any future Palestinian government and for the Palestinian Authority to meet the assurances it gave. 'This is all about making sure that we are making a contribution to the international momentum and progress which is being made on this question,' Dr Chalmers said. 'This is about isolating and excluding Hamas from the future government of a Palestinian state. 'The Palestinian Authority has made a number of commitments on this front. 'We will continue to work closely with our friends around the world to see that outcome, to see this progress and to keep the Palestinian Authority up to the mark on the commitments that they've made around some of these key questions. Dr Chalmers also acknowledged the complexities ahead and said the government is realistic about the challenges in achieving peace. 'We're not naive about how difficult the coming months and years will be but if you come back to the principle here, the most important thing is that we see peace in the region,' he said. The PM's shift in position came after about 100,000 pro-Palestine protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on August 3, which led to the closure of the bridge to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Advertiser
41 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Why I'm worried our retirement system isn't ready for us
Any serious conversation about the long-term economic sustainability of our country must confront the design of Australia's retirement income and care systems - particularly how they interact with housing, income support, and aged care. As policymakers, captains of industry and economists prepare for this month's economic reform roundtable, much of the attention will focus on productivity, tax reform, and workforce participation. But there are three areas that require immediate policy attention: the age pension assets test, Commonwealth ent assistance (CRA), and the growing backlog in the home care package system. New research provides compelling evidence for reform across each of these domains. First, the age pension assets test has no alignment with modern asset distributions. It fails to account for the reality that many older Australians are "asset rich, cash poor" with significant equity tied up in the family home. Under the current system, these individuals can access the pension while those with modest superannuation savings are penalised. This creates two major inefficiencies. It discourages prudent saving and disincentivises "rightsizing" into more suitable housing. Research shows the pension means test is a key structural barrier preventing seniors from moving into safer, more manageable homes. Reforming the test to treat housing wealth more equitably - without unfairly penalising homeowners - could free up 60,000 homes nationally, increase mobility, and reduce long-term pension costs. It's important to understand that over the past 30 years, capital city median house prices have increased by 600 per cent but over the same period the allowable assets to receive a full age pension have increased by only 178 per cent for a single home owner and 193 per cent for a couple. This tells us that housing markets have evolved in recent years, yet the age pension practically remains frozen in time, meaning older Australians are left disadvantaged. Second, CRA is no longer fit for purpose. Originally designed as a modest supplement, it has failed to keep pace with rent inflation or housing market changes - particularly in the private rental market and retirement villages. Older Australians who do not own their home are increasingly vulnerable to rental stress and homelessness, especially women over 55. As Australia's aged population swells, demand for income support that truly reflects housing costs will only grow. So, reforming CRA isn't optional - it's essential if we're to stop it lingering as the policy relic it has become and restore fairness to our retirement system. Finally, the backlog in home care packages continues to leave almost 100,000 older Australians without timely access to basic care. Research shows that delayed access not only worsens health outcomes but also drives higher system costs through avoidable hospital admissions and premature entry into taxpayer-funded residential care. This means accelerating access to home care is not merely a social good - it is fiscally prudent. Australia's retirement systems were built for a bygone era. Reform isn't about slashing support - it's about re-targeting assistance to make it fairer, more efficient and sustainably fit for today's needs. These are not fringe issues - they are core to Australia's economic future and Treasurer Jim Chalmers' roundtable must ensure they are on the agenda. Any serious conversation about the long-term economic sustainability of our country must confront the design of Australia's retirement income and care systems - particularly how they interact with housing, income support, and aged care. As policymakers, captains of industry and economists prepare for this month's economic reform roundtable, much of the attention will focus on productivity, tax reform, and workforce participation. But there are three areas that require immediate policy attention: the age pension assets test, Commonwealth ent assistance (CRA), and the growing backlog in the home care package system. New research provides compelling evidence for reform across each of these domains. First, the age pension assets test has no alignment with modern asset distributions. It fails to account for the reality that many older Australians are "asset rich, cash poor" with significant equity tied up in the family home. Under the current system, these individuals can access the pension while those with modest superannuation savings are penalised. This creates two major inefficiencies. It discourages prudent saving and disincentivises "rightsizing" into more suitable housing. Research shows the pension means test is a key structural barrier preventing seniors from moving into safer, more manageable homes. Reforming the test to treat housing wealth more equitably - without unfairly penalising homeowners - could free up 60,000 homes nationally, increase mobility, and reduce long-term pension costs. It's important to understand that over the past 30 years, capital city median house prices have increased by 600 per cent but over the same period the allowable assets to receive a full age pension have increased by only 178 per cent for a single home owner and 193 per cent for a couple. This tells us that housing markets have evolved in recent years, yet the age pension practically remains frozen in time, meaning older Australians are left disadvantaged. Second, CRA is no longer fit for purpose. Originally designed as a modest supplement, it has failed to keep pace with rent inflation or housing market changes - particularly in the private rental market and retirement villages. Older Australians who do not own their home are increasingly vulnerable to rental stress and homelessness, especially women over 55. As Australia's aged population swells, demand for income support that truly reflects housing costs will only grow. So, reforming CRA isn't optional - it's essential if we're to stop it lingering as the policy relic it has become and restore fairness to our retirement system. Finally, the backlog in home care packages continues to leave almost 100,000 older Australians without timely access to basic care. Research shows that delayed access not only worsens health outcomes but also drives higher system costs through avoidable hospital admissions and premature entry into taxpayer-funded residential care. This means accelerating access to home care is not merely a social good - it is fiscally prudent. Australia's retirement systems were built for a bygone era. Reform isn't about slashing support - it's about re-targeting assistance to make it fairer, more efficient and sustainably fit for today's needs. These are not fringe issues - they are core to Australia's economic future and Treasurer Jim Chalmers' roundtable must ensure they are on the agenda. Any serious conversation about the long-term economic sustainability of our country must confront the design of Australia's retirement income and care systems - particularly how they interact with housing, income support, and aged care. As policymakers, captains of industry and economists prepare for this month's economic reform roundtable, much of the attention will focus on productivity, tax reform, and workforce participation. But there are three areas that require immediate policy attention: the age pension assets test, Commonwealth ent assistance (CRA), and the growing backlog in the home care package system. New research provides compelling evidence for reform across each of these domains. First, the age pension assets test has no alignment with modern asset distributions. It fails to account for the reality that many older Australians are "asset rich, cash poor" with significant equity tied up in the family home. Under the current system, these individuals can access the pension while those with modest superannuation savings are penalised. This creates two major inefficiencies. It discourages prudent saving and disincentivises "rightsizing" into more suitable housing. Research shows the pension means test is a key structural barrier preventing seniors from moving into safer, more manageable homes. Reforming the test to treat housing wealth more equitably - without unfairly penalising homeowners - could free up 60,000 homes nationally, increase mobility, and reduce long-term pension costs. It's important to understand that over the past 30 years, capital city median house prices have increased by 600 per cent but over the same period the allowable assets to receive a full age pension have increased by only 178 per cent for a single home owner and 193 per cent for a couple. This tells us that housing markets have evolved in recent years, yet the age pension practically remains frozen in time, meaning older Australians are left disadvantaged. Second, CRA is no longer fit for purpose. Originally designed as a modest supplement, it has failed to keep pace with rent inflation or housing market changes - particularly in the private rental market and retirement villages. Older Australians who do not own their home are increasingly vulnerable to rental stress and homelessness, especially women over 55. As Australia's aged population swells, demand for income support that truly reflects housing costs will only grow. So, reforming CRA isn't optional - it's essential if we're to stop it lingering as the policy relic it has become and restore fairness to our retirement system. Finally, the backlog in home care packages continues to leave almost 100,000 older Australians without timely access to basic care. Research shows that delayed access not only worsens health outcomes but also drives higher system costs through avoidable hospital admissions and premature entry into taxpayer-funded residential care. This means accelerating access to home care is not merely a social good - it is fiscally prudent. Australia's retirement systems were built for a bygone era. Reform isn't about slashing support - it's about re-targeting assistance to make it fairer, more efficient and sustainably fit for today's needs. These are not fringe issues - they are core to Australia's economic future and Treasurer Jim Chalmers' roundtable must ensure they are on the agenda. Any serious conversation about the long-term economic sustainability of our country must confront the design of Australia's retirement income and care systems - particularly how they interact with housing, income support, and aged care. As policymakers, captains of industry and economists prepare for this month's economic reform roundtable, much of the attention will focus on productivity, tax reform, and workforce participation. But there are three areas that require immediate policy attention: the age pension assets test, Commonwealth ent assistance (CRA), and the growing backlog in the home care package system. New research provides compelling evidence for reform across each of these domains. First, the age pension assets test has no alignment with modern asset distributions. It fails to account for the reality that many older Australians are "asset rich, cash poor" with significant equity tied up in the family home. Under the current system, these individuals can access the pension while those with modest superannuation savings are penalised. This creates two major inefficiencies. It discourages prudent saving and disincentivises "rightsizing" into more suitable housing. Research shows the pension means test is a key structural barrier preventing seniors from moving into safer, more manageable homes. Reforming the test to treat housing wealth more equitably - without unfairly penalising homeowners - could free up 60,000 homes nationally, increase mobility, and reduce long-term pension costs. It's important to understand that over the past 30 years, capital city median house prices have increased by 600 per cent but over the same period the allowable assets to receive a full age pension have increased by only 178 per cent for a single home owner and 193 per cent for a couple. This tells us that housing markets have evolved in recent years, yet the age pension practically remains frozen in time, meaning older Australians are left disadvantaged. Second, CRA is no longer fit for purpose. Originally designed as a modest supplement, it has failed to keep pace with rent inflation or housing market changes - particularly in the private rental market and retirement villages. Older Australians who do not own their home are increasingly vulnerable to rental stress and homelessness, especially women over 55. As Australia's aged population swells, demand for income support that truly reflects housing costs will only grow. So, reforming CRA isn't optional - it's essential if we're to stop it lingering as the policy relic it has become and restore fairness to our retirement system. Finally, the backlog in home care packages continues to leave almost 100,000 older Australians without timely access to basic care. Research shows that delayed access not only worsens health outcomes but also drives higher system costs through avoidable hospital admissions and premature entry into taxpayer-funded residential care. This means accelerating access to home care is not merely a social good - it is fiscally prudent. Australia's retirement systems were built for a bygone era. Reform isn't about slashing support - it's about re-targeting assistance to make it fairer, more efficient and sustainably fit for today's needs. These are not fringe issues - they are core to Australia's economic future and Treasurer Jim Chalmers' roundtable must ensure they are on the agenda.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Labor's handling of algal bloom disaster ‘woefully inadequate', Ley says
Labor's response to South Australia's algal bloom disaster is 'woefully inadequate', Sussan Ley says. The Albanese government has been accused of dragging its heels on a federal response to the bloom, with Environment Minister Murray Watt hesitant to call it a natural disaster, even as thousands of marine animals wash up on South Australian beaches. Senator Watt announced on Thursday that he had asked for a review into disaster classifications, similar to one that took place after the Black Saturday bushfires. But the Opposition Leader said it 'sounds like the sort of bureaucratic explanation the Labor Party would use'. Speaking to the ABC from Adelaide, Ms Ley said the Albanese government had 'a long list of excuses they've been making for not acting on something that has captured every single South Australian'. 'I'm looking forward to meeting the people who are hurting so badly in these regional communities today,' she told the national broadcaster. 'The response so far from the government has been woefully inadequate. 'This is a natural disaster and it is a national disaster.' She also called out Senator Watt directly, accusing him of dodging whether Anthony Albanese would bring extra federal funding when he visits South Australia next week. 'Don't wait for the Prime Minister to come for a pic-op,' Ms Ley said. 'Actually deliver the support now if you know it's coming and help ease the pressure, including the real financial pressure, that these communities are facing. 'This is just not good enough.' Appearing on the ABC shortly before her, Senator Watt said there was 'no doubting whatsoever that this is a very severe environmental event'. 'On the natural disaster declaration, and I realise there's been many calls for that to occur,' he said. 'This is much more like a drought, in the sense that it is a long-running event and builds up over time. 'We're waiting for weather conditions to intervene before it ends and that's quite different to what we think of as a natural disaster and the rapid onset like floods and cyclones and bushfires that come through an area, leave a trail of destruction and move on. 'That's not the kind of situation we're dealing with here and that's why we've come up with a support package which is probably a bit more like how we respond to droughts with state and federal governments responding to thinking about the short-term needs and long-term needs.' Senator Watt added that he had not 'spent too much time into how to jam this event into particular definitions'. 'What I've been trying to do is come up with the money to support South Australians and get expert advice on what the impact will be,' he said. Originally published as Labor's handling of algal bloom disaster 'woefully inadequate', Ley says
