SBS News in Filipino, Friday 8 August 2025
Climate activists say the federal government has to listen to young people when setting its 2035 emissions targets and aim for 60 per cent or higher.Climate activists say the federal government has to listen to young people when setting its 2035 emissions targets and aim for 60 per cent or higher.
Registration of voters for the Philippines' Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections is expected to reach over 1.5 million as voter registration runs until August 10 across the country.
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News.com.au
10 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Aussies explode over Albo's latest cash grab
Earlier this week, we published a story about the Federal Government's intention to introduce a road user charge (RUC) for electric vehicle (EV) owners. A per-kilometre tax to replace the fuel excise revenue lost as more Australians switch to electric vehicles. The proposal encouraged more than 2000 readers to comment. What followed was a passionate public policy debate, part stand-up comedy and a masterclass in Australian scepticism. While the conversation is divided, a large majority of readers believe EV drivers should contribute to road maintenance. But many also say the policy must be fair, transparent and apply equally across all vehicle types. 'Tax the trucks, not the Teslas,' one reader wrote, summing up a sentiment that hundreds of readers agreed with. Another, HelpMeOverHere, accused the government of double standards: 'A mining truck the size of a suburban street guzzles thousands of litres a week and gets all the fuel tax refunded.' The 'free ride' is over Many of our readers argue it's simply time for EV owners to pay their way. They believe that EV owners are currently getting a 'free ride' by avoiding the fuel excise, which raises more than $15 billion annually. 'There is not one solitary argument that supports the notion that EV drivers should be able to use the roads and not contribute to their upkeep. Not one,' nonedeplume said. Stephen argued: 'EV manufacturers are upset that the free ride is coming to an end and the EV drivers will have to pay to use the road like everyone else.' But others saw it less as fairness, more as the government's latest 'gotcha' tax. 'It's always the proletariat that has to pay for incompetent government,' Walker Texas Ranger said. 'Just another tax to prevent us from moving up in the world.' Some readers proposed replacing the fuel excise entirely with a universal RUC. 'Why don't we scrap the fuel excise and then just apply a RUC to all road users - that would then be fair to ALL road users regardless of what type of fuel (petrol, diesel, EV, hybrid),' Gaynor said. The trucking elephant in the room A big chunk of outrage was over Australia's heavy freight industry. Many said heavy vehicles are the 'culprits' and should pay more, given their impact on infrastructure. Fair enough. Infrastructure Australia data shows that one five-axle truck causes the same road wear as 2900 cars. The actual ratio varies depending on factors like axle weight and road construction, but a truck's damage is often cited as being much higher than 2900. Currently, heavy vehicles pay a RUC of 32.4 cents per litre, set to rise 6 per cent annually until 2025-2026. They also pay the federal fuel excise, now around 51-52 cents per litre - but operators can claim back the difference through fuel tax credits, reducing their net cost by about 20 cents per litre. 'Trucks are the issue,' Grande_choice said. 'All those regional roads are getting slammed by trucks but not EVs.' Rural drivers fear being slugged harder Polestar Australia's managing director Scott Maynard said a one-size-fits-all approach could unfairly hit regional drivers who travel long distances for essential services. According to Australians tend to drive longer distances for essentials and often live further out because property is more affordable. 'People in regional areas generally are poorer and drive more distances to get from A to B,' BobtheBuilder said. 'Hence why the CEO (Scott Maynard) makes the point that they will be discriminated against.' Reader Vicki agreed: 'I'm rural and 75km from my nearest town, doctor, supermarket…city EV owners with public transport will cost them nothing, and rural/regional drivers big money. When the policy debate turned into a comedy set In between the policy arguments came some memorable one-liners that had me chuckling hard. 'If it can't be eaten or plucked, it will be taxed.' 'The word of the day is fungible.' 'I'm just going to wait until a hamster-powered car comes out.' 'How about we bring in a tax on breathing?' The green glow-up….or greenwash? Some readers went straight for the environmental jugular. 'It's time the idealists wake up to the fact that electric cars aren't better for the environment…they will never pay off the carbon footprint cost of making the batteries,' Mark wrote. But Adam added, 'battery disposal facilities are already at 90+ per cent recyclability…the 'cut even' point for emissions is approx 37,000km.' Trusting the government…like trusting a cheating ex Underlying much of the conversation was the distrust of the government. Even commenters who back the idea of EVs paying said they didn't trust Canberra to use the money for roads. 'For FY23-24 the fuel excise raised $15b while [the] government only spent $10bn on roads,' Bryn wrote. 'When is it enough?' 'It's just revenue raising,' Jeff said. 'Once they have you hooked, they tax you.' The road ahead So the consensus? Most readers agree that EV drivers should pay and contribute. But it's simple, they want it to be fair. If the government can deliver that, they might just win people over. But if not, they'll be left with a few angry Australians.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Navy games and a Modi-Marcos summit: this is why India and the Philippines are drawing closer
It's been a week of high drama in the South China Sea. First two Chinese patrol vessels collided while chasing a Philippines-flagged boat – a crash that was caught on camera. Then a US warship caused consternation in Beijing by sailing too close to a disputed area. The Chinese navy would have been on high alert a week earlier too, when ships from the Philippine navy – which has conducted "maritime cooperative activities" with foreign navies since late 2023 as part of its push to counter China's expansive claims in the area – set sail for two days with another regional heavyweight: India. Philippine and Indian Navies steam in formation during their first joint naval sail and exercises at the South China Sea. ( Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP ) It was the first time the countries had conducted a combined operation. Prakash Gopal, a former Indian navy officer, now a lecturer of maritime security at the University of Wollongong, said the operation was a natural extension of India's "Act East" policy. "India has regular naval exercises with other ASEAN countries such as Singapore and Indonesia, and it was only a matter of time before it began engaging with the Philippines," he said. Meanwhile, Manila "will continue to seek as many friends and allies as it can muster in its dispute with China''. "Having procured arms from India, these exercises are only a natural progression of the relationship,'' Dr Gopal said. "While this will increase the temperature in the South China Sea, it will also encourage the formation of a loose coalition of smaller powers against Chinese hegemony in the region. I wouldn't be surprised if India-Philippines naval exercises become periodic fixtures." Philippine Navy personnel aboard BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) simulate torpedo launcher operations South China Sea during operations with the Indian Navy. ( Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP ) As the navies got to know each other, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr left Manila for New Delhi for a five-day state visit, the first in almost 20 years. "This relationship is going to receive a major upgrade," Mr Marcos said. So it did. The day after his arrival, the two countries formally elevated their ties to a Strategic Partnership. They also signed 13 memoranda and agreements spanning defence, maritime cooperation, trade, digital technologies, tourism, space cooperation, culture and science. Kim Heriot-Darragh, a research fellow at the Australia India Institute, said India sees the Philippines "as a country which, like India, is at the forefront of global responses to China's coercive behaviour". "Southeast Asia is at the heart of global politics, and of a region that presents the world with much economic opportunity - but also potential flashpoints. New Delhi sees Manila as an important partner to engage in that context." Manila's fears of war This was brought into sharp focus when Mr Marcos told reporters at an event in New Delhi that his country would inevitably be drawn "kicking and screaming" into any war over Taiwan due to its proximity to the self-ruled island and the presence of large numbers of Filipino workers there. The Chinese Foreign Ministry was quick to respond, saying that "geographic location" and a "large volume of Filipinos"' in Taiwan "should not be used as pretexts to interfere in the internal and sovereign affairs of other countries" and urged the Philippines to "refrain from playing fire on issues bearing on China's core interests." China, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia each have competing claims over the South China Sea. ( ABC News: Jarrod Fankhauser ) Rahul Mishra, from the Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, said the exercise and Mr Marcos's visit signal a strategic evolution in India's posture toward the Indo‑Pacific. "Barring a few exceptions, India had previously avoided direct mentions of the South China Sea," Professor Mishra writes in 360info. "For India, the South China Sea issue is no longer a peripheral concern, but is integral to its maritime and economic security as well as its regional leadership claims. "The partnership with the Philippines is a tangible expression of India's Indo‑Pacific ambitions." He said that for Manila, its pursuit of deeper ties with India represents a deliberate move to reduce dependence on the US. It's not just security, either. Mr Marcos and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced visa-free entry for Indian tourists and free e-visas for Filipino nationals, alongside plans for direct Delhi–Manila flights. They also have to launch a preferential trade negotiation, as bilateral trade remains modest ($US3.3 billion in 2024), but has room for growth. Philippine Navy personnel aboard BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) simulate torpedo launcher operations South China Sea during combined operations with the Indian Navy. ( Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP ) Mr Marcos flew home with $US446 million in investments and said more were on the way. Speaking to Filipino media, he said he was very satisfied with the deals secured during the trip, even wondering why the Philippines had not sought to deepen ties with India sooner. As for India, Dr Gopal said while New Delhi's relations with the United States undergo significant stress under the Trump administration, it will look to consolidate support within the global south. "I suspect we might see a renewed outreach from India towards other Indian Ocean and ASEAN states," he said. ABC/AP
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Filipino, Friday 15 August 2025
A new United Nations report has documented a sharp 25 per cent rise in conflict-related sexual violence cases in 2024. Australia's growing appetite for illicit drugs is boosting profits for international crime syndicates, according to new wastewater analysis. The New South Wales government is launching a $1 million plan to tackle anti-Muslim hate. LISTEN TO SBS Filipino 07:02 Filipino 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
