Australis's housing crisis focus of day two of economic roundtable
Published 20 August 2025, 9:06 am
Housing has been placed under the spotlight on the second day of the government's economic roundtable. Moves to make the construction code simpler and cheaper have attracted widespread support but there's a push to better utilise the skills of permanent migrants to help be part of the solution.
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ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
The Shinawatra family has dominated Thai politics for decades. Three legal cases could change that
Thailand's billionaire Shinawatra family are undoubtedly political survivors. Over two decades, they have survived two military coups and three court rulings that collectively toppled three of their governments and five prime ministers. But the imminent findings of multiple court cases could reshape the family dynasty and the political landscape of Thailand. Here's what we know about the cases faced by suspended Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her influential but controversial father, Thaksin Shinawatra. Thailand's suspended prime minister is accused of failing in her duties by not standing up for the country properly. The central issue is what she said in a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. The call focused on the then-brewing border dispute between the neighbouring countries. In the call, Ms Shinawatra addressed Hun Sen as "uncle" and referred to a Thai military commander as her "opponent", sparking a furious reaction in Thailand. Conservative politicians accused her of kowtowing to Cambodia and undermining Thailand's military. The backlash was almost immediate, with the main party in the country's ruling coalition walking out in protest over her conduct on the call — a move that almost collapsed her government. A group of senators filed a petition with the Constitutional Court arguing she should be removed from office for breaching constitutional provisions that require "evident integrity" and "ethical standards" among ministers. She has always denied any wrongdoing. As well as sparking a domestic political crisis, the phone call plunged relations between Thailand and Cambodia to new lows. The border row later erupted into the deadliest military clash between the two countries in decades, with more than 40 people killed and 300,000 forced to flee their homes along the border. On Thursday, her 39th birthday, she testified in front of Thailand's Constitutional Court for about an hour and a half. A court ruling has banned any reporting of what she said. She was flanked by a senior advisor and waved at a crowd of supporters as she left. The court will rule next Friday on whether she should be permanently removed from office. She has received support from Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai. "I believe there was nothing that affected the country's security, and I trust her intention to keep Thailand out of conflict," he told reporters. Legal advisor and former special counsel to the deputy prime minister of Thailand, Verapat Pariyawong, told ABC's The World the case was a "very murky area between law and politics". "If the prime minister shot someone, or committed a crime, or committed bribery, then it's quite a straightforward question of facts and law," Mr Pariyawong said. "But we are talking about a prime minister in a private call with another former leader of a neighbouring country, trying to secure a peace deal, so to say. So whether one could judge that her attempt to prevent bloodshed, to prevent military escalation, was done in good faith is, in my view, a political question." He said it remained to be seen how the court would address the issue. Thailand's former leader is charged with allegedly insulting the country's royal family. The case stems from an interview he gave to journalists in South Korea in 2015. A complaint was later lodged by the royalist military that ousted the government of his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Insulting or defaming Thailand's royal family is illegal under the country's laws, known as lèse-majesté, which are some of the strictest in the world. The law states that it is illegal to "defame, insult or threaten the king, the queen, the heir-apparent or the regent", but there is no definition of what constitutes an insult to the monarchy. If he is found guilty, he faces up to 15 years behind bars. He has always denied any wrongdoing. Verapat Pariyawong said that the opinion of most in Thai legal circles was that he should be acquitted "simply because the evidence is quite thin". "The remarks that we found did not point to the monarchy, the monarch or the king at the time," Mr Pariyawong said. "It points to the so-called palace circles or other officials surrounding the palace. So I think that would be the turning point for the court to consider." The court will hand down its verdict on Friday, but it is not the only case of concern for Mr Shinawatra. He was previously convicted of conflict of interest and abuse of power, but avoided prison time by fleeing abroad in 2008. Upon his return to Thailand in 2023, he served a brief sentence in a comfortable hospital suite before being paroled and pardoned. A separate court will decide next month if that detention meant his sentence was not fully served. If the Constitutional Court rules that she should be removed from office, Paetongtarn Shinawatra will become the third member of her family to be ousted from the role. Her father and aunt were both ousted in military coups. Despite being ousted, Thaksin Shinawatra has remained a powerful backroom driver of the government and Pheu Thai Party. Law professor at Thammasat University Prinya Thaewanarumitkul said unfavourable verdicts would likely reduce the family's bargaining power and lead to an earlier-than-scheduled election. "A new election will definitely take place by mid-2026 or maybe sooner," Professor Thaewanarumitkul said. "The chances of Pheu Thai regaining the popular vote in the next election are very unlikely." A spokesperson for the Pheu Thai-led government declined to comment on the upcoming court rulings. Political science expert at Burapha University, Olarn Thinbangtieo, said Mr Thaksin would still have the support of the conservative establishment, even if he did receive unfavourable verdicts. He said that would be because the group wanted to keep the progressive opposition at bay. ABC/wires
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Tonga's king takes control of government department, as critics fear 'dangerous' situation
Lopeti Senituli has seen many changes in Tonga over his lifetime. The well-known lawyer and political commentator was working within the bowels of Tonga's government in 2010, when long-heralded democratic reforms were introduced to the country after decades of debate. At the time, it was a history-making exercise that brought power to the people. But over the past 12 months — and the past two weeks in particular — Mr Senituli sees a worrying trend, what he describes as a "dangerous situation". "We are going back to the pre-2010 days when everything that was done by the king and his minions escaped public scrutiny." Tonga, known affectionately as The Kingdom, has the only remaining sovereign monarchy in the region. It was an absolute monarchy for almost 150 years until 2010 when reforms were introduced, essentially making Tonga more democratic. The decision came after violent riots in the capital in 2006 calling for change — the aftermath of which the country is still paying off. But critics say these recent moves are testing those reforms. Last week, Tonga's parliament approved a bill to rename the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to "His Majesty's Diplomatic Services". The move essentially brings the country's foreign affairs portfolio under the control of the monarch, King Tupou VI. The current foreign affairs minister is Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala, the king's son. "Those in His Majesty's Diplomatic Services are most likely going to have some noble blood, some royalty blood," Mr Senituli said. "Everyone else will not be considered because [they] don't have that blue blood. And that's dangerous." In Tonga, the royal family is almost universally revered. There are signs pledging allegiance to the king all over the capital, Nuku'alofa, and the vast majority of Tongans view the royal family with a sense of pride. On the streets of the city, and on social media — where Tongans both in-country and among its vast diaspora have vibrant debates about the direction of the country — the response to the latest political move has been mixed. A small number have spoken out against it, yet many are too scared to make their opinion known, citing respect for the monarchy — others just don't understand what it means. And there are also loyalists, who side with the king no matter what. Some, such as Tongan lawyer and commentator Teimumu Tapueluelu, are in support, saying the decision went through parliament and was voted on. She described the move as a "much-needed" long-term investment of "trust, credibility, and relationship-building" that would "stabilise political disruptions" through any changes in government. The government itself is labelling it a "technical change". In a statement, Tonga's attorney-general, Linda Folaumoetu'i, told the ABC that the foreign ministry, under these new reforms, still "maintains the structure of having a minister, secretary, and foreign diplomats and employees". The ministry will also include a new board — including the king's advisors, his Privy Council, and, "from time to time", anyone the king wishes — that would act as an "oversight body". But critics, again, say the king is overreaching. In December, Tonga's then-prime minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, resigned from office before facing a no-confidence motion after a string of run-ins with the king. He was replaced by the current prime minister, 'Aisake Eke. Mr Senituli described Mr Eke as a "yes man". "He never says no to what the king says," he said. "And this is proving to be true, and this is how it is playing out." Tonga is due to hold its national elections in November. Mr Senituli said the people of Tonga should consider whether they wanted to elect a "yes man" as their leader. Mr Eke and Tonga's foreign affairs minister, the Crown Prince, were contacted by the ABC for comment. The chairperson for the country's Pro Democracy Party, Teisa Cokanasiga, has launched a petition to stop the latest move, calling it a major reversal of Tonga's democratic reforms. "We've gone through so much in the past 40 years to have in place the major constitutional amendments [and] more power to the people in parliament, [now] it's like 10 steps forward and 20 steps back." She said the bill was rushed through parliament without debate. "It's as if there was already a consensus not to discuss this bill," she said. "That's deeply concerning when you're talking about huge changes to the form of government and the executive power of the state." The petition has been lodged to the king, but insiders say it will almost certainly be rejected. Looking at the country's democratic future, Mr Senituli said he worried about what was next. "I have great respect for his majesty," he said. "But I must ask them, please have some thought for the voices of the Tongan people," he said.
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Treasurer Jim Chalmers hails ‘consensus' on new tax that will be phased in starting with EV vehicles
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has emerged from his three-day economic roundtable with '10 clear areas' for reform and consensus on a new regime of road user charges to replace petrol excise. Wrapping up the talks in Canberra on Thursday night, the Treasurer confirmed that he will hold further talks with the states on September 5. Based on a planned NSW road user scheme, a national rollout will depend on your mileage but might cost between $300 and $400 a year. But there's no clear guidance yet on how much the new tax will cost, whether it will entirely replace petrol excise over time or when it will apply to EV cars and hybrids. The Treasurer also talked up reforms to harness the power of artificial intelligence, slashing red tape to build more new houses, abolishing nuisance tariffs, establishing a single national market and tax reform. 'There was a lot of support in the room for road user charging,'' the Treasurer said on Thursday night. 'There wasn't a final model settled, but there was a lot of conceptual support for road user charging.' 'There was more than the usual amount of consensus in a conceptual way around road user charging. A lot of reform appetite in that area, which is welcome. 'The states are putting together an options paper and to give you a sense of the considerations that people in the room were grappling with.' Tax reform On tax, the Treasurer said that participants had 'a few hours of very welcome conversation and debate about the future of the tax system' He said that there was support to address three objectives in the tax system. 'The first one is about a fair go for working people and including in intergenerational equity terms,'' he said. 'That's the first category. The second one was about an affordable, responsible way to incentivise business investment, recognising the capital deepening challenge that we have in the economy and what that means for productivity and for growth. 'And then thirdly, how we make the system simpler, more sustainable so that we can fund the services that people need, particularly in the context of the big shifts in our community, including ageing and other pressures as well. How EV tax could be rolled out Treasurer Chalmers said he would now hold further talks with state and territory treasurers on September 5. reported earlier this month that Australia's new tax on electric vehicle drivers is set to kick off with a trial period for trucks before it stings cars. The Albanese Government is looking at a staged rollout to test the proposed new EV tax and trucks will be the first cab off the rank. It is also interested in a new road user charge that sends price signals on the best time to be on the road, or the freeway. Over time, it could replace petrol taxes and apply to all cars based on distance travelled and when cars and trucks are on the road to tackle congestion. Free ride for EVs nearly over The free ride enjoyed by drivers of electric vehicles is coming to a close with Treasurer Chalmers and state governments finalising plans for a new road-user charge. All Australian motorists who buy petrol and diesel at the bowser pay 51.6 cents a litre in fuel excise. But drivers of EV vehicles pay nothing. 'The status quo won't be sustainable over the next decade or two,'' Treasurer Jim Chalmers told 'As more and more people get off petrol cars and into EVs we've got to make sure that the tax arrangements support investment in roads. 'But we're in no rush, changes of this nature will be made, because the status quo won't work in 10 or 20 years.' The Treasurer made no secret of his support for a road user charge before the election, but favours a staged rollout of the changes. Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said that electric vehicles are 'heavier and do more damage to the road network as a consequence than do internal combustion engine vehicles'. 'By giving drivers a clear signal about the cost of infrastructure, they would have an incentive to use it more efficiently,' the Productivity Commission report said. How does fuel excise work? The current rate of fuel excise is 51.6 cents in excise for every litre of fuel purchased. For a typical household with a car running on petrol, the tax costs more than $1200 a year. But the flat sales tax isn't paid by drivers of pure electric vehicles, who simply need to plug in their cars to recharge. While registration and driver's licence fees go to state and territory governments, fuel excise is collected by the federal government. Australian motorists paid an estimated $15.71 billion in net fuel excise in 2023-24, and are expected to pay $67.6 billion over the four years to 2026-27. However, governments have long-warned that a road-user charge will be required to fill the gap in the budget left by declining revenue from the fuel excise, as the petrol and diesel engines in new cars consume less fuel and Australians adopt hybrid and electric cars. What does the AAA say? The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) is calling for a national approach to road-user charging but wants a guarantee the revenue will be earmarked for road upgrades. The AAA backs a distance-based road-user charging as a fairer and more equitable way to fund land transport infrastructure. The 2024 federal budget forecasted a reduction in fuel excise receipts by $470 million over four years from 2024-25. Roadblocks to reform Currently, New South Wales is the only state with firm plans to introduce a road-user charge from 2027 or when EVs reach 30 per cent of new car sales. Plug-in hybrid EVs will be charged a fixed 80 per cent proportion of the full road-user charge to reflect their vehicle type. Western Australia has also stated an intention to implement a road-user charge. Meanwhile, Victoria's electric vehicle levy had to be scrapped following a ruling from the High Court. Two Victorian electric car owners launched a legal challenge on the basis the tax was not legal as it was an excise that only a federal government could impose. They won, with the High Court upholding the legal challenge. There have been several false starts to enshrine a road-user charge including in South Australia, where the former Liberal Government planned to introduce a charge for plug-in electric and other zero emission vehicles, which included a fixed component and a variable charge based on distance travelled. It was later pushed back to 2027 due to a backlash before the legislation was ultimately repealed.
