Generational change in electorates ‘limiting' Nationals' election ambitions
Redbridge Group Director Simon Welsh claims generation is more important than geography in elections.
'Not for a second suggesting that the Nationals are about to start losing seats because of this sort of attitudinal predisposition, but I think it kind of limits ... the Nationals' ambitions,' he told Sky News Australia.
'Nationals tend to do well in seats that are older and seats that are getting older, so that's characteristic of a lot of regional Australia, just broadly.'

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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
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Farmers hit by disasters to get financial counselling
Disaster-stricken farmers will be able to access free financial counselling, as the prime minister warns of more extreme weather events. The federal government will commit an extra $2 million to the Rural Financial Counselling Service to allow them to hire more staff and deliver increased support to farmers on the ground. While some in south-eastern Australia are battling historic droughts, those in NSW have been forced to contend with 'one-in-500 year' floods, putting significant strain on farmers across the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged they were "doing it tough". "People put their heart and soul into their farms," he told reporters near Wasleys, north of Adelaide, on Monday. "Australia has always had droughts, we've always had flooding rains, and that has occurred throughout our history on this great continent that we're privileged to live on, but the truth is that there are more extreme weather events and they're more intense. "We need to adjust to that." The government has already promised $36 million to help farmers and producers prepare for, and respond to, drought conditions while expanding its disaster recovery allowance to more areas affected by floods. But Nationals Leader David Littleproud has called on Labor to bring back interest-free loans from the Regional Investment Corporation to help farmers experiencing hardship. The commitment, introduced by the coalition in 2020 according to Mr Littleproud, gave farmers access to a $2 million loan with an initial two-year interest-free period, then three years interest-only before five years principal and interest, offering breathing space and allowed them to restock and replant. Some members of his party have urged Australia to abandon its pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Albanese said the science was clear about the increased frequency and ferocity of natural disasters. "Climate change is real and we need to respond to it," he said. "The science has been proven, unfortunately, to be playing out." Unusual weather has also continued to transform the east coast, with heavy fog and dust storms both blanketing Sydney in the span of one week. The prime minister maintained his government had a plan to deal with climate change, noting Australia's bid to co-host the United Nations's climate change conference with Pacific nations in 2026. Australia also remains on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, according to Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen has said Woodside will be required to ensure the project meets net zero emissions by 2050. Disaster-stricken farmers will be able to access free financial counselling, as the prime minister warns of more extreme weather events. The federal government will commit an extra $2 million to the Rural Financial Counselling Service to allow them to hire more staff and deliver increased support to farmers on the ground. While some in south-eastern Australia are battling historic droughts, those in NSW have been forced to contend with 'one-in-500 year' floods, putting significant strain on farmers across the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged they were "doing it tough". "People put their heart and soul into their farms," he told reporters near Wasleys, north of Adelaide, on Monday. "Australia has always had droughts, we've always had flooding rains, and that has occurred throughout our history on this great continent that we're privileged to live on, but the truth is that there are more extreme weather events and they're more intense. "We need to adjust to that." The government has already promised $36 million to help farmers and producers prepare for, and respond to, drought conditions while expanding its disaster recovery allowance to more areas affected by floods. But Nationals Leader David Littleproud has called on Labor to bring back interest-free loans from the Regional Investment Corporation to help farmers experiencing hardship. The commitment, introduced by the coalition in 2020 according to Mr Littleproud, gave farmers access to a $2 million loan with an initial two-year interest-free period, then three years interest-only before five years principal and interest, offering breathing space and allowed them to restock and replant. Some members of his party have urged Australia to abandon its pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Albanese said the science was clear about the increased frequency and ferocity of natural disasters. "Climate change is real and we need to respond to it," he said. "The science has been proven, unfortunately, to be playing out." Unusual weather has also continued to transform the east coast, with heavy fog and dust storms both blanketing Sydney in the span of one week. The prime minister maintained his government had a plan to deal with climate change, noting Australia's bid to co-host the United Nations's climate change conference with Pacific nations in 2026. Australia also remains on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, according to Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen has said Woodside will be required to ensure the project meets net zero emissions by 2050. Disaster-stricken farmers will be able to access free financial counselling, as the prime minister warns of more extreme weather events. The federal government will commit an extra $2 million to the Rural Financial Counselling Service to allow them to hire more staff and deliver increased support to farmers on the ground. While some in south-eastern Australia are battling historic droughts, those in NSW have been forced to contend with 'one-in-500 year' floods, putting significant strain on farmers across the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged they were "doing it tough". "People put their heart and soul into their farms," he told reporters near Wasleys, north of Adelaide, on Monday. "Australia has always had droughts, we've always had flooding rains, and that has occurred throughout our history on this great continent that we're privileged to live on, but the truth is that there are more extreme weather events and they're more intense. "We need to adjust to that." The government has already promised $36 million to help farmers and producers prepare for, and respond to, drought conditions while expanding its disaster recovery allowance to more areas affected by floods. But Nationals Leader David Littleproud has called on Labor to bring back interest-free loans from the Regional Investment Corporation to help farmers experiencing hardship. The commitment, introduced by the coalition in 2020 according to Mr Littleproud, gave farmers access to a $2 million loan with an initial two-year interest-free period, then three years interest-only before five years principal and interest, offering breathing space and allowed them to restock and replant. Some members of his party have urged Australia to abandon its pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Albanese said the science was clear about the increased frequency and ferocity of natural disasters. "Climate change is real and we need to respond to it," he said. "The science has been proven, unfortunately, to be playing out." Unusual weather has also continued to transform the east coast, with heavy fog and dust storms both blanketing Sydney in the span of one week. The prime minister maintained his government had a plan to deal with climate change, noting Australia's bid to co-host the United Nations's climate change conference with Pacific nations in 2026. Australia also remains on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, according to Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen has said Woodside will be required to ensure the project meets net zero emissions by 2050. Disaster-stricken farmers will be able to access free financial counselling, as the prime minister warns of more extreme weather events. The federal government will commit an extra $2 million to the Rural Financial Counselling Service to allow them to hire more staff and deliver increased support to farmers on the ground. While some in south-eastern Australia are battling historic droughts, those in NSW have been forced to contend with 'one-in-500 year' floods, putting significant strain on farmers across the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged they were "doing it tough". "People put their heart and soul into their farms," he told reporters near Wasleys, north of Adelaide, on Monday. "Australia has always had droughts, we've always had flooding rains, and that has occurred throughout our history on this great continent that we're privileged to live on, but the truth is that there are more extreme weather events and they're more intense. "We need to adjust to that." The government has already promised $36 million to help farmers and producers prepare for, and respond to, drought conditions while expanding its disaster recovery allowance to more areas affected by floods. But Nationals Leader David Littleproud has called on Labor to bring back interest-free loans from the Regional Investment Corporation to help farmers experiencing hardship. The commitment, introduced by the coalition in 2020 according to Mr Littleproud, gave farmers access to a $2 million loan with an initial two-year interest-free period, then three years interest-only before five years principal and interest, offering breathing space and allowed them to restock and replant. Some members of his party have urged Australia to abandon its pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Albanese said the science was clear about the increased frequency and ferocity of natural disasters. "Climate change is real and we need to respond to it," he said. "The science has been proven, unfortunately, to be playing out." Unusual weather has also continued to transform the east coast, with heavy fog and dust storms both blanketing Sydney in the span of one week. The prime minister maintained his government had a plan to deal with climate change, noting Australia's bid to co-host the United Nations's climate change conference with Pacific nations in 2026. Australia also remains on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, according to Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen has said Woodside will be required to ensure the project meets net zero emissions by 2050.

Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'Where is Jim Chalmers': Coalition accuses Treasurer of going into 'hiding' as opposition to unrealised gains tax ramps up
The federal Coalition has accused Treasurer Jim Chalmers of 'hiding' from media scrutiny amid growing opposition to Labor's plans to tax unrealised gains in superannuation accounts. The Albanese government has proposed doubling the tax on superannuation accounts with a balance over $3 million. The tax would also apply to unrealised capital gains, which critics claim will set a dangerous precedent as it taxes perceived wealth rather than actual income. The legislation has also raised questions about fairness, with Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth admitting on Sunday that politicians on defined benefit schemes – such as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - will be 'treated differently'. Speaking to Sky News Australia on Monday, newly appointed shadow finance minister James Paterson questioned why the Treasurer was leaving it to other ministers to explain his policy. 'I've got to ask the question… where is Jim Chalmers? He's barely been seen or heard from since the election,' Senator Paterson said. 'He's letting other ministers like Amanda Rishworth front the Sunday shows to try to explain his complicated and confused and contradictory policy, and he's in hiding.' Senator Paterson said different treatment for politicians grandfathered into the now-abolished defined benefits pension scheme showed how the legislation was going to be a 'mess to legislate and to implement and to administer'. 'I think he should front up today and explain the rationale for this dodgy exemption that he's given his boss and whether or not Anthony Albanese participated in the decision to grant that exemption,' he said. The legislation for the new tax scheme was introduced in 2023 and has already passed the lower house of parliament. The Coalition has come out strongly against certain elements in the proposal, specifically the tax on unrealised capital gains and indexation of the threshold. However, shadow treasurer Ted O'Brien and the shadow finance minister have flagged there is scope for a deal with the Coalition. Mr O'Brien told The Australian the opposition was willing to engage with Labor on the proposed super changes if the government ditches the two controversial elements. Yet the tax barely featured a mention during the last election campaign – a fact many Liberals are citing as one reason for the Coalition's historic election defeat. On Monday, Senator Paterson admitted that under the leadership of Peter Dutton, the Coalition had failed to put forward an economic platform which was consistent with Liberal values. 'We must be consistent with our values,' he said. 'I think our values are timeless and that past elections have earned the overwhelming support of the Australian people, but some of the policies that we took to the last election were inconsistent with those values.' The Victorian Senator pointed to the decision to oppose Labor's tax cuts as one major error. 'Even though Labor's tax cut was meagre and miserly and wouldn't have made much of a difference, it doesn't matter. The Liberal Party should never oppose a tax cut,' the shadow finance minister said. 'We should never go to an election proposing to increase taxes. And we should never allow Labor to make the audacious claim that they are the party of lower taxes. 'That is core to who we are. It is core to our DNA as a Liberal Party and our National Party colleagues as well. 'And in the next election, we must take a bold, ambitious economic policy that gives people hope for the future. That gives people the hope that their lives and their personal circumstances will be better off if they vote Liberal and National.'

Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Ukrainian drone attack shows Putin no Russian base is secure
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