Trade minister's promise over cost of living
Trade Minister Don Farrell has promised cheaper prices and higher wages if the Albanese government can secure new deals with the US and Europe.
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Sky News AU
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'Undefended': Defence expert Malcolm Davis' shock claim about key Australian bases, critical infrasturcture
A leading security analyst has made the shock claim many of Australia's key military bases and critical infrastructure is essentially "undefended". Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, warned the government risked leaving the nation exposed in the even of a conflict unless defence spending was rapidly raised to cover capability gaps. The Albanese government has come under increasing pressure to address shortfalls in the Australian Defence Force, including from the United States government. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth used a meeting with Defence Minister Richard Marles to demand the government raise outlay to at least 2.5 per cent of GDP, while other experts have pressed Labor to go as high as 3.5 per cent given the increasing risk of regional conflict. Speaking to Sky New Australia, Mr Davis noted China was expected to invade Taiwan within the coming decade, a move which would likely place the ADF in the firing line and necessitate robust defences in the country's north. The ASPI analyst claimed such defences were severely lacking at present, suggesting some of Australia's most vital assets were badly exposed. "Right at the moment, all our critical infrastructure in the north of Australia is essentially undefended," he said. "The government talks about building integrated air and missile defence systems, and they have developed the command and control system for that, but they don't have any missiles to shoot with. "They talk about possibly using a naval-based missile or an air-based missile, but those platforms have to be in the right place at the right time. "So the reality is that all that critical infrastructure of the north or the air bases such as RAAF Tindal, ports and other oil facilities and energy facilities are all undefended." In light of the "very clear threat" posed by China, Mr Davis urged the government to dramatically ramp up spending on defence in order to ensure the nation remains secure. "We need to go to a floor of 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence spending as soon as possible and that means not in 10 years, it means in a year or two," he said. Under Labor's current plan, spending on defence will not reach 2.5 per cent of GDP until some time after 2033 and there is no clear timeline to increase investment to three per cent or beyond. While Mr Davis acknowledged increased spending could not just "be money thrown at the Department of Defence", he argued smart investment into long-term resilience was vital. "That defence spend needs to increase our resilience against attack, that includes integrated air and missile defence systems," he said. "It needs to include sustainability and building sustainability for protracted war that could last months or years in our region and ensure that we can stay in the fight, a high intensity fight, for that period of time."
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Music to our ears': Housing industry thrilled after Clare O'Neil reveals Albanese government's plan to slash red tape
The Albanese government's new approach to boost the construction of new homes has received enthusiastic support from the housing industry. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil announced on Saturday that the Albanese government would push states and territories to roll back excessive levels of red tape that had made it 'uneconomic' to build new homes. Through its National Housing Accord, the Albanese government has pledged to deliver 1.2 million new homes. However in an interview on the ABC, Ms O'Neil said it was 'just too hard to build a house' in Australia, an issue she attributed to '40 years of unceasing new regulation'. "On their own, each piece makes sense. But when you put it together, builders face a ridiculous thicket of red tape that is preventing them building the homes we need,' she said. 'If we're going to tackle the fundamental problem — that Australia needs to build more homes, more quickly — we need to make a change." Speaking to Sky News Australia on Sunday, the Housing Industry Association (HIA)Simon Croft said he was thrilled to hear the government was taking on the challenge of cutting red tape. 'Hearing the Housing Minister Claire O'Neill yesterday, say how they want to cut red tape, slash red tape, it was music to our ears,' Mr Croft said. Minister O'Neil's comments about the need to cut red tape follow the release of a Productivity Commission report in February, which highlighted how the regulatory growth over 40 years had increased the cost, time and complexity of housing construction. The HIA industry and policy chief executive said the cumulative impact of new and existing regulations had "driven up the cost of construction by 40 per cent over the last five years'. 'It's the additional time spent for the builders,' Mr Croft said. 'They're spending more time in the offices, having to review new rules and regulations and actually being on site with the nail bags on and laying the slabs to get these homes built.' 'So just for instance, a brick wall; there's 20 standards that apply just to a single brick wall.' Mr Croft said while it was important for the government to get legislation right, they often overlooked the implementation and support mechanisms – such as the education and training required. 'There's just been a proliferation of more and more regulations… and implementation is often seen as an afterthought,' he said. 'What we want to see is implementation – as is (just as) critical, if not more critical than the design of the policy.' Mr Croft said he was not calling for the wholesale repeal of building regulations, but it did need to be looked at. 'Is it all working correctly? Can we make some efficiency gains? And there is some outdated regulation,' he said. 'How can we streamline our planning approvals and the rezoning around it, because it's taking far too long to get those single homes built and delivered and approved. 'Often our members say they can actually build the home faster than they can get it approved.' Speaking on Saturday, Ms O'Neil said what was required was 'three years of serious reform with the states and territories in local government'. 'We're up for that, and we know they are too,' Ms O'Neil said. The Albanese government has pledged to deliver 1.2 million new homes over the five years beginning mid-2024 as part of it's National Housing Accord – an agreement bringing together all three levels of government. However ABS Housing Data released at the end of May showed new dwelling approvals fell a further 6 per cent in April 2025. The decline means that after just 10 months of the National Housing Accord, the Albanese government is already more than 45,000 homes behind its target.
9 News
5 hours ago
- 9 News
Trade minister's promise over cost of living
Trade Minister Don Farrell has promised cheaper prices and higher wages if the Albanese government can secure new deals with the US and Europe.
