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Sydney Morning Herald
05-08-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Chalmers curbs enthusiasm on reform summit as tax debate gets too big for Labor
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has tapped the brakes on Labor's reform summit, a day after Anthony Albanese talked down its significance. In quiet talks in Parliament this week, the government has been sending a clear message: excited observers should curb their enthusiasm. Cabinet had become concerned about the huge expectations being attached to this month's three-day roundtable, including that it could lead to major tax changes that economists argue may be good for the country but might frighten voters. When unions unveiled a demand for Bill Shorten-era wealth taxes on Sunday, several government sources said it added to a sense in Labor that Chalmers needed to erect guard rails for what has been positioned as the launchpad for a tranche of bold policies to kickstart the economy. According to three well-placed Labor sources, the idea for a roundtable came from the prime minister and his office. Albanese first raised the idea in a meeting with the Business Council of Australia in February, one source said. Chalmers took the idea up with gusto. From the day after the May 3 election in an ABC Insiders interview, the treasurer was talking about how the government 'will do more' on reform. He naturally became the point-person for the gabfest and opened the door to a wider debate, particularly on tax, than Albanese had planned. The prime minister, sometimes blunt with his frustrations, let his views be known on Monday as the drumbeat of speculation about the summit jarred with his focus on delivering popular and less contentious election policies.
The Age
05-08-2025
- Business
- The Age
Chalmers curbs enthusiasm on reform summit as tax debate gets too big for Labor
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has tapped the brakes on Labor's reform summit, a day after Anthony Albanese talked down its significance. In quiet talks in Parliament this week, the government has been sending a clear message: excited observers should curb their enthusiasm. Cabinet had become concerned about the huge expectations being attached to this month's three-day roundtable, including that it could lead to major tax changes that economists argue may be good for the country but might frighten voters. When unions unveiled a demand for Bill Shorten-era wealth taxes on Sunday, several government sources said it added to a sense in Labor that Chalmers needed to erect guard rails for what has been positioned as the launchpad for a tranche of bold policies to kickstart the economy. According to three well-placed Labor sources, the idea for a roundtable came from the prime minister and his office. Albanese first raised the idea in a meeting with the Business Council of Australia in February, one source said. Chalmers took the idea up with gusto. From the day after the May 3 election in an ABC Insiders interview, the treasurer was talking about how the government 'will do more' on reform. He naturally became the point-person for the gabfest and opened the door to a wider debate, particularly on tax, than Albanese had planned. The prime minister, sometimes blunt with his frustrations, let his views be known on Monday as the drumbeat of speculation about the summit jarred with his focus on delivering popular and less contentious election policies.
West Australian
27-07-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Australian news and politics live: Albanese calls for increased Gaza aid after Israel's decision to airdrop
Scroll down for the latest news and updates. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is speaking to ABC Insiders and says the Israeli government's recent decision to permit some aid into Gaza is 'just a start' and emphasised that much more must be done to protect innocent civilians. He referred to heartbreaking images of a starving one-year-old boy, saying, 'it breaks your heart.' 'A 1-year-old boy is not a Hamas fighter. The civilian casualties and death in Gaza is completely unacceptable. It's completely indefensible. My Government has been very consistent in calling for a ceasefire. We have been consistent in calling out the terrorists in Hamas and saying that the hostages should be released. But we have rules of engagement and they are there for a reason. They are to stop innocent lives being lost and that is what we have seen.' Mr Albanese expressed how deeply moved he was by the images of this 'innocent young boy.' 'For anyone with any sense of humanity, you have to be moved by that. And you have to acknowledge that every innocent life matters - whether they be Israeli or Palestinian.'
Sky News AU
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
ABC Insiders guest switches view on Israel during show
Sky News Australia's Media Watch Dog Columnist Gerard Henderson has slammed ABC Insiders guest Mark Kenny for shifting positions on Israel midway through the program.
West Australian
15-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Israel and Iran crisis: Wong backs right to self-defence but urges restraint as fears of all-out war grow
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has backed Israel's right to self-defence but avoided questions on the legality of its strikes, urging restraint as fears of all-out war in the region deepens. Israel's two-day barrage targeted Iranian military sites, nuclear scientists and key infrastructure, in what it labelled a 'preemptive assault' on Iran's nuclear weapon capabilities. Iran has responded with missile strikes that have killed at least four people in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the strikes had significantly set back Iran's nuclear program and has warned of further retaliation. Pressed on whether Israel's actions were legally justified under international law on ABC Insiders, Senator Wong reiterated Israel's right to self-defence but said the more pressing issue was how to contain the conflict. 'Israel has a right to self-defence. It does have a right to self-defence. The question here is not a legal proposition, the question here is 'what do we do now?' we know Iran is a threat,' she said. 'We know that its nuclear program poses a threat to international peace and obviously to Israel.' 'It's a perilous time for many in the Middle East. It is a risky time.' The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued a 'Do Not Travel' warning for both Israel and Iran, with Senator Wong saying conditions were 'very perilous' and that airspace above the countries had been closed. The advice to Australians in affected areas was to shelter in place and heed all local directives. Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that Australian officials were continuing efforts to assist citizens in the region. He said Australia was not involved in the conflict and did not expect to be drawn in militarily. 'Australian officials are doing what they can to ensure that the interests of Australians are protected, but it's obviously a very volatile situation that they are dealing with,' the Prime Minister said. 'At the moment, of course, there's an issue with people getting out of the region. 'Australia does not play a role in this military conflict. 'I wouldn't expect that there would be a request for Australia to play a military role, but we will continue to play a role in terms of looking after Australian citizens.' The PM said the conflict would likely be discussed during his meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the upcoming G7 summit in Canada. Mr Albanese said he would also meet in the coming days with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other world leaders. 'I'm sure that the events, obviously, that are occurring in the Middle East will be a topic of conversation,' Mr Albanese said.
