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7NEWS
3 days ago
- Business
- 7NEWS
South Australia 2025-26 budget: Winners and losers
South Australia has announced a conservative 2025-26 budget and the state will retain its AA+ credit rating. The SA police will have new guns, new motorbikes and millions will be spent on boosting the number of SAPOL officers to 5000 to curb rate of crime. About $395.1 million of the state's budget will go to SAPOL, the state's prisons and court systems. Good news also for families, as a 28-day metro card will from July 1 cost $10 for school kids, which is equivalent to 25c a trip. But the biggest winner is Whyalla Steel project, which will receive $2 billion to bolster the production of steel at the rail manufacturer. The SA Labor-led government said that there would be no new taxes or tax increases in the 2025-26 budget. Police The government will spend $172 million over six years (including $69.8 million to 2028-29) to recruit an additional 208 sworn police officers by 2028-29. A further $29.6 million will be provided over three years for the expansion of the successful Police Security Officer (PSO) model into regional areas, with an additional 98 PSOs. When combined with the $9.7 million workforce civilianisation model, these two initiatives will enable more sworn officers to return to frontline duties. SA Police will accelerate recruitment drives over the next three years with $12 million for more campaigns and academy courses. The budget includes provisions for future SA Police infrastructure requirements including property storage, business unit accommodation and station facilities. Additional new police related commitments include: $31.1 million over four years to improve essential infrastructure to ensure police have the facilities and equipment they need $17.8 million over four years to double the police motorcycle capacity with an additional 33 sworn police officers $6.8 million over four years to replace the pistols used by SA Police $5.9 million over three years to support sustainment and security work at the State Communications Centre building $2 million over two years for the implementation of child sex offender registration reform. Prisons South Australia's prisons will have greater capacity, with $72.4 million to be spent over five years to increase capacity by 116 beds across various prison facilities. This brings the total prison capacity expansion across the last two budgets to 468 new beds. An additional $1.4 million has been allocated over two years to set up and operate an additional 19 transition beds at Mount Gambier prison. $6.8 million over four years to improve security at prisons - new security screening scanners and improved barriers will reduce contraband entering the prisons and improve the safety of staff, prisoners and the broader community. Courts Critical upgrades are required on essential courts infrastructure, with $20 million provided over the next four years. The significant investments will include: $9.4 million over four years to increase support for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions $5.5 million over four years for Forensic Science SA $4.8 million over four years for additional sheriff officers $4.4 million over five years for the Crown Solicitor's Office Parents with school kids $96 million will be spent to continue the $200 per student government school material and services charge reduction for the next four years. $20.7 million over four years to reduce the metroCARD student 28-day pass to just $10 per month, a saving of $18.60. This means a student catching the bus or train to and from school each day will pay just 25 cents a trip and will save families up to $242 per year, per child. Whyalla Steel works $1.9 billion will be invested in the steelworks' future; $384 million will be spent on the steelworks operations during administration; $99 million will provide immediate on-the-ground support for the Whyalla community. Drought affected farmers $55 million will be spent on supporting drought affected farmers for the next five years. Housing The government will spend $552.4 million on the construction of around 2935 new homes. The budget includes critical funding for the capital works at state government housing projects: $270 million for Playford Alive East to create more than 1300 new allotments $104.7 million for Southwark Grounds for up to 1300 new dwellings $30.5 million for Onkaparinga Heights to provide at least 2000 residential housing lots. Cancer Network/Mount Barker Hospital and Aged Care/Mental Health. $1.9 billion over five years to support increased activity in hospitals and the health system. The funding includes new investment of about $117 million over five years to support mental health services. The River Murray $71.1 million will be spent over three years on River Murray constraints measures; $20.9 million over three years will go to councils to reduce the reliance on River Murray water. LOSERS Emergency wards and Ambulance ramping Aside from the more than $500 million blowout of the health budget, there were no changes to help ambulance, or fix wait times in emergency wards. There will be a big spend on aged care and mental health clinics to free up hospital beds. New schools Only one new school has been earmarked for Adelaide's north, with many new schools currently being built. A new $70 million birth-to-Year 6 school will be built in Adelaide's north.
Sky News AU
08-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Business Council of Australia CEO Bran Black issues major plea to re-elected Albanese Government on energy supply
A leader in the business community has recommended a key way Labor can boost energy supply as many industries call for changes during the Albanese Government's second term. After securing a sweeping victory over the weekend, many leading business bodies have called on Labor to boost productivity, wind back red tape and protect Australia from global uncertainty during the Albanese Government's second term. The nation's energy mix and the transition to net-zero through renewables are also major considerations for many industries concerned about energy security. The Business Council of Australia's CEO Bran Black said gas was a critical issue for the nation's industries with bringing more supply into the grid the main focus for many manufacturers. 'In terms of gas, in order for us to get more supply into the systems we've got to be looking very closely at how we can go about making our approvals system faster,' Mr Black told Sky News' Business Now. 'One of the key things that business has been advocating for is a single desk approach to approvals. 'That means that instead of having a federal approval and a state approval, you have the states, for instance, accredited to look out for the federal approval process at the same time that they're running their own approvals processes.' Mr Black said this would not mean dispensing of the federal system, but consolidating the approvals into one desk to expedite getting more gas onto the system. 'That would make such a big difference but that's only one of a number of key reforms that are required in order to make the overall approval system faster and therefore to get more gas into the system much quicker,' Mr Black said. The BCA CEO, like many in the business community, said the certainty offered by a re-elected Labor Government in terms of energy policy gave them greater confidence, particularly considering the strong majority the Albanese Government holds. Prior to the 2025 Federal Election, many business leaders expressed concerns about the possibility of a Labor-led minority government with the Greens or Teal Independents. Woodside Energy's Meg O'Neill told Business Now last week both parties affirming the importance of gas in the energy mix was 'really positive' as the Greens had vowed there would be no more new gas projects - including Woodside's plans to extend the life of the Northwest Shelf Project. 'We've got to be taking practical steps to tackle the red and green tape that is preventing developments from progressing,' she said.
Sky News AU
29-04-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Woodside Energy's CEO Meg O'Neill calls on Albanese, Dutton to slash red tape, prioritise gas in Australia after election
A major energy executive has called on Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton to roll back red tape and prioritise the future of gas in Australia after revealing a new $27b project in the United States. Woodside Energy's chief executive Meg O'Neill made her plea in the lead up to a hotly contested Federal Election, where the future of energy, and its costings, has been a key issue. It also followed the company revealing its decision to proceed with a massive Louisiana project that could see Woodside produce more than five per cent of the world's liquefied natural gas. However, the role of gas in Australia, which is included in both major parties' net zero plans, could be up in the air as a Labor-led minority government with the Greens may be the outcome of the coming Federal Election. Ms O'Neill was pressed on what this type of minority government could mean for the nation as the Greens has vowed there would be no more new gas projects - including Woodside's plans to extend the life of the Northwest Shelf Project. 'One of the things that's been really positive in this election campaign is that both Labor and the Coalition have affirmed the importance of gas in meeting Australia's future energy needs,' Ms O'Neill told Sky News. 'The thing that I'd like to see from whichever party is elected is action to underpin that. 'We've got to be taking practical steps to tackle the red and green tape that is preventing developments from progressing.' She reiterated her plea to whoever emerged successful after Saturday's vote when Sky News' Business Editor Ross Greenwood asked whether Woodside could build its Louisiana project at the same speed if it was in Australia. 'Could you get the seven-year payback in Australia that you can get from that project which is a massive $27b investment?' Greenwood said. Ms O'Neill praised the US$12.5b of investment Woodside has made in the Scarborough gas field on Western Australia's coastline before turning back to the Prime Minister and Mr Dutton. 'Those opportunities are out there, but again, it's a bit of a challenge of needing to roll up your sleeves (and) work through the environmental approvals,' she said. 'That'd be the kind of pitch I'd make to whoever's elected. We need to be taking practical steps to tackle red and green tape in this country.' Under the Coalition's energy plan, about eight per cent of the grid will be made up of gas and storage, while Labor's plan will see six per cent of the grid become gas and storage.
The Guardian
25-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Traditional owners accuse NT government of ‘treating them like children' in meeting on sacred site act reform
Traditional owners in the NT have launched a scathing attack on the territory government, accusing it of 'treating them like children' in a 'tick-a-box' meeting on sacred site reforms. The Northern Territory government on Monday announced plans to amend the Sacred Sites Act to reduce the administrative burden on landholders and give developers confidence. The lands, planning and environment minister, Joshua Burgoyne, told the ABC he would 'make sure that we bring traditional owners along for the ride with us' in the reform process. But a representative body for traditional owners in central Australia said the government had been 'secretive' about the proposed changes. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The Central Land Council represent 75 remote communities and outstations. Its chair, Warren Williams, met with the minister last week over reforms to the legislation. 'We asked for information; he gave us platitudes. He disrespected us and treated us like little children,' Williams said. 'He asked us to simply accept that the government's intentions behind the changes are good. He wouldn't give us any details about the changes or how they would work. All he had was empty talk. No wonder we are all very alarmed. 'Do not believe him if he tries to pass off this cynical tick-a-box exercise as consultation with the land councils.' The Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act protects about 15,000 recognised Indigenous heritage in the territory. It is the strongest legislation to protect sacred sites in the country, according to the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority. In 2016, an independent review under the Labor-led Gunner government made 36 recommendations and called for sweeping changes, including strengthening protections, maximising penalties for breaches and streamlining processes. Burgoyne said the review would be the basis for reforming the act. Williams said sacred sites belonged to the traditional owners not the government, and urged the Finocchiaro government to work with them to reform the laws. '[The government] should not change the law protecting our sites without consulting traditional owners and native title holders,' Williams said. 'This is not how informed consent works.' In a statement, Burgoyne said the proposed amendments would improve 'consistency across legislation' and give industries greater confidence. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'Any updates to the Sacred Sites Act will seek to strengthen the protection of sacred sites and ensure our regulatory processes provide for safe development in the Northern Territory,' he said. He said the act had not been updated in more than 30 years. Among the proposed changes is making authority certificates – documents that protect sacred sites from damage by setting out the conditions for undertaking work in the area – transferable. They are now issued only for a specific proposal, and any works falling outside it do not have legal protection. Burgoyne said the proposed change would 'ensure that processes do not need to be unnecessarily repeated and cause delays to development'. Opposition MP and former deputy chief minister Chansey Paech, whose electorate, Gwoja, stretches from the Victoria Highway down to the South Australian border, including the western desert region, said any reforms to the act must protect 'country'. 'We cannot let any proposed changes dilute the NT Sacred Sites Act,' the Arrente, Arabana and Gurindji man said on social media. 'Now, more than ever, we must stand together to protect country. The NT CLP Government must immediately come forward and clearly outline the proposed changes and stop hiding.' The NT government did not immediately respond to Guardian Australia's questions.
Reuters
05-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
New Zealand central bank announces surprise exit of governor
March 5 (Reuters) - Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Adrian Orr has resigned in a surprise move, with his role finishing on March 31, three years before his current term ends, New Zealand's central bank said on Wednesday. "I leave the role with consumer price inflation at target, and an economy in a cyclical recovery following the long period of COVID-related disruption. The financial system remains sound," Orr said in a statement. Orr was reappointed as the central bank governor for another five-year term effective from March 27, 2023. Deputy Governor Christian Hawkesby will be the acting governor until March 31, the RBNZ statement said. From April 1, New Zealand's finance minister, on recommendation from the RBNZ Board, will appoint a temporary governor for up to six months. Hawkesby will also chair the monetary policy committee, the RBNZ said. Finance Minister Nicola Willis acknowledged Orr's resignation and wished him well for his future. Orr's resignation did not have much impact on the New Zealand dollar , with the kiwi extending earlier losses and last down 0.25% to $0.5651. His surprise exit comes amid New Zealand's worst economic downturn since 1991 outside of the pandemic, which analysts blame on low productivity and various policy missteps in part caused by unreliable data. Unemployment is at a more than four-year high while the number in work saw the largest annual decline since 2009. Companies are going bust at the fastest pace in over a decade. New Zealand's Labor-led government in 2018 appointed Orr, who was the chief of the country's sovereign wealth fund, as the country's top central banker. Orr had served as RBNZ's deputy governor for four years before joining the New Zealand Super Fund in 2007.
