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ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Jim Chalmers's economic reform roundtable is a chance to do more than tinker
There are ways to solicit political ideas and there are ways to solicit political ideas. At one end of the spectrum you can ask complete strangers. It's a cheap way of doing it and, as with anything cheap, you usually end up paying twice. Joe Hockey in 2009 was offered the Liberal leadership "on a plate" as the partyroom moved to topple Malcolm Turnbull. Supporters reportedly included Tony Abbott and Nick Minchin on the condition that Hockey dump his support for Kevin Rudd's emissions trading scheme known as the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. As the tensions built, Hockey mulled what to do, setting a new standard for political consultation by going on what was then Twitter, still in its infancy. "Hey team re The ETS," Hockey wrote. "Give me your views please on the policy and political debate. I really want your feedback." A barrage of conflicting advice followed, and Julia Gillard, who was acting prime minister that morning, scoffed that "you can't govern the nation by tweet". "People don't expect their politicians to just text out a message — imagine, you know, 'what do you think the defence budget should be?'" she said. There's been much discussion this week about the wisdom or otherwise of seeking ideas. Does a smart politician really need to ask the room? Or are you better off only asking things you already have an answer for. And is it realistic to expect such a process to deliver immediate results? Next week's "economic roundtable" is the latest attempt to harvest ideas and build momentum for political change. It's both a "softening up" exercise and a way to ease pressure from those who want Labor to be more ambitious in its second term. What should the prime minister spend his political capital on? On the roundtable, it's been easy to be critical, and certainly there are internal grumblings about its likely efficacy, and whether it has merely set a bunch of random hares running. When first announced in June, Treasurer Jim Chalmers urged the press gallery to shun the normal "rule in; rule out" policy game. Everything was to be on the proverbial table. What followed was an avalanche of suggestions, many from the usual self-serving voices. As the roundtable nears, the list of ideas has grown longer, more ambitious and often contradictory. The Australian Council of Trade Unions wants a four-day work week and regulation of artificial intelligence; the Business Council of Australia reckons aggressive deregulation is needed to cut $110 billion in annual "red tape" costs across the economy. In response, the government has moved to curb expectations for what the three-day cabinet-room meeting can achieve. The prime minister has insisted there will be no tax changes until after the next election, and that the government's priority is delivering what it took to voters in May. The result is that next week's meeting is likely to produce relatively modest outcomes. These include moves to make it easier to approve and build homes and perhaps some kind of road user charging trial. But the hope, including among participants and the government, is that it sets off a longer-run process. Because much as a road-user policy or a freeze on building regulations may be useful, they're ultimately small beer. As the Reserve Bank of Australia revealed this week, the nation's living standards are under pressure. The bank's economists used to think the sluggish productivity numbers of recent years were temporary. No longer. The rot has set in. Which means tinkering around the edges may have a much bigger long-term opportunity cost than many anticipate. If productivity growth slows to 0.7 per cent over coming years — below Treasury's already-weak 1.2 per cent expectation — the annual budget balance could be about $40 billion worse off in 2034-35 dollars, according to economist Chris Richardson. Former Treasury boss Ken Henry calculates that the nation's inability to improve productivity growth has cost workers about $500,000 in lost pay rises over the past quarter century. Economists warn that without an improvement, governments of all persuasion will struggle to meet the soaring cost of commitments to maintain a high-class NDIS, a universal near-fee-free childcare system, and perhaps "Medicare for dental", if the Greens and Labor backbench have their way. Put across that the ongoing pressure from the US on allies including Australia to raise military spending. By one estimate, the White House wants the government to roughly double defence spending to almost $100 billion a year "as soon as possible". Blessedly, the treasurer has made it clear the roundtable's purpose is not to produce some G20-style communique. He has urged the two-dozen or so daily participants able to fit into the cabinet room to come up with solutions rather than yet another analysis of the underlying problems. Compromise and grand bargain-making between big groups is the ultimate goal. It's all worthy stuff, of course, but so far the omens have not been great. The worst has been the immediate shooting down of a proposal this month by the Productivity Commission for a cashflow tax. A world-first, it is designed to sharpen incentives for medium-sized companies to invest by allowing firms to immediately reduce their taxable income by the value of their investments. Andrew Fraser — one of Chalmers's oldest friends — has applauded the commission's "courage and imagination", saying the idea should remain on the table. "The coalition of the unwilling that quickly formed against the idea held up a mirror to the malaise in our public discourse," Fraser, who will attend next week's event, wrote in The Australian. "Too much of the debate to date has been about the form and process of the roundtable, not the substantive issues. "We need an abundance of ideas here, not the dead weight of sectional conditionality." Speaking to this column on Friday, Fraser — a former Queensland Labor Treasurer and now head of a major superannuation fund — said there ought to be rules for responding to big ideas. "If an idea has been worked on for six months, like this was, there should be a six-day pause before anyone responds," he said. From the perspective of a news reporter, this is patently a terrible idea. But it's worth contemplating. Taking a more measured approach — which is really the Albanese government's self-declared guiding principle — might actually be tolerable if it can produce something more than tinkering. Soliciting ideas is part of the business. But only if the listening and learning is done in good faith. Jacob Greber is political editor of ABC's 7.30 program.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Climate wars are simmering among the NSW Liberals – and they could pose a problem for Mark Speakman
The never-ending war within the Coalition over energy policy and climate targets appears to have infected the New South Wales Liberals, as they struggle to restore the administration of their branch and get traction with voters. It's bad news for the NSW opposition leader, Mark Speakman, whose hold on the leadership is being increasingly questioned. Until now, the main battle ground for the renewed climate wars has been Canberra, where the right of the Liberal party and the Nationals from Queensland – aided and abetted by US president Donald Trump – have used every opportunity to foment discontent. The federal Coalition leader, Sussan Ley, has promised to review the Coalition's energy policy, but there will be no easy answers. She will need to juggle the demands of MPs such as Nationals senator Matt Canavan and Liberal Andrew Hastie that she drop the net zero target, with the views of her city MPs, who know they could go the way of their former colleagues who lost seats to teal independents. Let alone doing the right thing for the planet. For the NSW Coalition, energy policy has been an area of mostly bipartisan agreement – until now. In 2020, the then energy minister Matt Kean, a Liberal who now chairs the Climate Change Authority, released the energy roadmap that showed how NSW would meet its objective to deliver a 70% cut in emissions by 2035 compared to 2005 levels, and net zero by 2050. It was supported by both sides. But last week the first signs of an unravelling emerged. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Just before the NSW parliament rose for a long break, the Liberal MP for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman, resigned from the shadow ministry over her own party's failure to listen to her concerns about windfarms. Ostensibly, it was over a failure of the leadership to consult on the electricity infrastructure bill, which the government said was urgent. The bill gave the energy minister, Penny Sharpe, the power to fast-track investments in synchronous condensers, which are urgently needed for grid stability. According to her office, it did no more than broaden the definition of priority infrastructure to ensure investments in this critical infrastructure by the privately owned electricity distributors could proceed. Whether it did more than that depends on who you ask. The Minns government says it doesn't alter the planning and consultation process for major infrastructure such as transmission lines. But it was a bridge too far for Tuckerman, whose electorate is part of a renewable energy zone and has seen dozens of projects proposed. 'I have had countless calls, emails and comments from community members that feel like they have just been kicked while they are down. They are bearing the brunt of poor planning and by the government's lack of accountability. They are not being listened to,' she said. 'I can no longer in good conscience be a part of a process that sidelines the voices of constituents and regional communities, or which undermines my ability to represent the people that put me here.' There's no doubt that Tuckerman's electorate is concerned about the scale of windfarm development – as is the Orana region near Dubbo. But the concerns have been turbocharged and taken to a wider audience by the Daily Telegraph, which has run no fewer than five stories in the space of two weeks about the harm that windfarms were causing farmers in Tuckerman's electorate. These were then amplified across other News Corp platforms including and Sky News, who interviewed the Telegraph journalists about their coverage, and by 2GB. At the same time, the rightwing advocacy group Advance has announced a campaign to kill off 'weakling' Liberals who support the net zero climate target. Advance members are being bombarded with emails seeking donations, with the aim to raise $450,000 before the end of August. Most of Advance's efforts seem focused on the federal Liberals, but the anti-net zero sentiment has reached the NSW Nationals, at least in the grassroots party. At their conference in June in Coffs Harbour, they voted to drop support for net zero. The problem for Speakman is that the climate issue could quickly become a wedge that will be used by the right to further fuel the leadership speculation that is already bubbling. Speakman is undoubtedly under pressure. There's no immediate appetite to replace him, among the dominant moderate faction from which he comes. But there is concern about a lack of cut-through, particularly as a recent Resolve poll in July in the Sydney Morning Herald showed Labor with a commanding primary vote lead over the Coalition of 38% (up five points on the last result in April) to 32% (down four), with the Greens up two to 13%. The Poll Bludger estimated this would imply a two-party Labor lead of at least 57-43, compared with 54.3-45.7 at the March 2023 election. A 5% swing would see the Liberals lose another five seats and condemn them to a further two terms of opposition. 'People are starting to worry about saving the furniture,' one Liberal said. The Kiama byelection on 13 September will be a test for Speakman. If he puts in a good showing, the troops might calm down. But with an election due in March 2027, the window for leadership bloodletting is fast approaching. Both sides were claiming underdog status in the South Coast seat, which was most recently held by the Liberal turned Independent Gareth Ward, who resigned after being convicted of rape. Ward enjoyed enormous personal support even after the charges were laid, so it's difficult to say whether voters will chose to punish the Liberals or follow the conventional wisdom of byelections and give the government of the day a good kick. In the meantime, the climate wars are simmering again and they've reached the doors of Macquarie Street. A NSW parliamentary committee is due to release a report on the renewable energy zones and their impact on rural communities as early as next week. It will provide an opportunity for the opponents of net zero to target more 'weakling' Liberals – and it will test out Speakman's skill in managing a difficult issue for his troops.
The Guardian
18-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Victorian government opposes Moira Deeming-backed push to include ‘transgender ideology' in cults inquiry
Victoria's equality minister says the government will oppose a push to examine 'transgender ideology' as part of an upcoming inquiry into cults. Earlier this month, anti-trans lobby group Binary published a blog post saying the Liberal party MP Moira Deeming was 'urging people to make submissions' to the parliamentary inquiry into cults and organised fringe groups and had 'shared a helpful document with suggested answers'. Deeming has told Guardian Australia she distributed the document that claims transgender ideology 'operates like a cult and harms people in the same way'. The six-page document offers 'tips' for people who believe 'transgender ideology is harmful and cult-like' and stresses submissions highlight three key elements – manipulation, domination and psychological harm. It includes suggested responses for various groups, including parents of transgender children, sports coaches, health professionals and school teachers. One suggested response reads: 'Government enforced Transgender Ideology operates like a cult and harms people in the same way, because we can't leave, we aren't allowed to disagree, we lose our rights against it and it's harmful to us.' The document suggests that submissions call for an investigation into the 'harm caused by the current sex education curriculum', the introduction of 'protections in law for gender-critical beliefs' and 'protections for whistleblowers or conscientious objectors to gender-affirming practices'. It also calls for the 'removal and dismantling of transgender ideology from institutions'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Deeming denied she wrote the document but said she had shared it, as well as another that claimed the government's Covid-19 response – 'including lockdowns, mandates, coercive messaging, censorship and medical segregation' – was 'cult-like'. That document also provides suggested responses to the inquiry and suggests Covid-19 policies 'used coercive control' and health authorities 'behaved like an ideological cult that punished dissent' during the pandemic. 'Neither of the submission tips documents criticise or target any person or community – they both criticise the government,' Deeming told Guardian Australia. Deeming accused the government of 'exploiting minority groups to shield themselves from legitimate criticism'. 'Many people believe the Victorian Labor government's hard line, extreme and oppressive laws used to enforce vaccine mandates and lockdowns, as well as unquestioning submission to the most extreme elements of transgender ideology, meets the threshold for the inquiry's definition of manipulative, coercive and harmful control tactics that cult and fringe groups employ,' Deeming said. But the minister for equality, Vicki Ward, said the inquiry would not cover gender identity or healthcare, as the issues were outside its scope. 'This inquiry has been established to examine harmful and coercive groups, not target trans and gender diverse communities,' Ward said. 'In Victoria, equality is not negotiable. We will continue to fight discrimination and ensure all Victorians can live safely, wholly and freely as their authentic selves.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Deeming was expelled from the Liberal party room by the then leader John Pesutto in 2023 after neo-Nazis gatecrashed the Let Women Speak rally she helped organise. After successfully suing Pesutto for defamation last year, she was reinstated and Pesutto was ousted as leader. In April, the new Liberal leader, Brad Battin, appointed Deeming as his 'representative to the western suburbs'. But tensions have emerged between the duo over Battin's involvement in a $1.5m loan to help Pesutto cover Deeming's legal costs. Ward said the document proved the Liberal party remained 'divided' and said Battin faced a 'test of leadership'. Battin's office was approached for comment and asked whether he was aware Deeming was distributing the document and whether it was appropriate to redirect the focus of the inquiry. An opposition spokesperson responded that it was a matter for the inquiry's committee. 'The inquiry should proceed with the terms of reference agreed to by the parliament,' they said. The inquiry was established in April, after allegations of coercive practices at the Geelong Revival Church, as detailed in LiSTNR's investigative podcast series Secrets We Keep: Pray Harder. The church has not publicly commented on the allegations contained in the podcast. Led by the legislative assembly's legal and social issues committee, it begins public hearings on Wednesday, with its first witnesses former members of the church and the podcast's creator, journalist Richard Baker. The committee's chair, Labor MP Ella George, said the inquiry was 'examining techniques being used by certain groups to attract and retain members and whether they amount to coercion that should be criminalised'. She said the inquiry 'does not focus on a group's beliefs or ideology' and pointed to a guidance note on the committee's website for more information. It is understood the committee reviews all submissions to the inquiry, assessing their relevance according to the terms of reference before deciding whether to accept them. Only submissions that are accepted are published online.
The Guardian
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Former Sydney councillor named US ambassador to Malaysia; Nacc architect calls for more transparency; and Australian life in pictures
Good afternoon. A former Sydney councillor and self-described 'alpha male' has been picked by Donald Trump to be the new US ambassador to Malaysia, with the president describing the rightwing commentator as an 'incredible patriot'. Nick Adams, who became a US citizen in 2021, was threatened with suspension from the Liberal party in Australia after he was filmed verbally abusing a journalist in 2009 amid reports accusing him of missing some council meetings. Adams later reportedly said he had already quit the party. In 2023 posts on X, Adams listed interests including the restaurant chain Hooters, rare steaks, 'extremely' heavy weights and the Bible, and described himself as 'pursued by copious amounts of women', 'wildly successful' and 'extremely charismatic'. Nacc architect calls for robodebt investigation update, saying corruption watchdog has been 'too secretive' Victoria to consider increasing testing of elderly drivers after out-of-control car kills woman and leaves two in hospital Eight countries back Australia's push to add WA rock art to world heritage list hours before crunch meeting Palestinian woman, 61, who fled Gaza detained by authorities after pre-dawn raid in Sydney UN Gaza investigator Francesca Albanese says US sanctions against her a sign of 'guilt' Details of Julian McMahon's cancer revealed a week after his death aged 56 Australian Life photography competition 2025 finalists Droving through the outback, glimpses of grief, taking a warm summer plunge. Finalists of the Australian Life photography competition focus on the nuances of life across the country. 'It is shocking that you were arrested for peacefully taking part in a protest … I salute your courage, integrity and advocacy of a fair go.' – Bob Brown The former Greens leader took out an ad in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning wishing a 'speedy and full recovery' to former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas, who was injured during an interaction with police at a pro-Palestine protest. Brown's letter praised Thomas, who ran against Anthony Albanese in the federal election, for 'offering voters options including Australia acting more assertively to end the death toll and human misery in Gaza', and said he hoped the PM would 'have the ordinary Aussie decency to also contact you soon and wish you well'. Australia's currency has performed relatively strongly against the greenback of late, strengthening by 4 US cents through 2025, despite global jitters around Donald Trump's erratic trade policy. But Joseph Capurso, CBA's head of international economics, warned the Aussie dollar was 'at risk of sharp falls over the next few months'. Sign up to Afternoon Update Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Welcome to Prime Day, when thousands of product thumbnails blur together to form a giant pile of garbage I love a sale, writes Anna Spargo-Ryan – but scrolling the list of Amazon's deals is overwhelming to the point of delirium. Today's starter word is: BOUT. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply. Enjoying the Afternoon Update? Then you'll love our Morning Mail newsletter. Sign up here to start the day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know, and complete your daily news roundup. And follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email. If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email
