To stay up to date on the latest political developments across the nation, subscribe to our free publication here.

Highlights

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed he will travel to the United States for the 2024 Quad Leader’s Summit alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and United States President Joe Biden.  
• The Australian Electoral Commission finalised the redistribution of federal electorates in NSW, confirming the abolition of the Division of North Sydney, currently held by the Independent Member Ms Kylea Tink MP.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles tabled the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
• Research polling published by Accent Research and the RedBridge Group indicates a minority government would be the most likely outcome if a federal election was to be held today.
• Universities Australia Chair Professor David Lloyd addressed the National Press Club in which he criticised the Federal Government’s plan to implement caps on international students at vocational and tertiary education institutions.  

Federal Parliament

Both Houses of Parliament sat this week, with the Government coming under political pressure in Question Time over the health of the economy. In the House, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor confirmed the Coalition would oppose the Treasury Laws Amendment (Reserve Bank Reforms) Bill 2023, which contains several reforms to the Reserve Bank of Australia, after months of negotiations with the Government. Of note, the Future Made in Australia Bill 2024 passed early in the week and moved to the Senate, where the Government must secure support from the crossbench for passage. Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland introduced Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024, which would require digital platforms to manage mis/disinformation risks on their platforms with enforcement by the Australian Communications Media Authority.

Other Bills introduced to the House, related to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, privacy and hate speech, capital gains tax for foreign residents, and additional Future Made in Australia measures. After reportedly reaching a deal with the Coalition, Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells introduced the Aged Care Bill 2024 to expand means-tested contributions by aged care entrants.

In the Senate, debate continued on Taxation (Multinational—Global and Domestic Minimum Tax) Bill 2024 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (Costs Protection) Bill 2023. The Senate passed the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service Amendment (Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission) Bill 2024, which establishes a framework for federal parliamentary workplace standards. Only the Senate will sit next week, and will be looking to work through a backlog of Government legislation. 

Social media ban for children

The Federal Government announced it will introduce legislation later this year to set age limits on children accessing social media and relevant digital platforms. The announcement follows discussions at the recent meeting of the National Cabinet in which harmful online content and digital safety were discussed. A specific age at which the limit would apply is yet to be determined in consultation with states and territories. “We want to get young Australians off their devices and onto the footy field or on the netball court or the swimming pool and engaging with each other”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the media.

The Government’s policy announcement builds on the $7.9 million over two years allocated in the 2024-25 Budget to support online safety, including $6.5 million for an age-verification trial to protect children from “harmful online content.” The Government is currently undertaking phase three of the trial testing the effectiveness of age assurance technologies on a device versus an operating system.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas first proposed social media age limits earlier this year, commissioning former High Court Chief Justice Robert French with an Independent Legal Review into a state-based ban on children aged 14 and below. VIC Premier Jacinta Allan had also considered age limits, while NSW is set to host a Social Media Summit in October. However, the Prime Minister observed that a “national approach” is required in response to a “national issue.” Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman also confirmed the Coalition would implement social media limits for children aged 16 and under within 100 days if elected to Government.

2024-25 Tasmanian Budget

Tasmanian Treasurer Michael Ferguson handed^[PDF] down the state’s 2024-25 Budget following the re-election of the Rockliff Government earlier this year. Increased government spending over the last 12 months across areas such as health, education, and infrastructure resulted in an operating deficit of $1.5 billion for the last financial year. A $1.3 billion deficit is forecast for 2024-45 with deficits continuing over the forward estimates until 2027-28, at which time the Government expects to return to surplus. However, net debt increased to a record $5.4 billion and is expected to peak at $8.6 billion in 2027-28. To improve the state’s fiscal position, public service departments will be expected to deliver up to $450 million in savings over the forward estimates.

The Treasurer reaffirmed that the Budget “focuses on driving the delivery of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.” He revealed a $5.1 billion over four years investment in the state’s infrastructure network of which $1.9 billion will solely be allocated for roads and bridges. Other key spending areas in the Budget include improving school infrastructure and upgrading services in Tasmania’s health system.

Looking ahead

The Federal Parliament (Senate only) as well as the NSW, WA, TAS Parliaments will sit next week.

Finance

Federal Developments

Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed he will visit China in late September for the Strategic Economic Dialogue with Chinese counterparts. Discussions are set to range from economic cooperation, deepening the Australia-China trade relationship, and foreign investment ties. The visit will be the first by an Australian treasurer in seven years. 

The Federal Government released draft legislation to establish an economy-wide Scams Prevention Framework. Under the framework, designated sectors must have measures to prevent, detect, report, disrupt and respond to scams, incurring penalties of up to $50 million for non compliance. The Framework will apply to bank, telecommunications, and digital platform service providers (including social media, paid search engine advertising, and direct messaging services). Consultation closes on 4 October.

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh confirmed the Federal Government would be setting a new topic of ‘sexual orientation and gender’ for inclusion in the 2026 census. The government will create a legislative instrument to implement these changes, in keeping with the recommendations of the Australian Bureau of Statistics following consultation with the ABS’s LGBTIQ+ Expert Advisory Committee.

The Federal Government signed a tax treaty with the Slovenian Government to enhance trade and investment opportunities between Australia and Slovenia. The treaty will give Australian businesses new opportunities to access Slovenian capital by reducing withholding tax rates and will reduce compliance costs for taxpayers.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Federal Developments

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles announced the Albanese Government would accept and implement recommendations from the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry report. The Report found there was credible information of serious misconduct by members of the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan over the period 2005 to 2016. The Report delivered 143 recommendations spanning compensation, command accountability, and culture reform within the Australian Defence Force.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong addressed the Australia-China Business Council Canberra Networking Day. The Minister commented on recent trade issues between Australia and China and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s efforts to restore dialogue with Australia’s largest trading partner. Other topics discussed included ongoing trade barriers, the situation in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, China’s human rights violations, the net zero transition, the Quad and AUKUS.

Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell announced that Australia Next, Tourism Australia’s signature incentive showcase, will bring over 200 people to Tropical North Queensland to see why Australia is leading the pack regarding international business events. Over four days, international business event buyers and media will connect with Australian industry sellers to explore and learn more about Australia.

State Developments

VIC Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos launched the Allan Government’s Visitor Economy Community Engagement Framework – a new guide developed to help operators work with local communities when they are developing new tourism products and initiatives. As identified in Experience Victoria 2033 (a strategic plan for Victoria’s tourism sector), growing the state’s visitor economy requires community engagement.

Environment, Resources and Energy

Federal Developments 

Australia and Germany signed a deal to guarantee European buyers for Australian renewable hydrogen producers. The Joint Declaration of Intent, signed in Brisbane, will negotiate a deal through the $660 million H2Global funding window and forms part of the German Government’s H2Global auction mechanism. The scheme aims to strengthen Germany’s desire for more secure energy supply chains in the wake of global conflicts.

The Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications tabled its report into the Nature Positive (Environment Protection Australia) Bill 2024 and Related Bills. The report recommends the Australian Government undertake further consultation regarding the definition of ‘nature positive’ and that amendments should be made to consider greater procedural safeguards for issuing Environmental Protection Orders.

Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek announced a $215 million investment in 115 projects aimed at restoring and protecting wildlife and ecosystems across Australia. The funding will include projects seeking to restore Tasmanian giant kelp forests, control feral animals in the Australian Alps, and manage gamba grass in the NT. The projects are funded under the Saving Native Species Program and Natural Heritage Trust.

The Federal Government approved the Birriwa Solar project in NSW, which will produce enough power for 229,000 homes using 1 million solar panels and 600 MW of battery storage. The project is expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 6 million tonnes annually.

State Developments

The VIC Government announced it will not require households to replace gas cooktops with electric ones, as outlined in the Gas Substitution Roadmap. Premier Jacinta Allan stated that “Victorians can keep cooking with gas”, with laws encouraging new offshore gas storage projects to be introduced to state parliament.

Infrastructure, Transport and Communications

Federal Developments

Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil addressed the AFR Property Summit, outlining the chronic shortage of construction workers, ongoing construction productivity problems, financial complications and hold ups in Australia’s current planning system. Minister O’Neil emphasised that every Australian state is lagging on housing targets that were nationally agreed upon and that Australia is likely to fall short of its target of building 1.2 million additional by 2029, currently on track to produce 1.03 million.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King announced that regulations for setting mass limits for the Heavy Vehicle National Law have been amended to allow heavy vehicles to meet international standards. A 500 kilogram increase in the general access mass limits applies to trucks in Australia that comply with Euro VI or equivalent noxious emissions standards.

The Albanese Government approved the use of the Amazon Classification Tool to classify film and series content in Australia under the Classification Act 1995. The tool will be used to classify content made available to Australian consumers on Amazon’s Prime Video service, which follows the delivery of Stage 1 Classification Reforms that commenced on 14 March 2024. 

State Developments 

The NSW Government released the Productivity and Equality Commission’s latest housing report, the Review of Housing Supply Challenges and Policy Options. The report provided recommendations on ways to overcome the barriers impacting the housing supply in NSW, including establishing a $2.2 billion infrastructure fund to ensure key infrastructure is in place to support development, as well as $253.7 million to continue the overhaul of the planning system and planning reforms.

Health and Education

Federal Developments 

The Albanese Government released the Final Report of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review. The review evaluated health technologies based on quality, safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness and aims to inform funding decisions. The report contains 50 recommendations aimed at improving access to new technologies, reducing inequities, and simplifying HTA processes.

The Federal Government released the draft National Suicide Prevention Strategy for public feedback, aiming to develop a coordinated approach to reduce the country’s high suicide rates. The draft, developed by the National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO) with input from various experts and people with lived experience, is open for consultation until 27 October. In parallel, the government is also supporting the development of a First Nations suicide prevention strategy.

State Developments 

The WA Government announced that medical practitioners and hospital support workers in the WA Health system have accepted new industrial agreements. The Australian Medical Association (WA) members approved a three-year agreement, which includes wage increases and revised conditions for medical practitioners, while hospital support workers accepted a separate agreement with a weekly wage increase and additional benefits.