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Highlights

• The Coalition leads Labor 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis while Anthony Albanese remains preferred Prime Minister over Peter Dutton, according to the latest Freshwater Strategy poll.
• Labour force data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2 per cent in August.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and United States President Joe Biden published a joint leaders statement to mark the third anniversary of the AUKUS partnership.
• Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland acknowledged Meta’s announcement to impose parental controls for users under 18 years of age on Instagram and reiterated the Federal Government’s intention to legislate age limits on social media access.
• Minister for Trade Don Farrell confirmed that negotiations with the United Arab Emirates on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement have concluded. The Agreement is expected to be signed and ratified later this year.

Federal Parliament

The Senate was the only house of Parliament sitting this week to “catch up on legislation”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the media this week. With a federal election on the horizon, pressures in the housing market dominated debate as the government aimed to pass one of its signature housing policies – the Help to Buy Bill 2023. The Bill would establish a shared equity scheme for up to 40,000 low to middle income first home buyers.

However, with the Coalition opposing the Bill, the Government required the support of the Greens and at least three crossbenchers for the Bill to pass. For their support, the Greens demanded caps on rents, the abolition of negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, and greater investment in public and affordable housing. With no compromise reached between the major parties this week, the Senate blocked a vote on the Bill and deferred further consideration until the last parliamentary sitting week in November. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the Greens and the Coalition’s position as being a “No-alition.” He also confirmed the Bill would be reintroduced into the House of Representatives in October, sparking media speculation of a trigger for a double dissolution election.

Despite the gridlock, the Senate passed the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Adding Superannuation for a More Secure Retirement) Bill 2024, which mandates employers pay superannuation on paid parental leave. The Senate also passed the National Health Amendment (Technical Changes to Averaging Price Disclosure Threshold and Other Matters) Bill 2024, and the Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (Costs Protection) Bill 2023. Though the Future Made in Australia Bill 2024 and the Nature Positive (Environment Protection Australia) Bill 2024 were listed, the Senate did not debate them. 

Debate on industrial relations

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the Business Council of Australia’s (BCA) annual dinner, in which he described the Labor Government as being “proudly pro-business and pro-worker.” Mr Albanese pointed to the Federal Government’s industrial relations reforms and greater investment in skills as contributing to economic prosperity. However, BCA CEO Bran Black, who was the Chief of Staff to former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, was at odds with the Prime Minister, describing the workplace relations changes – specifically multi-enterprise bargaining – as hampering productivity and competitiveness in the Australian economy.

The event came as Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt addressed the National Press Club and emphasised that “Labor’s workplace reforms are helping Australians to stay afloat.” Minister Watt also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to keeping Closing Loopholes legislation in effect, including changes to labour hire work arranges, right to disconnect measures and casual employment reforms.

In an interview on ABC’s Insiders, Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume confirmed that the Coalition will be “reviewing” industrial relations laws if elected to Government.

Looking ahead

The NSW, TAS (Budget estimates), and SA Parliaments will sit next week.

Finance

Federal Developments

The Federal Government announced employers will be required to pay their employees’ superannuation at the same time as their salary and wages, subject to the passage of legislation. The reforms come in response to reports of employees not receiving superannuation payments. Draft legislation will be released for consultation later this year, with changes due to come into effect from July 2026.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers opened consultation on the design of a new ‘Front Door’ for investors with “major, transformational investment proposals.” Announced as part of the 2024-25, the Front Door aims to streamline and attract greater private sector investment to align with the Government’s Future Made in Australia agenda by establishing a prioritisation process and fast-tracking approval processes. Submissions close 4 October.

The Treasury and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released^[PDF] a report on their current assessment of central bank digital currency (CBDC) issues in Australia. The report concludes that there is currently no clear public interest case for issuing a retail CBDC in Australia. However, in the accompanying media release, the Treasury and RBA expressed that they remain open to the possibility that this may change over time as costs and benefits are better understood both domestically and internationally.

The Federal Court dismissed the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) case against superannuation trustee Retail Employees Superannuation Pty Ltd (Rest) for allegedly making misleading claims about limitations on members’ rights to transfer superannuation funds out of the Retail Employees Superannuation Trust. ASIC has 28 days to lodge an appeal to the Full Court of the Federal Court.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Federal Developments

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong commented on escalations in the Middle East, including the Hezbollah hardware explosions and the United Nations vote on Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Minister acknowledged that, like the US and UK, Australia abstained from a United Nations vote by the Palestinian Authority calling on Israel to withdraw from Gaza and the West Bank.

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy announced a $22 million investment over the next three years in a sovereign rocket motor program to boost Australia’s long range strike capabilities. The Government will now coordinate with industry to establish a manufacturing complex.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles travelled to Vanuatu to meet with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas and other Ministers. While in Vanuatu, the Minister opened the newly redeveloped Cook Barracks in Port Vila. The Vanuatu Police Force and Vanuatu Mobile Force will operate the upgraded facilities and support their operational capabilities.

State Developments

VIC Premier Jacinta Allan travelled to India to announce a new $5 million Yes to International Students fund. The fund aims to assist Victorian universities and TAFEs deliver more education overseas through targeted transnational seed funding. The announcement followed news of an expanded partnership between RMIT University and leading Indian university BITS Pilani.

Environment, Resources and Energy

Federal Developments 

The Federal Government provided funding for the electrification of ports across Australia. Through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the Federal Government will provide $70 million to Flinders Port Holdings to electrify their container stevedoring operations. The funding will also investigate the use of an all-electric crane at the Adelaide Container Terminal.

The Federal and Queensland governments announced two approved projects under the Water Infrastructure for Sustainable and Efficient Regions initiative. The projects, located in central and north Queensland, will receive $5.9 million and $9 million respectively.

Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek approved a new solar farm south of Townsville. The 300MW Cambridge Solar Farm is expected to power over 100,000 homes and connect to existing transmission infrastructure. The project is also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 670,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

State Developments

The VIC Government opened consultation on the future Wind and Renewable Hydrogen Worker Training Centres. The centres will prioritise increasing the participation of women and First Peoples in the renewable sectors. Tenders for the training centres will commence in 2025 before delivery of the centres in 2026.

Infrastructure, Transport and Communications

Federal Developments

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil confirmed the first projects to be deliver under the Housing Australia Future Fund. More than 13,700 new social and affordable homes, including 1,267 for women and children escaping domestic violence, are expected to be delivered as part of the first round of HAFF projects. Applications for round two are set to open in the next six months.

The Federal and Queensland governments jointly announced the imminent start of construction on a social and affordable housing project in Cairns. The project is in Woree and is expected to deliver to 490 homes, including 245 social, 223 affordable, and 22 specialist disability apartments. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The Federal Government released a report on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and their potential benefits to  Australia’s agriculture and mining sectors. The report found that LEO satellites are an emerging technology that will provide faster and reliable communications for users outside of fixed and mobile broadband coverage, in remote and rural areas.

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland reappointed the Convenor, Deputy Convenor and four members of the Classification Review Board until 5 December 2025. The board is an independent statutory body that oversees classification decisions related to films, video games, and other forms of media.

The Federal and VIC governments jointly commenced works to rebuild Sunshine Station to create capacity for a rail connection to Melbourne airport, as well as more frequent services in Melbourne’s west. Both governments have committed $5 billion to the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, starting with upgrades to Sunshine Station. The works will be delivered alongside the VIC Government’s $143 million Sunshine Station Precinct Masterplan upgrade, which includes a new bus interchange and pedestrian connections.

Health and Education

Federal Developments 

Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells announced a $3.8 billion investment over four years to improve the aged care sector by funding pay rises for workers starting 1 January 2025. This investment aims to support 340,000 aged care workers and is part of broader reforms to enhance care standards and sustainability in residential and home care. It comes after the Federal Government reached a deal with the Coalition. 

The Senate Community Affairs References Committee published its final report on the inquiry into issues related to menopause and perimenopause. The report includes 25 recommendations, such as commissioning research on the impacts of menopause, launching a national awareness campaign, and integrating menopause education into medical training, as well as greater workplace support and improving access to menopause treatments and care.

The Productivity Commission released its final report on the future of Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) system. The report includes 56 recommendations aimed at creating an affordable, accessible, inclusive, high-quality, and universal early learning system by 2036. Minister for Education Jason Clare confirmed the Federal Government will consider and respond to the recommendations in due course.

The Federal Government appointed a new expert advisory panel to guide funding priorities for the Medical Research Future Fund’s Australian Brain Cancer Mission. The panel, funded with $126.4 million over 10 years, aims to double brain cancer survival rates and improve patient quality of life. The panel will revise the existing research roadmap and develop an implementation plan for the initiative.

State Developments 

The NSW Government announced a $20,000 sign-on bonus to midwives relocating to rural, regional, and remote areas as part of a six-month trial starting 30 September. This initiative, part of the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, aims to address midwife shortages and enhance care for families in these regions.