Weekly Wrap Up – 12 December 2025
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There are weeks in politics dominated by polls, policy fights and parliamentary manoeuvring. This was not one of them.
The horrific attack on Independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta electorate office has cast a shadow over Australian politics. Dr Haines remains in critical condition after suffering devastating injuries, including the loss of both legs. Her husband, Phil Haines describing her as a “fighter”.
The attack has prompted a deeper reckoning about the health of our political culture. The Prime Minister has called for the temperature of political debate to be lowered, while parliamentarians across the spectrum have reflected on the growing anger, intimidation and threats accompanying public life. The motivation for the alleged attack remains unknown and should not be pre-empted.
Australians often look at political violence elsewhere and take comfort in believing our democracy is different, more peaceful, accessible and grounded in respect. This week has shaken that confidence.
Democracy depends on disagreement. It depends equally on our ability to disagree without dehumanising one another. As Australia reflects on what happened in Wangaratta, the challenge is not to retreat from debate, but to recover our best traditions: dialogue, respect, listening and the understanding that political opponents are not enemies.
Top Talking Points
National Press Club: Senator David Pocock used his inaugural National Press Club address to call for an independent-led minority government and stronger taxation of Australia’s natural wealth.
Artificial Intelligence Public Hearings: The Joint Select Committee on AI continued public hearings this week, with unions, skills organisations, researchers and regulators appearing. The future of work and AI safety emerged as key areas of focus.
EU Trade Deal: Debate intensified over the Australia–EU trade deal, with the Coalition opposing ratification amid concerns from farmers and steelmakers over market access.
Senate Estimates: Senate Estimates will be held at Federal Parliament next week.
Making headlines this week
Greens Tensions
Inquiry into the nature and drivers of radicalisation
The first public hearing of the inquiry into the nature and drivers of radicalisation in Australia heard stark warnings about the growing involvement of children and young people in violent extremism. The AFP warned that AI, online networks and a search for purpose and belonging were key contributors to the accelerating pace of radicalisation. eSafety’s evidence focused on how recommender systems and gaming environments can expose young people to harmful material they have not actively sought out. The hearings further highlighted the increasing intersection between the Government’s national security and online safety agendas, with digital platforms now facing growing scrutiny over how they detect and respond to extremist activity.
Things to watch
26 October, Federal Parliament sits.
26 October, the AFR will host the Super and Wealth Summit 2026 in Melbourne.
28 October, the ABS will release Consumer Price Index data.
28 October, Greens Leader David Shoebridge will address the National Press Club.
29 October, the ABS will release Energy Account and International Trade Price Index data.
Treasury and Finance
Treasury opened consultation on the reporting threshold for large companies. As announced in the 2026–27 Budget, the Government is proposing to raise the revenue threshold to $100 million (up from $50 million) and the asset threshold to $50 million (up from $25 million).
RBA Head of Payments Policy Ellis Connolly responded to questions on the RBA’s credit card surcharge ban following significant pushback from small business. He noted the Reserve Bank is monitoring the implementation with a focus on price and fee transparency and merchant costs.
Super Consumers Australia called on the Australian Government to introduce enforceable deadlines for superannuation death and disability payments, as well as require funds to publish how long payments take. The call follows new research which found that death benefits and total permanent disability insurance payouts exceed reasonable expectations.
DFAT and Defence
Penny Wong travelled to Jakarta to meet newly appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Arrmanatha Nasir. The pair discussed how Australia and Indonesia will continue to implement the Jakarta Treaty signed earlier this year.
Richard Marles joined Wong and others to attend the Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum in Port Moresby. At the Forum, both governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a Comprehensive Digital, Critical Technology and Telecommunications Partnership to establish a framework of closer cooperation on telecommunications.
Marles also announced that eligible Papua New Guineans will be able to apply to join the ADF from 16 November 2026, following the signing of the Pukpuk Treaty in October 2025. The program will begin on a small scale, with applicants required to meet standard ADF entry requirements and successful recruits expected to apply for Australian citizenship once eligible.
Energy, Agriculture, and Resources
The Albanese Government is supporting a 360 MWh heat battery project at Rio Tinto’s Yarwun alumina refinery to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for industrial heating. ARENA will provide an initial $3.6 million for design work, followed by up to $38 million for construction and commissioning.
The Federal and NSW governments have opened consultation on a proposed bilateral agreement to streamline environmental approvals under the reformed EPBC Act. The agreement would allow major projects to undergo a single assessment against state and federal requirements, with final approval remaining with the Commonwealth. Consultation closes 19 November 2026.
The NSW Government will introduce legislation allowing MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coal mine to produce up to 16.5 million tonnes annually until 2032, following a High Court ruling that created uncertainty over its expansion approval.
Infrastructure, Transport, Housing and Communications
Transport Ministers approved updated voluntary guidelines aimed at making container freight charges more transparent and predictable. Commencing in January 2027, the changes seek to give businesses greater certainty over freight costs and improve efficiency across Australia’s container supply chains.
A review found the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project could cost up to $25 billion, compared with the previous $12 billion estimate, with completion delayed to 2029. The Government defended the project as essential to grid reliability, while Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan called for Minister for Energy Chris Bowen to resign over the cost blowout.
Western Sydney International Airport opens for passenger flights on Sunday, becoming Australia’s first airport to offer the new web-based Australia Travel Declaration from Monday.
Data from Domain shows capital city house prices fell 4.7 per cent in the September quarter, with declines across every capital for the first time in 15 years. Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil said price growth needed to slow and defended the Government’s reforms to put first-home buyers on equal footing with investors.
Health, Education, and Employment
Mark Butler announced that more than 2,100 junior doctors will be offered Commonwealth-funded GP training places in 2028. Doctor registrations have increased from 6,200 in 2022 to more than 10,300 in 2025–26.
The latest Occupation Shortage List released by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) shows that of the 279 occupations assessed, there has been a nine per cent decrease in skills shortages, down from 36 per cent in 2023 to 27 per cent in 2026.
Federal and Victorian Governments signed a 2025–2034 bilateral agreement under the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, providing $3.5 billion in additional Commonwealth funding for Victorian public schools and supporting reforms to improve student outcomes.