Weekly Wrap Up – 12 December 2025
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A relatively quiet political week was punctuated by two significant events on both sides of the country. In Perth, HMS Anson came into port for its first maintenance cycle in Australia. This event, slightly delayed by the Rottnest swim – Government decided driving a nuclear submarine through a large group of ocean swimmers may have caused some angst – is significant in the context of AUKUS and highlights Australia’s growing interconnection between the three nations. On the other side of the country, The Lodge was evacuated due to a significant and concerning bomb threat made against the Prime Minister’s residence.
Australia’s social cohesion is under strain. The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, led by Virginia Bell, opened its first hearing in Sydney – a necessary response to rising antisemitism and community fractures following last year’s Bondi Beach terror attack. The commission will examine institutional responses, legal frameworks, and community relations. But the challenge extends beyond antisemitism alone.
Ongoing debates around immigration reveal how rapidly prejudice can take hold in mainstream political discourse. One Nation and a Coalition seeking to reclaim voters have weaponised immigration numbers, with Pauline Hanson recently stating, “…well I’m sorry how can you tell me there are good Muslims?” These comments were vicious, wrong, and racist. Moreover, they exemplify the scapegoating that is currently fracturing Australia’s multicultural fabric and were rightly condemned across mainstream politics.
The first test for the fractured right of politics will be the upcoming South Australian election. Unless an asteroid strikes the South Australian cabinet, Peter Malinauskas will win in a canter, and the question will become whether the Liberals can form a viable Opposition. This is contingent on whether the Liberal Party can peel support away from One Nation. Public polling currently suggests a three-way split, with Labor sitting on roughly 40 per cent of the primary, and One Nation and the Liberals both on 20 per cent. Whether One Nation gets to that level is a very live question, with previous experiences – such as the NSW election in 2025 – indicating that a high polling number prior to the election does not always translate to actual support on election day.
Top talking points
Royal Commission into Antisemitism: The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion held its opening hearing in Sydney.
PM Evacuated: Anthony Albanese was evacuated from The Lodge in Canberra after a security incident. Police found no threat, and he returned safely later that night.
High Speed Rail: Catherine King announced the development phase for a Newcastle–Sydney high-speed rail, funding planning for future construction.
Parliament expansion: The Albanese Government is reportedly considering[paywall] expanding the size of the federal parliament for the first time since 1984.
US Tariffs: Donald Trump raised temporary tariffs on all US imports to 15 per cent after the Supreme Court ruled he exceeded his authority by imposing higher rates under emergency economic powers.
Farrer By-election: Sussan Ley has resigned from federal parliament, triggering a by-election in the regional seat of Farrer, which includes the cities of Albury-Wodonga.
South Australian Election: The South Australian election officially began, with both major parties launching their 28-day campaigns.
Making headlines this week
Capital Gains Tax Debate
Budget Restraint
In the lead up to the 2026-27 Federal Budget, Anthony Albanese has begun signalling a clear shift toward fiscal discipline. He has reportedly directed his Ministers to find billions of dollars in savings, stressing there should be no “nice-to-have” spending and that the budget will be pitched as a belt-tightening exercise rather than one of new largesse. Simultaneously, Jim Chalmers has tasked Treasury with prioritising economic restraint over fiscal expenditure, highlighting the need to scrutinise expenditure and respond to growing concerns over rising debt and the sustainability of Australia’s public finances.
Things to watch
2 March, the Australian Parliament will sit.
2 March, Prue Car will address the 2026 SMH Schools Summit in Sydney.
3 March, the Victorian and Queensland Parliaments will sit.
3 March, the AFR will host the Business Summit in Sydney.
3 March, the ABS will release Building Approvals data.
4 March, the ABS will release National Accounts data.
4 March, Tahlia Isaac will deliver the National Press Club for the National Press Club and Women in Media International Women’s Day Address.
5 March, Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney will address the Australian Parliament.
7 March, the 2026 Nightcliff By-election will be held following the resignation of Greens MLA Kat McNamara.
Inflation, DSFO Reforms, and Superannuation Guidance Updates
Headline inflation remained at 3.8 per cent in the year to January, while underlying inflation rose to 3.4 per cent, up from 3.3 per cent.
Daniel Mulino clarified that reforms to financial advice laws remain a high priority but will be progressed alongside consumer protection reforms, which the Government is currently prioritising.
Treasury released[PDF] guidance outlining best-practice principles for superannuation trustees designing retirement income solutions, aiming to better tailor products to members’ needs.
Pacific, US and UK Ministerial Visits
Penny Wong travelled to Samoa, where she met Prime Minister Laʻaulialemalietoa and his cabinet, discussing cooperation on security, governance, climate, health, education, and economic growth. She then travelled to Niue to meet Prime Minister Tagelagi to discuss the country’s development priorities and climate ambitions.
Don Farrell attended the launch of G’Day USA 2026 in Los Angeles, showcasing Australia’s cultural and creative industries. He also met counterparts to strengthen ties in tourism, investment, and trade.
Pat Conroy attended the Australia–UK Defence Industry Dialogue with UK Defence Minister Luke Pollard, visiting key sites to review progress on the SSN-AUKUS program.
Pacific Climate Talks, Data Centre, and Energy Appointments
Penny Wong welcomed the Pacific Islands Forum’s decision for Fiji to host pre-COP meetings and Tuvalu a leaders’ component, bringing climate talks to the Pacific and supporting COP31 talks.
Chris Bowen communicated that new data centres will be required to supply their own renewable energy and operate flexibly with the grid, noting that large energy users must help maintain system reliability as electricity demand rises.
John Grimes was appointed CEO of the new Renewable Energy Council Asia Pacific after 18 years leading the Smart Energy Council (SEC). He will focus on accelerating renewable and storage deployment across the region while maintaining involvement with the SEC.
Sydney Airport, Triple Zero, and New South Wales Housing Moves
Catherine King announced the appointment of the independent Sydney Airport Compliance Committee to support competitive use of take-off and landing slots, advise on compliance effectiveness, and enforce new slot management reforms.
Anika Wells initiated a review of Australia’s Triple Zero emergency telecommunications laws. The review will aim to strengthen system resilience, enhance regional connectivity, and expand mobile coverage to prevent future disruptions to emergency calls.
The New South Wales Government finalised Works-in-Kind Guidelines and Infrastructure Opportunity Plans to fast-track housing delivery by allowing developers to directly provide enabling infrastructure.
Higher Education Working Group, Digital Health, and Western Australian Health Updates
Jason Clare announced the launch of the Better Regulation Working Group, aimed at cutting duplication, streamlining processes, and improving efficiency across the university sector. The group will recommend reforms to promote public confidence while maintaining quality standards in the sector.
The Australian Digital Health Agency released the Digital Health Train the Trainer Toolkit, an online resource designed for university educators to embed digital skills into health degrees, supporting the development of a digitally capable healthcare workforce.
Roger Cook launched the Access Health WA website, centralising state-wide healthcare services. The site will enable Western Australians to assess their healthcare options, ranging from Urgent Care Clinics, WA’s Virtual Emergency Department, bulk billing practices, pharmaceutical advice and 1800MEDICARE.