Weekly Wrap Up – 12 December 2025
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This week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered the opening address to the Labor National Conference in Adelaide. The Prime Minister used his keynote address to reaffirm that tackling cost of living pressures remains a core priority for his Government, and that transformative changes such as artificial intelligence must work for all Australians. His speech was a clear effort to create political contrast with political populism and One Nation.
The headline announcement was the establishment of a new Fair Work Court, designed to provide a simpler, faster and more accessible pathway for resolving workplace disputes. The Prime Minister argued that a specialist court will reduce the time and cost involved in pursuing underpayment, wage theft and other employment claims. This announcement reflects a long-held ambition of the trade union movement, and one that Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth is now responsible for delivering. The Prime Minister also announced an expansion of the Paid Prac program to include students undertaking placements in allied health professions, extending financial support as part of the Government’s commitment to deliver cost of living support and invest in the future healthcare workforce.
Beyond the Government’s key cost of living announcements, conference delegates considered a number of platform motions that provide insight into Labor’s longer-term policy direction. Conference endorsed a motion calling on the Government to mandate superannuation payments for all workers under 18, removing the existing requirement that employees work at least 30 hours a week before becoming eligible. Delegates also backed a motion supporting the removal of tax measures that discourage the transition to cleaner energy. This provides the Government with greater flexibility to pursue future tax reforms, including potential changes to the diesel fuel tax credit. Artificial intelligence also remained a prominent topic, with debate focused on balancing productivity gains with appropriate safeguards for workers, copyright protections and regulatory oversight.
So far, Labor National Conference has reinforced the Albanese Government’s message to the party faithful (and voters) that Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and her brand of political populism should not be underestimated.
Watch this space.
Top talking points
Ministerial Travel: Penny Wong travelled to the Philippines to participate in the ASEAN-Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Response to Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia’s Report: Anthony Albanese announced new education, policing, reporting, and community support measures to address Islamophobia.
Federal Polling: The latest Newspoll found Labor’s primary vote fell three points to 30 per cent, while support for One Nation increased by two points to 30 per cent and the Coalition rose to 19 per cent.
NSW Polling: Resolve polling found support for both major parties in NSW has fallen to its lowest level since November 2021. Primary support for the Coalition declined three points to 23 per cent, while Labor dropped three points to 29 per cent. One Nation secured 25 per cent of the primary vote.
Making headlines this week
AI Consumer Safety
Victorian Legislative Developments
The Victorian Government is drafting legislation aimed at protecting children’s safety online, through targeting “big tech companies and online trolls”. Under new laws, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal would be granted powers enabling it to make ‘demasking orders’, forcing social media companies to reveal the identity of anonymous users accused of online vilification. The threshold for claims brought on behalf of minors against social media and AI companies would also be removed. Whilst the Liberal Opposition expressed its support for the proposed laws, it called out the unlikelihood of the Government introducing, let alone passing these laws, in the final four sitting weeks before the November state election. Also this week, the Victorian Government announced it will introduce legislation restricting the inappropriate use of AI in workplaces, including workplace surveillance. The legislation, which is not dissimilar to recent laws passed in NSW, will prevent workers from being “watched, tracked and assessed by technology”.
Things to watch
29 July: The ABS will release CPI data.
29 July: Dr Doug Hilton AO will address the National Press Club, discussing the CSIRO and sovereign science.
29 July: Chris Minns will address CEDA for the NSW State of the State 2026.
30 July: The ABS will release Building Approvals data.
31 July: The ABS will release job mobility, potential workers, and underemployed workers data.
Corporate Governance, Audit Oversight and Consumer Advocacy Developments
ASIC wrote to Registered Company Auditors to reinforce their legal, ethical and professional obligations, underscoring the importance of maintaining confidence in the integrity of the audit profession. The letter follows the Federal Government’s direction to ASIC to investigate internal complaints relating to audit practices at the Big Four accounting firms.
The ASX opened consultation on a revised version of its Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations. The proposed changes remove the requirement for listed entities to publicly disclose a board skills matrix, while also simplifying diversity reporting by removing additional targets, diversity characteristic disclosures and other recommendations that duplicate existing requirements under Australian legislation.
Super Consumers Australia appointed Peter Kell as Chair of its Board. Kell previously served as Deputy Chair of ASIC and the ACCC, as well as CEO of CHOICE.
AUKUS investment, US Tariffs, and Geopolitical Commentary
Richard Marles announced a further $4.6 billion investment to expand Adelaide’s Osborne shipyards, bringing total AUKUS investment in the precinct to $8.5 billion. The funding will support the construction of new submarine facilities, including a large fabrication hall.
The United States will increase tariffs on Australian products from 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent. This follows the Trade Office determining Australia and 59 other countries were not taking sufficient action to eliminate forced labour from supply chains. Don Farrell has criticised the decision, describing the tariffs, which are set to commence Friday afternoon, as “unjustified” and “inconsistent with our free trade agreement” and called for their removal.
In Manila, Penny Wong reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to a rules-based international order, expressing concern over recent military activity in the Indo-Pacific, including by China. She stated that Australia and its regional partners would not be intimidated by its “provocative” actions.
Space, Energy, and Renewable Fuel Moves
Tim Ayres released the Statement on Space outlining the Government’s vision to grow Australia’s space industry, strengthen local capability, support investment, expand global market opportunities, create jobs and enhance national resilience.
Chris Bowen announced $30 million for the Grid Enhancing Technologies Program. This will support 14 projects focused on vehicle-to-grid charging, shared apartment solar and batteries, improved network management and greater renewable energy integration across six states and territories.
The Government committed $32 million in support for HAMR Energy’s forest waste-to-fuel project, which will establish domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.
HAFF, eSafety, and Australia Post Developments
Clare O’Neil responded to the Auditor-General’s report into Treasury’s design and delivery of the Housing Australia Future Fund. The response noted support for recommendations that strengthen governance, risk management and public reporting.
eSafety released two research reports, Growing Up Online: Parenting Young Children in the Digital Age and Balancing Risk and Reward: Parenting in the Digital World. The two reports highlight gaps in conversations between parents and children about algorithms, sexual extortion and the risks associated with generative AI.
Anika Wells announced a $40.5 million investment to accelerate Australia Post’s transition to larger electric vehicles. The measure aims to support fuel resilience, delivery infrastructure and reduce diesel dependence.
Fair Work Court, ARC, and Smoking Updates
Anthony Albanese announced plans to establish a new Fair Work Court to provide a simpler, faster pathway for resolving workplace disputes. The specialist court will operate alongside the Fair Work Commission to reduce complexity and delays for workers and employers.
Jason Clare announced reforms to the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program. This will simplify funding processes, support early-career researchers, grow industry collaboration, and improve research translation.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows daily smoking rates have fallen to a record low of 5.6 per cent, down from 8.3 per cent in 2022–23. Mark Butler welcomed the decline as evidence of the long-term impact of tobacco control measures, while acknowledging emerging concerns around nicotine pouches.