Almost nine in 10 Australians support access to abortion, according to new research released as South Australia makes a third attempt to introduce new restrictions on terminations after 25 weeks.
To claim an idea as popular, support for it needs to reach at least 50% – unless you’re talking about tax. Public support for systemic changes to the taxation system rarely reach that benchmark. Tax reform doesn’t have the easy popularity of cheaper petrol, or Collingwood losing a grand final by one point. Proper debate on tax requires nuance, and public commentary on tax is where nuance goes to die.
Something quietly significant happened in Tasmanian politics last weekend. On 13 June, former Liberal staffer and public affairs executive Brad Stansfield announced he would seek Liberal Senate preselection in Tasmania. The very next day, sitting Senator Jonathon Duniam announced he was stepping down from federal politics before the 2028 election.
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More than $70 billion in potential revenue has been forgone since Labor took office, according to new analysis that is fuelling calls for the Albanese Government to hold a national plebiscite on a gas export tax.
Housing unaffordability has always had a pretty obvious cause. When the Howard government introduced a 50% discount on capital gains, it set the housing market aflame. Investors flocked into the system knowing that now they could negative gear properties to reduce their tax, and they could easily make up the loss when they sold the property because half of the profit would be tax free.
The Queensland Museum is facing scrutiny from the state’s information watchdog over its handling of a right-to-information request seeking details about its partnership with Shell’s Queensland Gas Company (QGC) business.
The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) has called for major environmental reforms, warning Western Australia's biodiversity is under growing threat as more than 128,000 hectares of native vegetation is subject to clearing applications. According to CCWA’s newly released report, WA has already lost 16 flora species and 23 fauna species to extinction.
The destruction of a historic raintree in Cairns has reignited calls for governments to recognise urban greenery as an essential public health measure. After months of campaigning and a discontinued legal challenge, devastated locals watched on as the tree was cut down on Tuesday.
Excessive election signage in New South Wales has become an “arms race”, with a parliamentary committee finding it creates safety risks, visual clutter and an uneven playing field for candidates around polling places. The Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters has recommended the NSW Government establish a 100-metre restricted signage zone around voting booths ahead of next year’s state election.
A move to ban the gambling industry from making political donations has been launched in the ACT, as calls grow for stronger safeguards against the sector’s influence. Independent Member for Kurrajong Thomas Emerson has introduced a Private Member’s Bill to the ACT Legislative Assembly, arguing financial ties to the industry risk undermining gambling reform.
The start of the FIFA World Cup would normally be a travel boom for the host countries. The impact of Donald Trump’s regime and the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has, however, led to numerous reports that travel to the USA (which co-hosts the World Cup with Canada and Mexico) is well below expectations.
It isn’t always easy to keep up with what’s happening in the US. “Shorter America” is a series where Dr Emma Shortis loops you in on what’s going on in America and shares news and analysis that you can trust.
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An influential farming group has called for reform of Australia’s largest fossil fuel subsidy, the $10 billion per year Fuel Tax Credit Scheme (FTCS). The call comes in a new report, Energy Sovereignty for Regional Australia, commissioned by Farmers for Climate Action and written by University of Western Australia Adjunct Professor Ray Wills.
Australia has backed an ambitious global electrification target, with Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen declaring “the world is having an electrification moment”. Greenpeace welcomed the initiative but said limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, alongside greater electrification.
Almost nine in ten NSW residents support truth in political advertising laws, according to polling cited by a new push for reforms before next year’s state election. The findings come amid growing concern about misinformation, deepfakes and AI-generated content, with advocates warning voters are increasingly being exposed to false and misleading political claims online.
It isn’t always easy to keep up with what’s happening in the US. “Shorter America” is a series where Dr Emma Shortis loops you in on what’s going on in America and shares news and analysis that you can trust.
