When a government does a good thing, we should take a moment to celebrate – especially when it means a long and hard-fought fight has been won. The Australia Institute first attacked the possibility of a capital gains tax discount back in August 1999.
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.
The Albanese Government has broken an election promise, which is worth calling out. People should keep to their commitments or explain why they have broken them. But the policy debate is useless if, having called out a broken promise, journalists and politicians have nothing more to say.
The first calls for a boycott came in 1964. A young Danish left-wing activist stormed the stage holding a banner reading “Boycott Franco and Salazar”. Though, the most controversial part of the competition has long been the inclusion of Israel.
Speaking at The Australia Institute’s post-budget Politics in the Pub event in Canberra, Chief Economist Greg Jericho and Senior Economist Matt Grudnoff described the government’s changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount as among the most ambitious housing reforms in decades.
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Medical researchers and advocates have welcomed the government’s commitment to increasing funding for critical research projects, but warn that the sector remains under significant financial pressure. Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan described it as a “really big win” for the sector, which has been campaigning hard for the increased investment.
The Government has now released its formal response to the Australian parliament’s inquiry into online gambling and gambling advertising. The response was tabled in Parliament at about 4pm on the Tuesday afternoon that most of Parliamentary press pack were locked in a room without their phones or laptops so that they could read an advanced copy of the budget.
Former oil and gas executives are urging the Albanese government not to use the Middle East crisis as justification for expanding fossil fuel production, warning Australia risks locking itself into an “outdated” energy system as the rest of the world accelerates towards electrification.
The morning after budget it’s always fun to look at the front pages of the newspapers. And while no one actually reads them anymore, they are good for giving an insight in to just how unhinged parts of the media are.
There was little in the Budget for Australia’s under-resourced integrity agencies, who by the government’s own assessment are not meeting their targets.
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Changes to eligibility requirements will see 160,000 participants cut from the scheme over the next four years, as the government looks to cap annual growth at 8 per cent by 2028. Disability advocates are describing the decision as as ‘revolting’, ‘frightening’ and ‘deeply troubling’.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced what he described as “the most significant tax reform package in more than a quarter of a century”, but the failure to include a gas export tax has been heavily criticised.
Protesters highlighted the significant risks posed to Scott Reef and marine ecosystems, as Woodside comes under pressure over the Browse project’s emissions and costs, as well as its appearance at a Senate inquiry into gas taxation.
Every Australian has a right to access government information. Requests for access are increasingly delayed, but journalists and members of the public are still using freedom of information law to keep the government on its toes.
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.
