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☆ Elon Musk calls Australian government 'fascists' over misinformation law
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Peter Guo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Thursday called the Australian government "fascists" over plans to crack down on misinformation online. "Elon Musk's had more positions on free speech than the Kama Sutra," Government Services Minister Bill Shorten told the Australian network Channel Nine on Friday. "I mean, is this what he thinks free speech is all about?" At the time, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Musk an "arrogant billionaire who thinks he is above the law." The Australian regulator later dropped its legal effort after a federal court refused to extend a temporary order to block the graphic content.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Elon Musk's, Stephen Jones, Elon, Jones, Michelle Rowland, X, Anthony Albanese Organizations: Tech, Social, Australia's Labor, Government, Australian, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Twitter Locations: Australia

☆ Australia and China: Rebound in Ties Threatened by Death Sentence for Australian Writer
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

China's then ambassador to Australia says that in response to the call, the Chinese public would boycott Australian wine, beef and tourism. Nov. 27, 2020 - China will impose temporary anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine, China announces. Jan. 3, 2023 - China allows three government-backed utilities and its top steelmaker to resume coal imports from Australia. Oct. 11, 2023 - China releases Australian journalist Cheng Lei after three years in a Beijing prison on national security charges. Oct. 22, 2023 - China agrees to review dumping tariffs of 218% on Australian wine, potentially clearing way for the resumption of imports.

Persons: Yang Hengjun, Anthony Albanese, China's, Cheng Lei, Albanese, Xi Jinping, Jan, Li, Kirsty Needham, Antoni Slodkowski, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, South China, Huawei Technologies Co, Australia's Labor Party Locations: Beijing, Canberra, China, South, Australia, Indonesia, Japan

☆ Ship Carrying 16,000 Sheep and Cattle Stranded off Australia
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"It's very hard to imagine that that is consistent with the animal welfare standards that Australians expect to be applied to Australian animals." ROUGH WEATHERAustralia is a major exporter of live animals, shipping more than half a million sheep and half a million cattle last year. Most cattle go to Asian markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam but the Middle East is by far the biggest destination for Australian sheep. Israel is a key market, receiving 86,100 sheep worth $6.5 million and 10,848 cattle worth $14 million from Australia in the first three months of last year, trade data show. Australia's Labor government has pledged to outlaw exports of live sheep in coming years but faces angry pushback from farm groups who say this would put people out of work and destroy farming communities.

Persons: Peter Hobson CANBERRA, Yemen's, Josh Wilson, Bassem, Geoff Pearson, Canberra, Peter Hobson, Stephen Coates Organizations: Fremantle, WA Farmers, Reuters, Korkyra Shipping, Labor Locations: Australia, Israel, Africa, Red, Europe, Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, New Zealand

☆ Australia's Labor Government Defends Shift in Personal Tax Policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The government has reached a "different view" about the already-legislated tax cuts, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, as the conservative opposition coalition criticised the government for breaking an election pledge of retaining the tax cuts. Chalmers said the tax policy shift would help build trust as it was designed to provide more cost-of-living relief for more people without stoking inflation. Under the new policy, people earning up to A$140,000 ($92,050) will enjoy lower taxes from July 1, Australian media reported. A 37% tax band would be retained for some high earners, with the savings redirected to those on low incomes. That has dented Albanese's ratings since his 2022 election win.

Persons: Renju Jose SYDNEY, Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, reneging, James Paterson, Renju Jose, Richard Chang Organizations: Labor, Channel, National Press, Labor Party, Home Affairs, Sky News Locations: Sydney

☆ Joe Biden has a decision to make about Julian Assange
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

A small group of lawyers and media executives gathered in a well-appointed back room to listen to Gabriel Shipton, Assange's half-brother. In the case of Vault 7, WikiLeaks' source turned out to be a disgruntled former C.I.A employee. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn New York, Gabriel Shipton, Assange's half-brother, declined to rule out the possibility of a plea deal. Every time the Australian government raises this issue, the Chinese government puts out a statement about Julian Assange. Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, right, was part of a delegation of Australian officials in the US to press for the release of Julian Assange.

Persons: Julian Assange, Assange, Gabriel Shipton, Tucker Carlson, Tucker, Shipton, he'd, Anthony Albanese, Joe Biden, Monique Ryan, Albanese, Mike Pompeo, Caroline Kennedy, Der Spiegel, El Pais, David Hicks, Julian, John Shipton, Assange's, John, Gabriel, Brett Assange, Peter Whish, Wilson, We've, Robert Carr, Chelsea Manning's, Obama, We're, Cheng Lei, —, Chelsea Manning, Manning, What's, Julian Assange's, John MacDougall, …, they'd, he's, John Young, Laura Poitras's, Mueller, Robert Mueller's, John Podesta's, Bernie Sanders, John Koeltl, They've, Donald, Trump, we've, James Comey, Hillary Clinton, He's, I'm, Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner, I've, Putin, exfiltrate Assange, Julian wasn't, Dana Rohrabacher, Rohrabacher, Jennifer Robinson, Tracey Nearmy, we'd, Marjorie Taylor, Greene, Antony Blinken, Biden, Mattathias Schwartz Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, WikiLeaks, Washington Post, Washington, DOJ, The Washington, Australia's Labor Party, New, Biden, Senate Intelligence, Justice Department, New York Times, Guardian, Chelsea, Pentagon, Getty, Justice, The State Department, Laura Poitras's WikiLeaks, State Department, DNC, Democratic, Committee, Democratic National Convention, of, Russian Federation, Novaya Gazeta, Trump, CIA, The Justice Locations: New York, London, Assange's, Pacific, Ecuadorian, Washington, Russia, Australia, Shipton, Brig, Chelsea, Iraq, Australian, China, American, Moscow, Getty Shipton, … Shipton, Cryptome, There's, Southern, of New York, Russian, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Panama, schwartz79@protonmail.com

☆ Chevron accepts Australian labour tribunal's terms to end strike at LNG plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A 3D printed natural gas pipeline is placed in front of displayed Chevron logo in this illustration taken February 8, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 21 (Reuters) - Chevron (CVX.N) said on Thursday it has the accepted recommendations from Australia's labor regulator to end its dispute with unions at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Western Australia. The Fair Work Commission of Australia, which has the power to impose a settlement, "strongly recommended" parties accept its proposals to end work stoppages that began on Sept. 8 at the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG operations. The workers at the facilities, which account for nearly 7% of global LNG supply, are backed by the Offshore Alliance - that combines the Maritime Union of Australia and Australian Workers' Union. Chevron had been negotiating with the workers for weeks alongside Australia's Woodside Energy (WDS.AX), which managed to avert the strikes last month after reaching a deal.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Sourasis Bose, Maju Samuel, Shinjini Ganguli, Eileen Soreng Organizations: Chevron, REUTERS, Offshore Alliance, Maritime Union of Australia, Australian Workers ' Union, Australia's, Energy, Thomson Locations: Western Australia, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Australia government to introduce bill barring 'wage theft' on Monday
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Australia's Labor government will introduce legislation to close "loopholes" in workplace law, a move opposed by employer groups fearing higher costs, when parliament returns on Monday. Workplace Minister Tony Burke said on Sunday he would introduce the bill making it a criminal offence to deliberately underpay workers, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and a maximum fine of A$7.8 million ($5.0 million). Penalties would not apply to employers who make honest mistakes, Burke said in a statement. Burke said in a speech last week that in addition to criminalising "wage theft", the bill would make it easier for casual workers to gain permanent roles, scrutinise the use of labour hire firms to undercut minimum pay rates, and introduce minimum standards for "gig economy" workers, including in food delivery and rideshare apps. ($1 = 1.5504 Australian dollars)Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tony Burke, Burke, Jennifer Westacott, Kirsty Needham, William Mallard Organizations: Australia's Labor, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Business, of Australia, Sky News, Australian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Thomson

☆ U.S. to help Australia develop guided missiles by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"We are pursuing several mutually beneficial initiatives with Australia's defence industry, and these include a commitment to help Australia produce guided multiple launch rocket systems... by 2025," Austin told a press conference. Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are in Queensland state for the annual Australia-U.S. The U.S. will help Australia produce guided multiple-launch rocket systems by 2025, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday, after the two nations' top officials pledged to engage with China but also oppose it if needed. U.S Secretary of State Blinken said "chief" among Saturday's high-profile talks with Australia was a shared commitment to a free and secure Indo-Pacific region. The games, however, were put on hold after an Australian military helicopter participating in the exercises crashed into the ocean, with at least four people onboard feared dead.

Persons: Richard Marles, Penny Wong, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Lloyd Austin, Marles, Blinken Organizations: Australian, Defense, Conference, Queensland Government House, Austin, . Ministerial, Labor, U.S, Australia, Talisman Sabre Locations: Brisbane, U.S, Australia, Queensland, China, Taiwan, Australian, Ukraine, Russia, Beijing

☆ US to help Australia develop guided missiles by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SYDNEY, July 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. will help Australia produce guided multiple-launch rocket systems by 2025, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday, after the two nations' top officials pledged to engage with China but also oppose it if needed. Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are in Queensland state for the annual Australia-U.S. "We are pursuing several mutually beneficial initiatives with Australia's defence industry, and these include a commitment to help Australia produce guided multiple launch rocket systems... by 2025," Austin told a press conference. U.S Secretary of State Blinken said "chief" among Saturday's high-profile talks with Australia was a shared commitment to a free and secure Indo-Pacific region. The games, however, were put on hold after an Australian military helicopter participating in the exercises crashed into the ocean, with at least four people onboard feared dead.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken, Austin, Richard Marles, Marles, Blinken, Praveen Menon, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Austin, . Ministerial, Australian, Labor, U.S, Australia, Talisman Sabre, Thomson Locations: U.S, Australia, China, Queensland, Taiwan, Australian, Ukraine, Russia, Beijing

☆ Australia eyes bigger budget surplus but warns economy still slowing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 28 (Reuters) - Australia's budget surplus for 2022/23 will be bigger than the A$4.2 billion ($2.81 billion) projected in the May budget but high inflation and global challenges will "significantly slow" the domestic economy, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday. "I can reveal that we're expecting the surplus will be bigger than forecast in May," Chalmers said in a speech to the Property Council of Australia. Australia's Labor government in May boasted the first budget surplus in 15 years for the year to June 2023, a huge turnaround from the A$37 billion shortfall forecast last October. "We expect (inflation) to stay higher than we'd like, for longer than we'd like, but still tracking in the right direction," Chalmers said. ($1 = 1.4963 Australian dollars)Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jim Chalmers, Chalmers, Renju Jose, Sam Holmes Organizations: SYDNEY, Property Council of Australia, Labor, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Australian, Sydney

☆ Australia's visa overhaul leaves Chinese millionaires in limbo
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Chinese and Malaysian tourists take photographs of the Sydney Opera House from a viewing area located on Sydney Harbour, Australia, October 4, 2016. Similar investment visa schemes have been scrapped in Canada, Britain and Singapore as governments conclude they do not create jobs and could be a means to park speculative money. It said a new migration strategy would be released later this year, which would include "radically reshaping" the BIIP programme. "I just don't think the investor programme is on their radar at the moment - they might overhaul it down the track. BIIP holders say they are curtailing business investment given the uncertainty, postponing life decisions and in some cases selling properties in Australia.

Persons: David Gray SYDNEY, Paul Wang, Wang, Tony Le Nevez, Tan, Stella Qiu, Praveen Menon, William Mallard Organizations: Sydney Opera House, REUTERS, Innovation, Investment, Labor, Department of Home Affairs, Henley & Partners Australia, Thomson Locations: Malaysian, Sydney Harbour, Australia, Beijing, Canada, Britain, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, United States

☆ Australian consumer mood bleak in May after surprise rate hike, budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, May 16 (Reuters) - A measure of Australian consumer sentiment fell in May after a surprise hike in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and a "mildly disappointing" federal budget clouded the outlook for family finances and the economy. But Evans expects the RBA to leave rates on hold in June as it awaits more data on inflation and the economy. Some consumers may have had "unrealistic expectations" going into the budget with many expecting more support, Evans said. Higher living costs meant consumers were holding off on buying a major household item, with the index dipping 0.4%. Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Dollar softer as US debt ceiling crisis unresolved, inflation data eyed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SINGAPORE, May 10 (Reuters) - The dollar weakened broadly on Wednesday after U.S. President Joe Biden and top lawmakers failed to break a deadlock on the debt ceiling crisis, though currency moves were marginal amid caution ahead of U.S. inflation data later in the day. The two, however, agreed to further talks and committed their aides to daily discussions about areas of possible agreement. "There has been a lot of attention lately on the debt ceiling issues," said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). Also preoccupying investors was U.S. inflation data, with economists polled by Reuters expecting a 5.5% year-on-year increase in core consumer prices for April. "I think markets are already expecting the Bank of Japan to make some moves."

☆ Australian govt rejects concerns budget may worsen inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But inflation sits at near 30-year highs of 7.0%, forcing the government to announce relief measures aimed at lowering power bills and easing pressure on consumer prices. "We wanted to take pressure off families whilst we didn't put pressure on inflation," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio. The budget includes a A$14.6 billion ($10 billion) cost-of-living plan, set to deliver up to A$3 billion in direct energy bill relief for low-income families and small businesses. Treasurer Jim Chalmers brushed aside concerns the support measures could stoke inflation, saying all the relief would not impact the economy at the same time. ($1 = 1.4743 Australian dollars)Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Dollar softer as U.S. debt ceiling crisis unresolved, inflation data eyed
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An employee deals with U.S. one-hundred dollar banknotes at a bank on June 16, 2022 in Hai an, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province of China. The dollar weakened broadly on Wednesday after U.S. President Joe Biden and top lawmakers failed to break a deadlock on the debt ceiling crisis, though currency moves were marginal amid caution ahead of U.S. inflation data later in the day. "There has been a lot of attention lately on the debt ceiling issues," said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Also preoccupying investors was U.S. inflation data, with economists polled by Reuters expecting a 5.5% year-on-year increase in core consumer prices for April. "I think markets are already expecting the Bank of Japan to make some moves."

☆ Australia to reveal huge budget rebound, pledge restraint in response
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has spent weeks using "restraint" and "responsible" to describe his second budget since coming to power in May last year. Instead, the aim is to bank any budget savings, and there are plenty to go around. As recently as October, Chalmers had forecast a deficit of almost A$37 billion ($24.47 billion) for the year to end June 2023. "To place the budget on a more sustainable footing over the medium-term will require an increase in revenue flow and/or more spending discipline." In short, Australia, like most developed economies with aging populations, is finding deficits are the new normal.

☆ Australia unveils direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, April 22 (Reuters) - Australia announced on Saturday a direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders living in the country, reversing controversial visa rules a day before a visit by New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. Hipkins, set to visit Queensland state's capital Brisbane on Sunday, hailed the move as "the biggest improvement in the rights of New Zealanders living in Australia in a generation". "Kiwis taking up Australian citizenship will still retain their New Zealand citizenship. The changes also meant children born in Australia since July to an Australia-based New Zealand parent would be automatically entitled to Australian citizenship, he said. Around 670,000 New Zealand citizens live in Australia, while there are around 70,000 Australians in New Zealand, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

☆ Australia lays out plan to make biggest polluters slash emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Sonali Paul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The government also announced it would release A$600 million ($414 million) to trade-exposed facilities to help them cut emissions. The "safeguard mechanism" reform plan, which needs to be finalised before taking effect on July 1, is key to the government achieving its target to cut carbon emissions by 43% from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The safeguard mechanism, in place since 2016, seeks to limit emissions from Australia's biggest polluters - 215 oil, gas, mining and manufacturing facilities that annually emit more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2-e). Together they account for 28% of Australia's carbon emissions. They are forecast to emit 143 million tonnes of CO2-e in the year to June 2023, and the government wants them to cut that to no more than 100 million tonnes of CO2-e by 2030.

☆ Australian government moves to censure former prime minister over secret ministries
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Lewis Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Australia's Labor government said it will move a parliamentary censure motion against former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison this week after an inquiry found his secret appointment to multiple ministries undermined trust in government. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday said a motion of censure would be introduced to the Labor-controlled House of Representative this week by either the leader of the house or the attorney general. "This wasn't about a relationship between the former prime minister and his ministers. It's not a personal relationship between two mates over what happened down the pub," Albanese said during a news conference. Having committed to all six changes, Albanese said legislation to require public notification of ministerial appointments will be introduced this week.

☆ Australia's budget to downgrade growth, keep spending in check
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Australia's Labor government will unveil its first budget on Tuesday as economic growth slows both at home and abroad, emphasizing its spending will focus on easing the cost-of-living crisis without lighting a fire under already high inflation. In an interview with ABC Radio Brisbane on Monday, Chalmers reiterated that fiscal prudence will underpin its spending plans. Domestically, the slackening growth also reflects the worldwide phenomenon of sky-high inflation rates, which have cut into household spending and overall consumption. The budget will have some substantial measures around childcare, paid parental leave and wage growth, Chalmers said in the ABC Radio interview. The budget deficit will be much smaller than first feared thanks to high prices for many of Australia's major commodity exports and a surprisingly strong labour market.

☆ Australia pledges millions for police deployments in Solomon Islands
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Australia will set aside A$46 million ($29 million) to fund police deployments in Solomon Islands in next week's budget, part of an increase in spending in the Pacific intended to shore up its standing in the region as China seeks greater influence. China's increasing presence in the Pacific, including entering a security pact with Solomon Islands in April, has raised concerns for the United States and ally Australia, who have for decades seen the region as largely their sphere of influence. The move comes a day after Australia and Fiji signed an agreement to allow the operation of militaries in each other's country. Australia also wants to strike a security treaty with Papua New Guinea that will see their respective defence personnel working alongside each other more often. On Friday, that figure was boosted to A$900 million, which includes the A$46 million for Solomon Islands police.

☆ Australia aims for 'responsible' budget after UK mayhem
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Wayne Cole | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"So a premium for us is getting that balance right. Investors seem reassured, so far, with no hint of the havoc that wrecked the UK gilt market. He has also flagged steep downgrades to forecasts for global growth as central banks around the world hike interest rates. This is a major reason Australia is one of only eight nations that can boast a triple-A credit rating. "Small budget deficits will also help net debt decline as a share of GDP, adding comfort to Australia's AAA credit rating."

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