Rishworth says no plan to change negative gearing in housing policy
On to negative gearing, with reports in Nine Newspapers that Labor has requested modelling on options to scale back negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, Rishworth said she wanted to be “really clear”.
We have got a very ambitious housing policy in front of us at the moment – $32bn of investment in increasing supply in housing, and a number of policies already under way. A number that unfortunately the Coalition and the against are blocking in the Senate … it is not our proposal to address or to add negative gearing to that. We’re getting on with the job…
Asked to confirm expert advice had been requested, Rishworth said: “Treasury does this sort of work.
Treasury does routine work all the time around different policies, different ideas.
Key events
Josh Butler
We’re waiting for the prime minister to front a press conference in Tasmania, where he’s due to appear any minute, and where we expect he’ll get some questions about reports in the Nine newspapers that the government has asked treasury to model potential changes to negative gearing.
We’ve got in a statement from treasurer Jim Chalmers’ office, which is looking to hose down the suggestions – but doesn’t categorically rule it being part of future plans.
“Our housing policy is clear. It doesn’t include that change,” a spokesperson for the Treasurer said.
We have a broad and ambitious housing agenda and we could be building more homes if it wasn’t for the divisive politics of the Greens and Coalition.
Chalmers has his own press conference around midday, which we’ll also bring to you later.
Jason Clare says deal reached for full funding Tasmanian public schools
In big education news, the education minister, Jason Clare, has announced the federal government has reached an agreement with Tasmania to fully fund public schools.
BREAKING: Today we’ll sign an agreement to fully fund all Tassie public schools.
— Jason Clare MP (@JasonClareMP) September 24, 2024
Clare is in Tasmania alongside the prime minister today, who earlier told ABC radio that education and health would be on the agenda.
We will bring more details of the agreement soon, but it brings Tasmania on board with Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
You can read more about the negotiations here:
Penny Wong calls on China to play ‘constructive role’ at UN
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has delivered her opening remarks to a meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, at the United Nations general assembly in New York.
Senator Wong said the rules, norms and standards of the UN charter that both countries had committed to were “clearly under great strain”.
Whether through the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the crisis in Gaza, untold deaths of civilians and aid workers, and climate change – these are just some of the threats to our security and stability … It is in all of our interests for China to play a constructive role in the international system that is inclusive and representative.
We both understand the points on which we disagree won’t simply disappear if we leave them in silence.
We have discussed these issues in all of our meetings, and so it will come as no surprise that today will also be an opportunity to discuss human rights, trade impediments, consular matters, the rights and freedoms of those who live in Australia, our expectations around safe and professional military conduct, and our strategic and security interests.
Wong said the pair would also discuss areas of “shared cooperation and mutual benefit” – including trade and economic issues, education, and the transition to net zero.
Penalties toughen under NSW domestic violence laws
Abusers who persistently and deliberately breach court orders meant to prevent them tormenting others will face increased penalties as part of changes to NSW domestic violence laws.
Using technology to track another person’s activities has been explicitly defined as stalking, among other changes. Parents granted sole custody of a child will also be able to apply to change the child’s name.
The reforms passed NSW parliament on Tuesday and are among a number of changes in recent months targeting domestic and family violence.
New categories for breaches of apprehended domestic violence orders (ADVOs) have been introduced, providing for increased penalties in the case of persistent or deliberate breaches. Persistent breaches carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The order allows police to monitor high-risk offenders, and courts to impose any conditions considered appropriate to prevent them engaging in domestic abuse. It could include tightened reporting requirements, restrictions on using social media and dating apps, and notifying police when commencing a new relationship.
The definition of stalking has been updated to keep pace with technology and now explicitly includes using GPS trackers or monitoring social media and other online accounts.
– AAP
Boy, 15, charged with murder after alleged stabbing in Melbourne shopping centre
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder following an alleged fatal stabbing at a Melbourne shopping centre yesterday.
Emergency services were called to an outdoor food court at Woodgrove shopping centre, in Melton West, just before midday on Tuesday, where they located a 16-year-old from Harkness, in Melbourne’s outer west, with life threatening injuries.
First responders attempted to provide CPR to the boy, but he died at the scene.
Victoria Police alleged there may have been an altercation between the victim and another male who fled the scene.
Investigators subsequently arrested the 15-year-old Melton West boy and he has been charged with one count of murder.
He will appear at a children’s court at a later date.
Ben Smee
Bronze tribute to Matildas unveiled outside Brisbane stadium
A permanent tribute to the Matildas 2023 World Cup heroics has been unveiled outside Brisbane’s Suncorp stadium.
The bronze “bas relief” – a massive 5.5m x 2.1m plaque – depicts members of the Matildas celebrating the memorable quarter final shootout victory over France.
The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, said the recognition – the first permanent tribute to Australia’s women’s football side – would inspire more women and girls to get involved in football.
I, like so many Australians, was on the edge of my seat watching the Matildas make us proud during the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year. Suncorp Stadium was the backdrop for so many of their sensational moments throughout the tournament, including the quarterfinal win over France.
It’s fitting that now their success will be immortalised where the action happened.
The $330,000 bas relief was announced in March. But after its unveiling, some have found the tribute underwhelming – the Matildas had initially been promised “a statue” by the former Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Australian’s arrest in Turkey ‘politically motivated’, Kurdish local leaders say
Kurdish community leaders have told the ABC the arrest of an Australian woman in Istanbul this week was “politically motivated”, rejecting claims she had any links to terrorism.
Cigdem Aslan, also known as Lenna Aslan, was detained by Turkish authorities as she tried to return home to Melbourne last week. The authorities accused her of conducting activities for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party – a banned terrorist organisation in Türkiye and Australia.
Mahmut Kahraman, the co-president of the Kurdish Democratic Community Centre of Victoria, said Aslan had no connection to the terrorist organisation and that he believed her arrest was politically motivated.
One hundred per cent lie, nothing is true. It’s definitely 100% [politically] motivated.
She [is] a single mum, [she’s] a hardworking woman and she raised almost two daughters alone and she’s a multicultural health worker. [She’s] concerned about human rights … whatever [the] Turkish government [is] saying [is] totally false.
She doesn’t have any connection with Kurdistan Workers’ Party or any other organisations.
NSW centre launches ‘police accountability dashboard’
Redfern Legal Centre has launched Australia’s first police accountability dashboard to give the public comprehensive data about the use of state police powers.
The dashboard provides six years’ worth of New South Wales Police data from 2017 to 2023, with interactive statistics on strip searches, use of force and move-on directions, broken down by location, age and gender.
Supervising solicitor at RLC, Samantha Lee, said the dashboard was “another step towards ensuring the use of police powers is more transparent”.
Increased transparency around police powers leads to greater accountability in their use. The statistics tell a compelling story, highlighting the disproportionate use of police powers against First Nations people.
It’s timely, with this important story from Catie McLeod today:
Katy Perry says ‘a favourite Australian artist’ will join her in AFL grand final show
Important news for Katy Perry fans and/or footy fans.
Perry has just announced on Sunrise that there will be a surprise appearance during her performance at the AFL grand final on Saturday.
There’s going to be a surprise performance of a favourite Australian artist that I look up to. She is going to be singing a little bit with me. I’ll be singing a little bit with her.
Who could it be? Only time will tell. My bets are on Missy Higgins because she just released a [brilliant] new album and has been doing the rounds in the news.
After Perry’s new album received a one star review in the Guardian and pretty much everywhere, here’s hoping her performance at the MCG is just the boost she needs.
Rishworth says no plan to change negative gearing in housing policy
On to negative gearing, with reports in Nine Newspapers that Labor has requested modelling on options to scale back negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions, Rishworth said she wanted to be “really clear”.
We have got a very ambitious housing policy in front of us at the moment – $32bn of investment in increasing supply in housing, and a number of policies already under way. A number that unfortunately the Coalition and the against are blocking in the Senate … it is not our proposal to address or to add negative gearing to that. We’re getting on with the job…
Asked to confirm expert advice had been requested, Rishworth said: “Treasury does this sort of work.
Treasury does routine work all the time around different policies, different ideas.
Rishworth and Hume at odds over inflation
Speaking of interest rates, the minister for social services, Amanda Rishworth, appeared on Sunrise this morning alongside Jane Hume. She said the Reserve Bank’s decision was “not unexpected”.
We have seen no rate hike for almost a year and it shows that we are working towards our fight on inflation.
This is really, really important. And we are making sure that this absolutely our primary focus. And that’s why you have seen responsible budgeting, but also cost of living support that doesn’t add to the inflation challenge … we know people are doing it tough. That’s why we will keep working on it.
Hume disagreed:
It’s not imported from overseas, it is a problem with our domestic policies. And it’s sticky, meaning it’s not coming down fast enough … the government can’t just say we’re not making a problem worse. They have to tackle it head-on and particularly around tackling this growing public sector expenditure.
The central bank’s good and bad news on interest rates – analysis
The good news is the Reserve Bank is all but done lifting interest rates. Less good news is that the central bank is also not about to cut them.
Those were probably the key takeaways from the RBA’s sixth board meeting of 2024 and the seventh since it last slugged borrowers with it’s last cash rate hike.
The nine members surfaced from their figurative bunker on Tuesday afternoon to remind everyone inflation remained “too high” and “persistent”.
Importantly, for the first time since March, the board did not “explicitly consider an interest rate rise” at the two-day gathering. That admission, by governor Michele Bullock, promptly sent the Australian dollar into a short swoon as investors erased lingering worries the RBA was seriously considering another a rate rise.
Read more analysis on yesterday’s decision from Peter Hannam here:
Coalition accuses Labor of lying over negative gearing and capital gains tax
The reports have prompted a strong response from the opposition, with the opposition finance spokesperson, Jane Hume, accusing the Albanese government of “lying to the Australian people”.
She told ABC News Breakfast there was “nothing wrong with the government considering anything, but lying to the Australian people about whether they’re considering it is another issue entirely”.
As recently as last week, the prime minister was … saying that … questions on whether the government was considering [changes to negative gearing or capital gains tax concessions] were not very clever questions. Yet only this week, we find out there is some secret plan to look at negative gearing.
On Sky News this morning, leader of the opposition in the Senate, Simon Birmingham, said the Labor government was “saying one thing on tax policy but looking at doing another”.
Before the last election there were going to be no changes to stage-three tax cuts, no changes to superannuation changes, no tinkering with franking credits, yet they’ve done all of those things.
Government seeking Treasury modelling on scaling back negative gearing – report
With cost-of-living on the brain, a senior Labor official has told the Sydney Morning Herald that the federal government has asked Treasury for a request for modelling on options to scale back negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions.
The expert advice could canvass changes to concessions on capital gains tax, indicating Labor may be prepared to take ambitious housing policy to the next election.
The Greens have used Labor’s signature housing policy, a shared equity scheme called Help to Buy, to push for cuts to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions. But in negotiations, the government has not budged.
Albanese says ‘we need to do more’ to alleviate cost-of-living pressures
Next on to the cost of living, the prime minister acknowledges “we need to do more” to alleviate pressure on Australians.
We know people are under pressure and we know the supermarkets have been taken to court now by the ACCC for … having a lend of Australian customers, and we’ll take strong action against them. We’ve also mandated the code of conduct so customers are looked after.
Finally, Albanese is again asked who he’s getting behind in the Granny. He says he has to go for Sydney.
I’m actually a Hawthorn supporter, we’re a happy team at Hawthorn, we were pretty happy with the season but the Swannies, I think they’re a very good thing, they’ve been the best team all year.
Funding standoff over Tasmania schools in focus as Jason Clare visits
Albanese says the education minister, Jason Clare, is also in Tasmania today to discuss getting the state’s schools to 100% of school funding.
He expects negotiations will be “really positive” with the state government.
The Tasmanian government is yet to sign up to the commonwealth’s proposal to increase public school funding by 2.5% – holding out for a 5% increase to 25% alongside Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
When I checked in with the state’s education minister, Jo Palmer, last week, she said the government was “investing more than ever before in education” and the federal government needed to “do more to support our students”.
We want to continue negotiations with the commonwealth in good faith and we continue to seek funding of the school resourcing standard to 100%.
It’ll be interesting to see if the standoff changes today.
PM says $120m for Tasmania heart centre is part of strengthening health sector
Over in northern Tasmania, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is appearing on ABC Radio regarding his announcement today of a $120m investment into a local heart centre.
It shouldn’t be the case that if you’re in northern Tasmania and you need this sort of assistance you need to cross the Bass Strait and go to Melbourne.
He says the government wants to “strengthen Medicare and strengthen the health sector” by taking pressure off emergency departments with specialised urgent care clinics.
If you get early treatment, you can save money as well as save lives.
Matt Canavan cites Katy Perry in swipe at Greens
Nationals senator Matt Canavan has had a dig at both pop stars and political parties on breakfast TV this morning, declaring “Katy Perry would do a better job running our economy than the Greens”.
Canavan was on to discuss the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold interest rates steady yesterday, with the Greens urging the treasurer to overrule the decision and bring rates down.
I think Katy Perry would do a better job running our economy than the Greens. I mean, this is just insane. Like, I mean, there’s fundamental problems here and people understand that … people know that times are quite tough and all of us have had to tighten our own belts and sacrifice things because of that … It’s not easy to tell people, but in tough times there are no easy solutions.
Asked what Canavan was most excited to hear at Perry’s AFL grand final performance this weekend, he replied: “Roar is the only Katy Perry song I know, so I wouldn’t say I love it.
I probably won’t be screaming at top of my lungs if she sings it, but … bring over Oasis, that’s who I want to see.
Queensland Labor backs new student accommodation at university
Meanwhile, in Queensland, the state’s deputy premier and treasurer, Cameron Dick, will front the media today to announce the Labor government’s support for a new 1,000-bed student accommodation development at the University of Queensland.
When announcing their controversial international student cap, the federal government indicated building additional student residences would be a measure that would allow providers to enrol students in excess of their cap.
We’ll bring you more on that announcement soon.
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