Blogotariat

Jeremy Rockliff, the Liberal Premier of Tasmania, has announced that negotiations with two former Liberal MPs have broken down and he will call an early election tomorrow.

Rockliff said John Tucker and Lara Alexander had “failed to commit to a new, enduring agreement”, following their resignations from the Liberal Party in May, 2023. The former Liberals had concerns relating to the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium project. Their resignations sent the government into minority status in the House of Assembly.

The coalition will support the Albanese government’s tax cuts, the Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, confirmed today.

Flanked by the Shadow Treasurer, Angus Taylor, and the Shadow Finance Minister, Senator Jane Hume, Dutton said “the coalition is not going to stand in the way of people who are doing it tough”.

With repeated references to “the liar in The Lodge” and the government’s “egregious lie”, Dutton said the coalition would take “a significant tax policy” to the next election.

Watch the Dutton-Taylor-Hume press conference (35m)

Greg Combet, a former minister in the Rudd-Gillard governments, has been appointed Chairman of the Future Fund.

Greg Combet, new Chairman of the Future Fund

The Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, made the announcement at a press conference today.

Combet replaces Peter Costello, the Future Fund’s founder and current Chairman.

Australia Day 1973 passed almost unnoticed, according to one radio news report, but Gough Whitlam used his 53rd day as prime minister to announce a search for a new national anthem.

Listen to a news report from radio 3DB in Melbourne on January 26, 1973, including a clip from Whitlam’s speech (1m)

Whitlam’s announcement of a replacement for God Save the Queen came in his Australia Day address. He said:

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has defended the changes the government has made to the Stage 3 tax cuts.

In an address to the National Press Club, Albanese confirmed that the tax system will remain progressive with the reintroduction of the 37% tax scale. Whereas the Stage 3 cuts excluded people on lower incomes, all taxpayers will now receive a tax cut from July 1, but those on higher incomes have had their cut reduced.

The libertarian economist and newly-elected President of Argentina, Javier Milei, has delivered a strident defence of capitalism at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Reflecting a growing view being expressed by emerging right-wing leaders around the world, Milei said: “Unfortunately, in recent decades, the main leaders of the Western world have abandoned the model of freedom for different versions of what we call collectivism. Some have been motivated by well-meaning individuals who are willing to help others, and others have been motivated by the wish to belong to a privileged caste.”

As 2024 starts, a reminder that across the nine federal, state and territory jurisdictions, there are eight Labor governments.

Current Australian Heads of Government & Opposition Leaders – from December 21, 2024

No.
Jurisdiction
PM/Premier/
Chief Minister
Age
Party
Since
Opposition Leader
Age
Party
Since

1.

AUSTRALIA

Anthony Albanese

62

ALP

23.05.2022

Peter Dutton

It is time to review the year in digital technology. Oh, what fun! As with prior reviews, we will arrange this review like an award ceremony.

There are three criteria for an award: