LABOR ALIGNS ON AUKUS; HOMES GOAL

Albanese rallies Labor troops on AUKUS

Federal Labor has formally supported the Albanese Government’s commitment to the AUKUS defence partnership, after debate at the party’s national conference. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the conference that Australia, as an island continent, needed nuclear-powered submarines, provided through AUKUS. The PM said Australia was committed to stability and the preservation of the international rules-based system in the wider Indo-Pacific region. AUKUS was central to bringing defence capabilities up to speed, he said, with the submarine project expected to directly create 20,000 “well-paid, secure, union jobs.” Mr Albanese said the project would also expand the nation’s skills base and enhance manufacturing capabilities.

Three-nation partnership enjoys bipartisan support, says Marles

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Richard Marles has brushed off suggestions that internal debate within the Labor Party over AUKUS may undermine the tri-nation defence partnership, following some dissent at the party’s national conference. In a media interview, the Deputy Prime Minister said the partnership would endure, despite some ALP opposition and suggestions of concern by elements of the US Republican Party. Mr Marles said AUKUS enjoyed bipartisan support in the US, the United Kingdom and Australia. The Deputy PM also affirmed that Australia and the US would focus strongly on space as part of defence force posture, after reports of “hundreds of Chinese satellites” above Australia during defence exercises.

National Cabinet steps up housing targets

National Cabinet has agreed to a new national target to build 1.2 million new “well-located” homes over five years from mid-2024, in a bid to ease both housing shortages and high rental demand. Federal, State and Territory chief ministers said the revised target represented 200,000 more new homes above the national housing accord target agreed by states and territories last year. As an incentive, the Federal Government will provide $3 billion in performance-based funding for states and territories that achieve more than their share of the target under the national housing accord. National Cabinet also agreed to stronger protections for renters, and committed to planning reforms to improve housing supply and affordability.

Higher education to face new conditions on failing students

Education Minister Jason Clare is ramping up pressure on the higher education sector to provide more support for students struggling through their studies. Under a consultation paper issued by the Department of Education, the Federal Government has proposed that higher education providers implement processes to identify students at risk of unsatisfactory progress, and provide specific support to them. The Support for Students policy also proposes that financial penalties be applied to higher education providers who do not meet the new requirements. Earlier in August, Mr Clare introduced legislation in Federal Parliament to abolish the so-called 50 per cent pass rule, which required students to pass one-half of the units of study in their course to maintain access to government assistance.

Major upgrade for Australian missile capability

Australia will spend more than $3 billion to upgrade its advanced weapons systems, including acquiring 200 Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States for its Hobart Class naval destroyers. With the $1.3 billion purchase, Australia will join the US and the UK as the only three nations to possess long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. In addition, the Federal Government will implement a key priority of the Defence Strategic Review by investing $1.6 billion to expand and accelerate the acquisition of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) land-based, surface-to-surface launchers. The Government will also acquire more than 60 advanced anti-radiation, guided missiles (air-to-ground) from the US for $431 million.

Treasurer to release major report on 40-year projections

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers is due on Thursday (August 24) to release the latest Intergenerational Report, designed to provide a long-term framework for the nation’s economy and social needs. Ahead of the release, Dr Chalmers said the Government’s objective was to make more Australians the beneficiaries, not the victims, of the shifts and transitions now underway in the economy and society. He said the Intergenerational Report would “shine a light” on the big forces shaping the economy and budget over the next 40 years, including the shifts from globalisation to fragmentation, from hydrocarbons to renewables, and from information technology to artificial intelligence.