AUKUS EXTENDS TO ALLIES; MIGRANT SURGE

AUKUS Pillar 2 to reach out to Canada, NZ and Korea

Leaders of Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom have marked the third anniversary of AUKUS by moving to extend Pillar II of the defence partnership to Canada, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea. In a joint statement, Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden said they would consult with the three nations to identify possibilities for collaboration on advanced capabilities under AUKUS Pillar II. They said the three AUKUS partners and Japan were already exploring opportunities to improve operability of their maritime autonomous systems, leveraging Japan’s “deep technical expertise.” The AUKUS partners affirmed that amendments to their respective export control regimes would facilitate billions of dollars in secure, license-free defence trade.

Quad partners step up maritime security, cyber measures

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to increased co-operation on maritime security and cyber surveillance in the Indo-Pacific, at the Quad meeting of US, Australian, Indian and Japanese leaders. Issued as the Wilmington declaration, at Delaware in the US, the four leaders announced a major maritime training initiative to improve interoperability between cooperating coast guards. The Quad leaders also committed to upgrade their cyber space partnership to address threats posed by state-sponsored actors, cyber criminals and other malicious non-state actors. In addition, the Quad partners extended their support for ongoing radio access network (RAN) trials throughout South-East Asia, and for the continued strengthening of undersea cable networks.

Net overseas migration drives national population to 27 million

Australia’s population has officially surpassed the 27 million mark, rising by 2.3 per cent over the 12 months to March this year. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal that at end of March, the national population reached 27.1 million people, with net overseas migration contributing 509,800 people and annual natural increase contributing 105,500. Western Australia recorded the highest annual population growth, at 3.1 per cent, and Tasmania, the lowest, at 0.4 per cent. New South Wales remains Australia’s most populous state, with more than 8.4 million people, ahead of Victoria, on almost seven million.

Feds gear up for payday superannuation

Plans to introduce the payment of superannuation on employee paydays have moved a step further, with the Federal Government releasing policy details on the reforms. Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said that from July 2026, employers would be required to pay employees’ superannuation at the same time as their salary and wages. The proposed design changes cover an updated superannuation guarantee charge framework and revised compliance obligations on business. Dr Chalmers said the Australian Taxation Office estimated around $3.6 billion of superannuation went unpaid in 2020-21.

Labor seeks seventh term in ACT

Voters in the Australian Capital Territory will go to the polls on October 19, with Chief Minister Andrew Barr’s Labor Government seeking to extend its rule to a seventh term. Labor presently has 10 MPs in the 25-member House of Assembly, with the Liberals eight, the Greens party six and one Independent. Mr Barr has served as the ACT Chief Minister since December 2014. The Canberra Liberals are led by Elizabeth Lee. Labor has been in power since 2001, serving in coalition or alliance with the Greens for much of that time.

Jobless rate steady, but varied across nation

Unemployment in Australia has remained unchanged, at 4.2 per cent seasonally-adjusted for August. ABS figures show that the rate of underemployment – those who want to work more hours – rose slightly to 6.5 per cent. But the rate of unemployment varied widely across the nation, with Victoria recording the highest jobless rate of 4.5 per cent and Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT all recording the lowest rate, at 3.9 per cent.