We’re bringing you a short wrap-up this week after a short Easter week. Most federal pollies try and squeeze in a bit of a break at this time of year, especially ministers heading into the busy Budget period.
A major development in the war in Gaza dominated headlines around the world this week, marking a significant shift in support for Israel. Here’s a quick look at this week’s major headlines.
Australian aid worker killed in Israeli strike
News broke early this week that an Australian aid worker, Zomi Frankcom, was among seven workers killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. The group had been delivering emergency aid and food into Gaza that had been dropped off by cargo ships.
The news caused an immediate and angry reaction from the Australian Government, with the Prime Minister demanding Israel’s ambassador to Australia explain the situation. It sparked strong condemnation from pro Palestine groups who have been urging the government to do more to encourage Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
The PM and Foreign Minister Penny Wong told Israel it owed a full and transparent explanation of the tragedy, after it was revealed the group was travelling in vehicles clearly identifying them as aid workers. Government officials have been briefed today on the findings of a preliminary investigation and are reportedly not satisfied.
The risk for Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu if he doesn’t appropriately address concerns from Australia and others, after earlier describing the tragedy as part of the ‘nature of war’, is that he loses support from some of his major international allies, including Australia and the US. President Joe Biden warned Netanyahu he would pull US support for the war if Israel didn’t pursue an immediate ceasefire.
At home, it has further stoked divisions between pro Palestine groups and supporters of Israel, with the latter saying a ceasefire is still unacceptable while Hamas holds Israeli hostages.
Australia’s next Governor-General announced
Prime Minister Albanese on Wednesday announced businesswoman Samantha Mostyn would become Australia’s next Governor-General when David Hurley’s term ends in July.
Canberra-born Ms Mostyn is a well-known corporate leader, having worked at senior levels in companies such as Mirvac, Optus, Transurban and IAG. In 2005, she became the first woman appointed to the AFL Commission. Ms Mostyn has held various roles advising governments on climate and gender equality issues, most recently serving as Chair of the Prime Minister’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce. She worked for former Prime Minister Paul Keating as his senior communications advisor, having previously worked for Communications Ministers in his government.
Ms Mostyn’s appointment was broadly welcomed, although her links to the Prime Minister and the Labor Party have caused some to speculate whether it was more politically-motivated than other recent appointments. Governor-Generals are free to champion whatever causes they feel passionately about, but this is usually carefully managed and controversy-free.
Arriving at Government House with a diverse corporate and activist background, Ms Mostyn will invariably make the role her own when she gets her feet under the desk in July.
Budget preview
Federal Ministers have begun setting the scene for the upcoming federal budget. In fact, Treasurer Jim Chalmers recently said, “we have already announced more than the usual amount of (budget) initiatives ahead of time”. He was referring to the changes to the Stage 3 Tax Cuts, superannuation guarantee on paid parental leave, Closing The Gap initiatives and Defence spending.
While the Treasurer seems to be obsessed with delivering another budget surplus, the government will have to provide more cost-of-living relief in the May Budget. Australian households are continuing to face rising electricity, grocery and fuel costs, so they will be looking to the federal government for help.
And help might be on the way in the form of energy bill relief. This week the Prime Minister gave his strongest indication yet that the energy bill relief package from last year’s Budget could be extended in the upcoming budget. He went onto say that helping families and small businesses would again be “front and centre in our thinking” as Labor puts together the May budget.
We are also likely to see more money to implement Labor’s clean energy policies. Late last week, while the Prime Minister and Energy Minister were at the former Liddell coal-fired power station site in the NSW Hunter Region announcing a $1 billion investment in solar panel manufacturing, they flagged there will be more money coming soon for clean energy initiatives.
Olympic greats urge Miles to rethink Games
Fourteen high-profile Australian athletes have written an open letter to the Queensland Premier asking him to reconsider the Brisbane Olympic Games venue plan.
Grant Hackett, Sally Pearson and Leisel Jones are amongst those who signed the letter calling on Premier Steven Miles to rethink the use of the ageing Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) for the Olympic Games. The letter states, “…a main stadium with a capacity of only 40,000 would be an embarrassment which in no way would represent the go-ahead spirit of Queensland…We all remember the magnificent event that Sydney put on in 2000. Queensland deserves something equally spectacular, without a centrepiece that would reek of compromise. It’s not too late to change your mind, Mr Miles.”
However, the letter appears to have fallen on deaf ears with the Premier saying he would not reconsider the venue plan “no matter how many swimmers ask me to”.
The Premier is trying to manage a cost-of-living crisis while also needing to provide the infrastructure to host the Games. It’s not an easy task, especially with an election in just under seven months.