All eyes were on the US this week as the race to the White House took a dangerous turn. While the media had been focused on Biden’s health and ability to carry out the presidency, the attempted assassination of Trump quickly became the lead story. Couple this with the annual Republican National Convention (RNC) and the announcement of Trump’s pick for Vice President, the Republicans have certainly dominated recent media attention.
With all the focus on the US, you could be forgiven for missing what has been happening in Australia. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. The Prime Minister has been forced to deal with the fallout of the CFMEU as Labor’s close ties to the union come under intense scrutiny. The debate over energy policy continues to be front-and-centre for both major parties with the Minster addressing the National Press Club at the same time Australian billionaire Twiggy Forrest coincidently made a significant announcement around his investment in clean energy.
Before we can get into these important topics, and bring you some interesting sport and pop culture news, let’s take a look at what made headlines this week:
- Unemployment increases to 4.1 per cent.
- Extreme Greens call to kneecap the RBA as they demand Chalmers overrule the RBA on interest rates.
- Jack Black cancels Tenacious D’s Australian tour after an inappropriate comment related to the Trump shooting was made on stage during their Newcastle show.
- Drone attack near the US Embassy building in Tel Aviv.
- Jewish members abandon the Greens Party over anti-Semitism.
- Taxpayers forked out more than $100,000 to return Julian Assange to Australia.
- Former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announces retirement from parliament.
Politics
CFMEU causing havoc for Labor
One of Australia’s biggest unions, the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), has been accused of corruption and links to organised crime figures. Controversial union boss and head of the CFMEU’s Victorian branch John Setka resigned on Friday amid serious allegations of misconduct that were uncovered by a Nine Network investigation. The investigation found that several known criminals and bikies were employed in highly paid roles on government-funded projects, including Victoria’s $100 billion ‘Big Build’ infrastructure pipeline.
While the Victorian branch of the CFMEU was the initial subject of the allegations, the damage has spread like wildfire across the broader CFMEU movement. The allegations have placed the entire union movement under a microscope and renewed calls to reinstate the union watchdog established under the Coalition Government and abolished by the current Albanese Government.
The Prime Minister reacted strongly to Setka’s resignation and emphasised that misconduct and criminal association should be condemned and eradicated from the union movement. He also called for further legal action and accountability within the union.
There are strong ties between the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the union movement, and union delegates hold significant levels of power within the political party. Recognising the damage this saga is causing the Albanese Government, the ALP’s national executive has now suspended the affiliation of the construction division of the CFMEU to the NSW, Victorian, South Australian and Tasmanian branches of the Labor Party. This means the party won’t levy any affiliation fees, accept donations and union delegates won’t be able to attend ALP conferences.
Although Albanese has taken steps to distance himself from the union and empowered his relevant ministers to act, this mess will continue to cause headaches for the PM for many weeks to come. Parliament doesn’t resume until mid-August, however there is no doubt the Opposition will be keeping the focus on this issue so they can utilise it in Question Time.
Government further defines energy election fight
It’s becoming clearer the Albanese Government is setting up the next election as a referendum on the Coalition’s nuclear plans, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen this week escalating the policy debate.
In an address to the National Press Club this week, Bowen said that Australians have a choice at the election between “reliable renewables or risky reactors, but not both”. It’s the first time the government has said that nuclear would be incompatible with renewables. The opposition says both renewables and gas would be part of a ‘balanced mix of technologies’ under their nuclear policy.
In his press conferences these past two weeks in Queensland, the Prime Minister has also frequently been referencing the Coalition’s ‘nuclear fantasy’ – especially while in regional Queensland this week.
But a spanner in the works for the government’s plan this week, with Fortescue announcing they would axe 700 jobs and walk away from aggressive green hydrogen targets that the Albanese Government has talked up as integral to meeting their net zero targets.
The PM was playing down the announcement this week, but having spent $8bn on investment and support for hydrogen production, must surely be worried about the impact of Fortescue’s pivot away from hydrogen.
Both major parties are seemingly happy to fight the next election on energy, with the Coalition betting on the fact Australians crippled by cost of living increases driven by skyrocketing energy prices will baulk at the government’s renewables-heavy plan.
Trump shooting renews calls to review Australian security
The world stood in shock as a lone shooter carried out an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The historic event has alerted other countries across the globe to review their security measures for political leaders, including in Australia.
Recognising the increased political polarisation in Australia and the US, the PM called for “the temperature of debate” to be lowered. He went on to say, “It is a phenomenon not unique to the United States…we should be able to have political discussion and do it respectfully”.
Following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, Nationals MP Darren Chester wrote to the PM to express his concern about the security arrangements for Australian politicians. He said, “I believe there is a gap in the level of training and advice that members receive in relation to personal security and an independent review is required”.
We used to believe Australia was immune to attacks of this nature, however that is no longer the case. The evidence demonstrates an increased threat to our elected representatives. Recently, we’ve seen parliamentary offices, including the PM’s, vandalised and Victorian MP Josh Burns’ office was firebombed.
Queensland
Thursday marked 100 days until Election Day in Queensland and both major political parties used the milestone to score political points and boost their campaign.
The 100 days coincided with results from a new YouGov poll which indicates that Labor’s $3 billion cost of living spending has failed to win back voters.
The latest poll has the LNP ahead on 57 per cent compared to Labor on 43 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis. Opposition Leader David Crisafulli also leads Steven Miles 40 points to 29 as preferred premier. Labor’s primary vote has fallen to a 131 year low at just 26 percent while the LNP sits on 43 percent, the Greens on 14 and One Nation on 13.
According to these polls, Labor’s support now sits below the level of Anna Bligh’s 2012 loss when the ALP was reduced to just seven seats.
While there are media reports that internal Labor polling is slightly better with the party behind 52.2 to 47. 8 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis, the point remains that if either of these polls are reflected at the election, there will be a change of government. Really the only question remaining is how big the win/loss will be.
Not helping Premier Miles is the CFMEU fallout in Queensland. In response to the allegations of violence and intimidation by the militant union, Premier Miles has temporarily suspended political donations from them. He has also publicly stated that he will refuse to meet with the union’s officials until after Queensland police has conducted an analysis of any potential allegations of misconduct in its state branch.
The entire union movement has come under a microscope thanks in large part to the Victorian branch of the CFMEU, however the Queensland branch has their own problems to deal with.
On Thursday, the Federal Court banned CFMEU members from going within 15 metres of entrances to Cross River Rail sites following “ongoing reports of unlawful tactics” by the militant union. CPB Contractors were successful in securing a Federal Court injunction against the CFMEU arguing that workers crossing the union’s picket line had been harassed and intimidated.
In submissions to the Federal Court, counsel for CPB Contractors told the judge that the “chilling effect” of the union’s harassment of CPB staff and CRR subcontractors could also put at risk the plan to test the first train to travel under Brisbane in the new railway tunnels on July 27 and 28. The documents allege that critical deadlines have been missed because a substantial number of the 1500 to 2000-strong subcontractor workforce aren’t showing up to work due to intimidation and harassment tactics of the CFMEU.
With 74 days until caretaker mode, 87 days until pre-poll opens and 99 days until election day, the election is well-and-truly underway. We will continue to cover all the important events and updates.
Global
All eyes on Trump
After a week that will go down in the history books, Trump has emerged as a strong and favourable candidate for the Republicans to claim back the White House.
The Trump campaign had been strategically quiet over the last few weeks, letting the Democrats take centre-stage with infighting and allegations about Biden’s health and ability to serve another term as President. However, that all changed on Sunday morning (Australian time) when former President Trump was shot during a rally in Pennsylvania.
The shooter, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from an elevated position outside the venue. Trump was injured with a bullet grazing his ear, however tragically one spectator was killed while two others were critically injured. The Secret Service identified the shooter’s position, and he was taken-out by a sniper.
As Trump’s security detail were attempting to usher him to safety, he was photographed standing upright with his fist held high in the air and is reported to have shouted “fight, fight, fight”. This image was a stroke of political genius by Trump because instead of him looking weak by the shooting, he now appears strong and defiant. The image appeared on the cover of newspapers across the globe and has become the image most associated with the shooting.
There was very little rest for Trump who appeared at the annual RNC where he was officially endorsed as the Republican presidential candidate. Trump started his acceptance speech talking about unity and said Americans should be demanding the best leadership in the world. He paid respect to Corey Comperatore who was the spectator killed and thanked the secret service agents who came to his aid. Commentators highlighted that it was a more sombre and softly spoken Trump than we are used to seeing.
As promised, Trump also used the RNC to announce his Vice President candidate JD Vance. Vance is a US Senator who became famous for a memoir titled Hillbilly Elegy about his hometown of Middletown Ohio. The memoir became a commercial hit and became a film directed by Hollywood legend Ron Howard. Vance used the memoir to launch his political platform and connect with voters. He has only been in Congress for two years and at 39 years old he could become one of the youngest Vice Presidents in history.
One of our favourite parts of the RNC was watching former Republican presidential nominee candidate Nikki Haley give an endorsement speech for Trump. The best description was “She looked like the ex-wife giving a toast at the wedding of her former husband”.
Obama reportedly joins calls for Biden to reconsider
Reports today suggest former President Barack Obama, with whom Joe Biden served eight years in the White House, has told allies the current President should reconsider his candidacy for November’s election.
It’s just the latest in a strong of high-profile Democrats who have walked back their support of Joe Biden in the last week.
The Washington Post, which carried the reports about Obama, suggested the President – who the White House said tested positive for Covid this week – could be gone by the weekend.
It’s now almost certain that Vice President Kamala Harris will be endorsed as the Democrat’s presidential candidate at their convention next month. Logistically, at this late hour, she is virtually the only choice and the only candidate who could access the vast amount of funds already raised by the Biden-Harris campaign.
Most polls show Harris performing roughly the same as Biden against Trump, who has led in the polls for some time. Polls conducted since last Saturday’s assassination attempt suggest Trump has received a small bump in support, widening his advantage over Biden or his successor.
Sport and Pop Culture
Blues make history
History was made on Wednesday night when the NSW Blues defeated the Queensland Maroons in front of 50,000 plus screaming fans at Suncorp Stadium.
Despite having the crowd against them, the Blues won the State of Origin shield 2-1 after securing a 14-4 win in the deciding game. They become just the third Blues team to win a decider at what is usually a fortress for Queensland, Suncorp Stadium.
Game 3 brought all the action with outstanding defence and the usual razzle dazzle we expect from our origin stars. However, it was the sideline brawl that attracted the most attention.
Emmy snub for Australia’s sweetheart
The 2024 Emmy nominations were announced this week and surprisingly Aussie legend Nicole Kidman missed out.
The Academy Award winner came up empty handed for her critically acclaimed performance as an American expatriate living in Hong Kong in “Expats.”
Other notable snubs include Emma Stone, who earlier this year won her second Oscar for “Poor Things,” and another Oscar winner Kate Winslet who failed to earn a nomination for her role In HBO’s political satire “The Regime.”
Amongst those who were nominated, Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon will battle it out for their roles in the Morning Show. The stars have been nominated in previous years, however 2024 marks the first time the two co-stars are nominated in the same season. The pair will face off in the outstanding lead actress in a drama series category.