Dutton claims Coalition has ‘acted like a government’ while in opposition – as it happened​on January 12, 2025 at 4:15 am

Australia’s bullet-proof jobs market put to the test

Even with restrictive interest rate settings and inflation battering the economy, Australia’s labour market has proved surprisingly resilient.

Attention is poised to turn to the state of hiring and firing in Australia for signs the labour market is gradually unwinding as expected in a sluggish economy.

Thursday’s labour force numbers for December from the Australian Bureau of Statistics follow a string of surprisingly strong signals on employment.

While not as tight as in the early phases of the post-pandemic recovery – when the jobless rate fell to a decades-long low of 3.4 per cent – the labour market has not been easing as quickly as expected in an economy weighed down by inflation and high interest rates.

In November, the jobless rate unexpectedly slid back to 3.9 per cent, from 4.1 per cent.

The 35,600 jobs added to the economy also exceeded consensus forecasts.

The first rise in job vacancies since mid-2022 in November is further indication of resilient demand for labour.

The strong jobs market could keep the Reserve Bank of Australia cautious about cutting interest rates, even as underlying inflation takes a convincing step down.

Most important for the RBA’s February interest rate meeting will be quarterly inflation numbers, due at the end of the month.

Ahead of that, Melbourne Institute’s inflation gauge for December, scheduled for Monday, will provide a timely steer on price pressures.

– AAP

Tech mogul Peter Thiel says Trump administration will reveal whether US ‘complicit’ in Australia’s under-16 social media ban

Billionaire tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel says the return of Donald Trump will reveal whether the United States was “complicit” in pushing Australia to introduce social media age verification and other questions.

In an op-ed for The Financial Times, Thiel says the return of Donald Trump will usher in an “apokalypsis” – the Greek origin word for “apocalypse” – that will provide answers about “the old guard’s war on the internet”.

At one point in the editorial, Thiel asks:

Were we [the US government] complicit in Australia’s recent legislation requiring age verification for social media users, the beginning of the end of internet anonymity?

He suggests that Trump’s return will also shed light on issues such as whether the US government was involved in a decision by a Brazilian judge to ban X, the social media website formerly known as Twitter, the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic and who shot John F Kennedy.

Thiel also compares the incoming Trump administration to French revolutionaries who ended the monarchy.

The future demands fresh and strange ideas. New ideas might have saved the old regime, which barely acknowledged, let alone answered, our deepest questions – the causes of the 50-year slowdown in scientific and technological progress in the US, the racket of crescendoing real estate prices, and the explosion of public debt.

Penny Wong and the Australian ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd have both been invited to attend the inauguration of US president-elect Donald Trump.

The senator is expected to hold meetings with members of the Trump Administration, members of the US Congress and other attenders at the inauguration. Wong said:

I am honoured to be invited to attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration. It is a demonstration of the steadfast alliance between Australia and the United States.

I am also looking forward to meeting with members of the Trump Administration and Congress during my visit to Washington.

The United States is Australia’s vital ally, closest global partner, and most important strategic relationship.

This early visit will be an important opportunity to discuss how we can advance the benefits of our strong economic and security partnership and expand our cooperation.

The Australian foreign minister, Penny Wong, has sent her condolences to the family of Rory Sykes after his reported death in the tragic Los Angeles fires.

In a statement posted to social media, the senator said:

Our thoughts are with the family of Australian man Rory Sykes at this tragic time.

We continue to engage with Los Angeles authorities, who are working to confirm his death.

Wong said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is in contact with the Sykes family and is providing consular assistance to them. More on this story here:

Tasmanians warned to hunker down amid thunderstorm warning

Tasmanians have been told to brace for severe thunderstorms as state emergency services warn of heavy rainfall and flash flooding across parts of the state.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rain in the Upper Derwent valley, east coast, midlands and parts of the south-east, north-east, central plateau and western districts.

Acting assistant director of Tasmanian SES Cheryl Ames said residents of those regions should be prepared and stay informed as conditions change.

We are expecting widespread thunderstorm activity across most parts of Tasmania today, with the east coast, Launceston and Hobart areas at risk of severe thunderstorms which may result in heavy rain and flash flooding.

Over the past couple of days, heavy rainfall has been observed, with the Upper Esk River receiving 40-50mm, Fingal 35-45mm and Monameta (Mathinna Road) receiving 34.6mm within one hour.

The weather system is expected to bring heavy rain and potential hail, easing late tonight.

If you have to drive during heavy rain, please remember advice from Tasmania police to be safe on the roads, slow down, put your headlights on, and never drive through flood waters.

Storm and flooding risk as wet conditions continue

Intense storms and heavy rain are set to continue in one state, as forecasters expect the most severe weather could be on its way.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued multiple flood warnings across Queensland, along with an alert for parts of the south-east, which had more than 100mm of rain on Saturday.

The warnings include the Logan River, Boyne River and Barambah Creek.

In the South Burnett region, residents took to social media to post videos of flooding over the roads and in the centre of towns.

On Friday, emergency services were called out to rescue people trapped in their cars due to floods.

Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said Sunday would be another wet and stormy day, with high rainfall totals and extensive thunderstorms.

We’ve got broad risks of severe thunderstorms stretching all the way from Townsville down to Brisbane.

The bureau forecasts showers and storms to continue into the week, and although the intensity is expected to come down a couple of notches, severe weather remains a risk into Wednesday.

– AAP

Rain has halted play on the outside courts early on day one of the Australian Open just as local hope Omar Jasika was threatening to turn the tide against Hugo Gaston.

Organisers confirmed there would be no further action on the outside courts until at least 3pm (AEDT), but play was continuing under closed roofs on the three main show courts.

– AAP

One killed in house fire in Perth suburbs

One person has died in a house fire in the Perth suburb of Balcatta on Saturday.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a blaze on Sylvia Street.

Firefighters put out the blaze but when they managed to get inside, they found the body of a person.

The fire is not considered suspicious at this time, with arson squad investigators deployed to investigate.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

NSW police release images of people sought in relation to synagogue vandalism

New South Wales police have released the following images of two people they would like to speak with after a graffiti attack on the Southern Sydney Synagogue, in Allawah, in NSW premier Chris Minns’ electorate of Kogarah on Friday.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

For more on this story, read the Guardian’s previous reporting here:

Smooth, reliable and fanging: Australia’s enduring love affair with the Toyota Corolla

Emily Minson’s grandmother drove a Corolla. Her mother drove a Corolla. So it was only right that when she bought her first car, she did too.

About two decades ago, Minson was in her early 20s and saving up for a Corolla when she got a tip about a horse called Minson, which had been named for her football-playing brother. She put $100 on it, and won enough to buy a dark green Corolla hatchback.

It was called Molly. It had already done 90,000km. I think I drove it to 200,000km. It was just beautiful driving, smooth, reliable … it just fanged along.

For almost 60 years, Australians have been driving Toyota Corollas. The cars have been passed down through generations, hotted up and given pet names.

More than 1.6m Corollas – including hatches, sedans and panel vans – have been sold in Australia. It was the top selling car in 2013-15, according to Toyota.

For more on the enduring love affair between Australia’s and the Toyota Corolla, read the full story by Guardian Australia’s Tory Shepherd:

Dutton flagged an increase in military spending “at speed and scale” so Australia could “play our part as a credible partner in promoting peace through strength.”

And in the first days of a Coalition government, I will call the prime minister of Israel to mend the relationship that Labor has trashed.

Dutton also appeared to suggest a crackdown against pro-Palestinian protesters, saying that where a person has engaged in inciting or committing violence, citizens will “face the full force of the law” and those in Australia on visas will be deported.

It was not clear what standard would be used to make that assessment.

A Dutton Coalition government will develop national uniform knife laws, toughen bail laws, and introduce tougher penalties to prevent coercive control.

Most importantly, we will provide the moral and political leadership needed to restore law, order and justice.

And that’s about it for Dutton’s speech.

Dutton blames Albanese for rise in antisemitism

Dutton spent considerable time discussing a series of crimes that he charges the Labor government has allowed to “surge”.

Specifically, Dutton sought to charge Anthony Albanese with overseeing a rise in antisemitism.

Every incident of antisemitism can be traced back to the prime minister’s dereliction of leadership in response to the sordid events on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.

Antisemitism should have been stopped there and then.

This government is so morally confused it treats our ally, Israel, like an adversary.

Moreover, its push for Palestinian statehood at this time would reward Hamas’s use of terrorism to achieve political ends.

Dutton was referring to an incident where it was alleged pro-Palestinian protesters shouted antisemitic slogans on the steps of the Opera House in the days after 7 October 2023. These allegations could not be verified by police, who ultimately found there was “no evidence” this occurred.

Coalition would audit Indigenous programs and reinstate cashless debit card in remote communities, Dutton says

Touching once again on the subject of the failed voice to parliament referendum, Dutton said his government would “focus on practical action for Indigenous Australians”.

Unpacking this, he said it would begin with “a full audit into spending on Indigenous programs”.

Dutton also pledged to reintroduce the cashless debit card for working-aged people in Indigenous communities “in consultation with communities”.

He also promised a law and order crackdown in “crime-heavy communities” and a royal commission into sexual abuse in Indigenous communities.

Separately, Dutton said AI and automation will become new areas of the economy.

On healthcare, Dutton accused Labor of restarting the “Mediscare” campaign.

He said the Coalition would aim to grow the GP workforce, providing more incentives for junior doctors to train in general practice and a review of the Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that he says will result in cheaper and new medicines for women.

Dutton also said the Coalition would increase the number of Medicare-subsidised psychological sessions from 10 to 20 “on a permanent basis”.

Dutton pledges immigration cuts and two-year ban on foreigners purchasing homes

On migration, Dutton accused Labor of having “opened the floodgates” and pledged that the Coalition will impose a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes.

Dutton said a Coalition government would also reduce the permanent migration program by 25% for two years, from 185,000 to 140,000 places.

In years three and four, we will return to a sustainable 150,000 and 160,000 places.

He also said the Coalition would seek stronger caps on international students as part of a broader plan to “free up more than 100,000 homes over five years”.

This is part of a $5bn plan to build water, power, sewerage and access roads for 500,000 homes the Coalition wants built.

Another key Coalition proposal will be a plan to allow Australians to draw up to $50,000 of their super to buy their first home.

On nuclear power, Dutton repeated many of his previous lines on the subject, including:

Nuclear power allows us to maximise the highest yield of energy per square metre and minimise our environmental footprint.

The Coalition’s push to have Australia join the growing league of nuclear-powered nations is one of the most visionary policies put forward in our country’s history.

It’s time to dispense with short-termism and shore up our energy security for generations to come.

The decision to promote nuclear power and to hold the campaign rally in the Labor-held marginal seat of Chisholm is a feature of the Coalition’s efforts to forge a “blue-blue” political coalition between Australian conservatives and working-class voters.