News live: Brisbane Woolworths vandalised with boycott message; Victoria defends millions given to Tennis Australia
Consultation over resource rent tax announced
The federal government will consult on new legislation to modernise the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT) and strengthen anti-avoidance laws for the offshore resources sector.
According to a statement from the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, the proposed changes to anti-avoidance rules would bring them in line with income tax-avoidance rules:
The amendments will ensure PRRT and income tax legislation operate as intended by clarifying that exploration for petroleum excludes feasibility studies. The amendments also tighten the treatment of mining, quarrying and prospecting rights for income tax depreciation purposes.
The resources sector makes a substantial contribution to Australia’s national economic prosperity, including through investment, jobs, energy supply and corporate and other taxes and these changes will ensure this continues.
The reforms will deliver a fairer return to the Australian people from the resources they own, provide certainty to industry and ensure Australia remains a reliable investment partner.
Draft legislation for consultation[1] will be available until 9 February.
Here are some photos from around Sydney this morning, which has seen its wettest 24 hours since last April with 62mm recorded:
Arden station – part of Metro tunnel project – completed in North Melbourne
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has just announced Arden station in North Melbourne is complete, marking a major milestone in the metro tunnel project. It’s the first of the five new underground stations to be finished and is now undergoing testing before the tunnel opens.
The government says the line will open in 2025, though the tunnel builder last year let slip it’s on track for September.
Allan said:
Since construction was commenced in 2018, we have seen the excavation of something like 330,000 tonnes of rock and soil, 3,000 lights have been installed and there’s been 104,000 handmade bricks have been hand laid to create this impressive entrance to the new station and just as at Flinders Street station, people say ‘I’ll meet you under the clocks’, in future people will say, ‘I’ll meet you under the the brick arch here at Arden station’.
She says the station is also going to be the “heart” of a new housing precinct, which will be home to 20,000 people by 2051.
Arden station is finished, presser with the premier about to kick off then we’re all heading on a tour. pic.twitter.com/ggndb6glmj[2]
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) January 14, 2024[3]
Help decide Australia’s greatest sporting moment!
Voting has officially opened to find Australia’s greatest sporting moment!
Our new Guardian poll has been compiled with the help of hundreds of reader nominations, with a shortlist of 50 iconic moments to chose from.
After the votes are tallied, the top 10 will be revealed next Monday when the final round of voting opens.
Cast your vote below!
Australia’s greatest sporting moment poll
We have expressed our concern about settlements in the West Bank … this has been a longstanding position of Australian governments because settlements can be an impediment to a two state solution.
Asked if they “can be” or “are” an impediment, Albanese replied:
Are, clearly, as part of any settlement that does require Israel to be continue to be a state within recognised borders, where people can live in peace and security – I want to see that occur. With a Palestinian state, where people can live in peace and security.
And on charitable status:
Well I’m not aware of that issue. So, our position is one of principle on settlements, as something that the Israeli government … are well aware of.
And it’s something the United States, I know President Biden has expressed his concern as well, as have all those who seek a two-state solution.
Albanese says no plans for federal election in 2024
In his final question on ABC Melbourne radio, Anthony Albanese said he doesn’t have any intention for a federal election this year:
We have three year terms in Australia. That’s a pretty short period compared with every state and territory, and compared with most countries in the world [that] have four or five year periods. So I think that as a principle, governments should try to serve out their their full term.
Q: Are you going to take a position on South Africa taking Israel[6] to the International Court accusing them of genocide?
Anthony Albanese:
In general our position tends to be that we don’t comment on matters set up before courts.
We obviously are not a participant in the process, [and] don’t intend to be a participant in the process.
What we want is to see a political solution, and that is primarily what the United States has said as well …
We need to have a pathway to security and peace and prosperity in the region … That is the main game that we need to work on, that durable peace that has been absent for far too long.
PM reiterates calls for humanitarian law to be respected in Israel
Next up, Albanese is asked about the ongoing Middle East conflict and whether it is “reasonable for Israel’s actions to end in the death of this many Palestinians”.
The prime minister said Australia has long called for the protection of innocent lives and for international humanitarian law to be respected.
I think that every loss of innocent life is a tragedy, regardless of whether it is Israeli or Palestinian, and I think that’s an appropriate position for Australia to take.
PM comments on supermarket inquiry
Turning to Peter Dutton’s calls for a boycott on Woolworths, following their decision not to stock Australia Day merchandise, the prime minister said Dutton needs to explain whether this boycott would be forever and what impact it would have on workers.
Q: Coles and Woolworths have said they are pushing prices not for profiteering but because of inflation. Do you believe that?
Anthony Albanese:
I think the problem for the big supermarket chain is that when people look at the prices that they’re paying off the farmers, and then look at what the prices they’re charging … people can see there’s a discrepancy there.
Albanese said he met with Dr Craig Emerson this morning about the direction of the inquiry he is taking to “make sure that consumers are looked after”.
Annual profit is more than £1bn for Woolworths and Coles.
How do they set prices and can they justify rises?
According to [Dutton’s comments], there was no crime 18 months ago, before the change of federal government, we know that that’s not the case.
Your listeners know that is not the case.
References
- ^ Draft legislation for consultation (treasury.gov.au)
- ^ pic.twitter.com/ggndb6glmj (t.co)
- ^ January 14, 2024 (twitter.com)
- ^ Australia’s greatest sporting moment poll