Here is a look at what is making news around the country today.
Today’s national news includes PM Albanese confirming the date of the Voice referendum, Australia and the US boosting critical technology partnerships, ADF enhancing partnerships for improved global mobility of troops and equipment, and workers at Chevron’s Australia gas facilities to strike.
Nation
PM Albanese confirms the date of the Voice referendum is October 14
At an event in Adelaide with hundreds of Voice supporters, the prime minister revealed Australians would go to the polls on October 14, setting off a six-week campaign. The date has been widely anticipated for months, but supporters hope the announcement will focus the minds of undecided Australians on the question being asked. At the event with Albanese are senior Indigenous figures such as Noel Pearson and Megan Davis, along with ministers Penny Wong and Don Farrell. Political figures including Malcolm Turnbull, Tanya Plibersek, Bill Shorten and Adam Bandt are taking part in a series of events across Australia today, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
Federal MPs to get biggest pay increase in the last 10 years
Federal politicians will receive their biggest pay rise in nearly a decade with all public offices to receive a 4 per cent increase. The decision was made after The Remuneration Tribunal, the body in charge of the parliamentary pay reviews, said they had made “conservative” increases in the past, which were not up to date with Australia’s “economic conditions”. It means the base salary of an MP will rise from $217,000 to $225,680. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s salary will go from $564,200 to $586,768 while opposition leader Peter Dutton’s salary will increase from $401,450 to $417,508. In September 2022, federal politicians received a 2.75 per cent increase. The wage increase does not include various government allowances, such as a travel allowance, 9 News has reported.
Politics
Australia, US to boost critical technology partnership
The US is set to step up its technology partnerships with Australia in the coming months with an AUKUS-related announcement in the fall, the Department of Defense said. As part of the Australia, US, and United Kingdom sub-development agreement, US President Joe Biden will be announcing a new agreement on a “critical technology”. The partnership will be focusing on unmanned systems and artificial intelligence (AI), Janes has reported.
Defence
Australia is on the move to enhance partnerships
The Australian Defence Force(ADF) has reached a historic agreement that will make it easier to transport its people and equipment around the globe, the Defence Department said. Australia has become a member of the Movement Coordination Centre – Europe (MCC-E), making it the first non-NATO/non-European nation to do so. The MCC-E is an organisation that brings together the defence forces of member nations to operate capabilities jointly, to streamline structures and maximise efficiency. Being a member of the MCC-E allows the ADF access to a potential pool of strategic lift support that can be used to facilitate transport tasks in the region and around the world.
https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2023-08-30/australia-move-enhance-partnerships
Business
Workers at Chevron’s Australia gas facilities to strike
Workers at two large liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Australia are set to go on strike from 7 September, in a move that could drive up global prices. It follows weeks of negotiations with unions over pay and working conditions. Chevron, the US energy giant that operates the sites, said it would “continue to take steps to maintain safe and reliable operations in the event of disruption at our facilities”. The Wheatstone and Gorgon sites produce more than 5 per cent of the world’s LNG and about 500 workers are currently employed at the two plants in Western Australia, BBC News has reported.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66643277
0 Comments