News

The Australian federal election campaign is heating up, with the gas reservation policy becoming a key point of contention. While Prime Minister Albanese argues that the government already has the power to direct gas companies, the Coalition proposes a dedicated scheme to force more gas into the domestic market.

Peter Dutton's proposed fuel excise cut aims to provide immediate relief to Australians struggling with the rising cost of living, while Labor's tax cuts offer long-term tax relief and aim to stimulate economic growth. Both policies face concerns about their impact on inflation and lack of structural reform.

Labor's first election promise is to outlaw supermarket price gouging, aiming to tackle the rising cost of living by creating a new law that defines and penalizes unfair pricing practices. However, the details of the proposal remain vague, with the key challenge being the definition of price gouging and the gathering of evidence to support such claims.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has unveiled a plan to tackle rising energy costs by forcing gas companies to reserve a portion of their supply for domestic use and investing in new gas infrastructure. He also pledged to build seven nuclear power plants by 2050 and invest in youth mental health services.

A NSW government inquiry into the live sheep export ban has been criticized by farming groups for its lack of action, with concerns that the ban will significantly impact sheep prices and the Australian sheep market. The inquiry delivered just one recommendation, to monitor the impact of the ban on sheep prices.