Monday, December 23

Tag: national

Australia’s supermarket prices have been grilled by politicians, just don’t expect prices to drop anytime soon

Australia’s supermarket prices have been grilled by politicians, just don’t expect prices to drop anytime soon

A day after Australia's major supermarket bosses were questioned about price-gouging allegations, their conduct towards suppliers and, in one case, threatened with jail time, shoppers have been warned to not expect price drops anytime soon. Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci had the threat of being found in contempt during his fiery Senate hearing yesterday morning, before Coles counterpart Leah Weckert's far milder appearance before the same committee in the afternoon. While both CEOs discussed the importance of providing competitive prices, Swinburne University corporate governance expert Helen Bird said the hearings are unlikely to lead to any drop in prices in store – even if the explanations by the supermarkets about their pricing practices are welcome. Whil...
Defence spending gets $50 billion boost over next decade

Defence spending gets $50 billion boost over next decade

The Australian government will invest an extra $50.3 billion into defence over the next decade as part of a long-awaited revamp of the nation's armed forces strategy. The funding boost comes following last year's Defence Strategic Review, which argued Australia needed to modernise its current military structure it said was designed for a "bygone era". "The optimistic assumptions that guided defence planning after the end of the Cold War are long gone," Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said when announcing the funding boost and the National Defence Strategy this afternoon. Australian defence spending will increase by $50 billion over the next ten years. (Department of Defence via AP) "Our environment is characterised by the uncertainty and te...
Geoff Brock steps down from South Australian ministry, sparking cabinet reshuffle

Geoff Brock steps down from South Australian ministry, sparking cabinet reshuffle

After suffering three heart attacks and requiring four bypass surgeries, Geoff Brock has left South Australia's cabinet on his doctor's advice. The minister for local government and veterans' affairs choked back tears as he made the announcement today, which sparked a cabinet reshuffle. "I recognise it's time to step back in the best interests of my health, my family and my constituents," Brock said. "If I'm not going to do something properly, I don't want to do it at all." The independent MP has served in two Labor cabinets. First, he was rewarded by then-premier Jay Weatherill for handing Labor government back in 2014. Then he served in Peter Malinauskas's cabinet after the 2022 election. The 74-year-old will remain the member for the mid-...
UK court orders delay to extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to US on espionage charges

UK court orders delay to extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to US on espionage charges

A British court has ruled that Julian Assange can't immediately be extradited to the US on espionage charges, in a partial victory for the WikiLeaks founder. Two High Court judges said they would grant the Australian a new appeal unless US authorities give further assurances about what will happen to him. The ruling means the legal saga, which has dragged on for more than a decade, will continue. The case has been adjourned until May 20. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. (AP) Judges Victoria Sharp and Jeremy Johnson said that if no assurances are filed by the US, they will grant Assange permission to appeal extradition on grounds including breach of freedom of expression, and because he might receive the death penalty. "If assurances are not given then we...
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