Sydney’s Garden Island Defence Precinct has been an important naval base since 1856, and its significance seems likely to grow with Defence Minister Richard Marles’s announcement in February 2024 of a further $11.1 billion to more than double the Australian naval fleet. This follows the Albanese Government’s adoption of the Independent analysis of Navy’s surface combatant fleet recommendation to acquire 11 Tier 2 surface combatants, a number of which seem likely to be homeported in Sydney. Read more...
In early March 2024, the Opposition established a Shadow Minister for Western Sydney to ‘signal very clearly our intention to make great inroads’ into that area. While this is the first instance of Western Sydney being a specific portfolio, other examples of geographic portfolios have existed for over a hundred years, in both government and shadow ministries. This Flagpost provides an overview analysis of these, including the various motivations for their creation. Read more...
The Federal Court has called for better scrutiny of ‘convoluted’ child support laws, saying such complex legislation puts governance in jeopardy. Read more...
On 16 April 2024 the Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek announced the ‘second stage’ of the Albanese Government’s Nature Positive reforms. The minister said the changes ‘will deliver stronger environment powers, faster environment approvals, and better environment information and transparency’. Read more...
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