Australia news LIVE: PM flags further inquiry into Scott Morrison’s appointment to ministry portfolios; Investment NSW boss steps aside amid Barilaro inquiry
Key posts
- Voters want wage rises, not migration, as job summit’s top priority
- Morrison backs ‘genuine’ inquiry into the pandemic
- This morning’s key headlines at a glance
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Voters want wage rises, not migration, as job summit’s top priority
Almost two-thirds of Australians expect to suffer a real cut to their incomes this year and do not regard a boost to migration as a top priority for the jobs and skills summit Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will convene next week.
Concerns about falling wages have risen to the point where 63 per cent of voters expect a cut to real incomes this year — up from 53 per cent who said the same in a survey in February.
In a rebuff to business leaders who say a chronic skills crisis is hurting the economy, only 14 per cent of voters believe the worker shortage should be a top issue for the summit and only 20 per cent say migration is a main priority.
The exclusive survey, conducted by Resolve Strategic for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, reveals a deepening concern about the cost of living when union and industry leaders are at odds over the best ways to boost the wages of the nation’s 13.6 million workers as inflation erodes incomes.
More on the survey here.
Morrison backs ‘genuine’ inquiry into the pandemic
In case you missed it, Scott Morrison has stopped short of agreeing to participate in Anthony Albanese’s snap inquiry into the former prime minister’s secret ministries.
It comes after the nation’s second-highest legal officer found the appointments “fundamentally undermined” the principles of responsible government.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison.Credit:Nick Moir
However, Morrison said he would take part in “any genuine process” that attempted to learn the lessons of the coronavirus pandemic while suggesting it should be extended to the states and territories.
In advice released yesterday, Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue found Morrison had been legally appointed to the industry, science, energy and resources portfolio in 2021 – but was highly critical of the lack of transparency and recommended the government fix the “deficient” disclosure practices.
Read the full story here.
This morning’s key headlines at a glance
Good morning and thanks for your company.
It’s Wednesday, August 24. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.
Here’s what you need to know before we get started.
- David Crowe writes that almost two-thirds of Australians expect to suffer a real cut to their incomes this year and do not regard a boost to migration as a top priority for next week’s jobs and skills summit. The findings are part of the latest Resolve Strategic survey.
- Former prime minister Scott Morrison says he’ll participate in “any genuine process” to learn the lessons of the pandemic. It comes after current PM Anthony Albanese said his cabinet has decided there needs to be a further inquiry into the secret portfolio saga headed by an independent legal expert.
- Shane Wright reports that soaring rents are fuelling job vacancies in regional areas such as Geelong in Victoria and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
- Katina Curtis writes that potential spending caps will be canvassed as part of a parliamentary review into the May federal election. It comes after mining magnate Clive Palmer reportedly spent $100 million on this year’s campaign (resulting in one senator being elected).
- And in state news, the boss of Investment NSW – who appointed former deputy premier John Barilaro to a plum New York trade role – has stood down.
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