Australia and Oceania news and discussions

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Australia to make posts public to avoid repeat of power grab
Source: AP

By ROD McGUIRK today

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — An inquiry into a former Australian prime minister secretly appointing himself to multiple ministries recommended Friday that all such appointments be made public in the future to preserve trust in government.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would recommend his Cabinet accept all of the retired judge ’s recommendations at a meeting next week.

Albanese ordered the inquiry in August after revelations that his predecessor Prime Minister Scott Morrison had taken the unprecedented steps of appointing himself to five ministerial roles between March 2020 and May 2021, usually without the knowledge of the existing minister.

The extraordinary power grab came to light after Morrison’s conservative coalition was voted out of office in May after nine years in power.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/health-austr ... 9fa540d6ef

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New Zealand PM Ardern says will not seek re-election
Source: Reuters

WELLINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will not seek re-election and plans to stand down no later than early February, she said in a televised statement on Thursday.

A general election would be held on October 14, she added.

“While I won’t be contesting the election, I know the issues that impact New Zealanders most will remain the focus of the government through this year and into the election," she said.

Ardern said she still believed New Zealand Labor would win the upcoming election

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-paci ... 023-01-19/

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Hugh Jackman: Inevitable that Australia will become a republic

19 minutes ago

Actor Hugh Jackman has said he believes it is "inevitable" that Australia will become a republic in the future.

Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Jackman said a break with the UK's Royal Family would be "a natural part of evolution".

But the X Men star added that he held "no ill will" towards King Charles and wished the family "all the best".

On the show, he also discussed therapy, his relationship with his children, and his 6,000-calorie-a-day diet.

The Australian actor's parents are both from the UK and he recalls celebrating royal occasions as a child.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-64684136

[weatheriscool]

Biden announces nuclear-powered submarines for Australia
Source: AP

By ZEKE MILLER and DARLENE SUPERVILLE 26 minutes ago

SAN DIEGO (AP) — President Joe Biden and the leaders of Australia and the United Kingdom on Monday announced that Australia will purchase nuclear-powered attack submarines from the U.S. to modernize its fleet amid growing concern about China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Biden flew to San Diego to appear with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as they hailed an 18-month-old nuclear partnership given the acronym AUKUS — for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The partnership, announced in 2021, enables Australia to access nuclear-powered submarines, which are stealthier and more capable than conventionally powered vessels, as a counterweight to China’s military buildup.

Biden, appearing sensitive to tensions with China and its criticism of the deal, stressed that the submarines are “nuclear powered, not nuclear armed.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/biden-austra ... osition_08

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Commonwealth Games: 2026 event in doubt after Victoria cancels

3 hours ago

The 2026 Commonwealth Games are in doubt after the Australian state of Victoria cancelled its plans to host due to budget blowouts.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) struggled to find a host before Victoria volunteered in April 2022.

But the premier said the projected cost had now tripled and become "well and truly too much" for the state to bear.

CGF called the decision "hugely disappointing" and said it is "committed to finding a solution".

The Commonwealth Games are a multi-sport tournament that take place every four years. They have only ever been cancelled during World War Two.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-66229574

[eacao]

Commonwealth Games: 2026 event in doubt after Victoria cancels

This is a classic case of idiotic public planning. Specifically, the brainchild of an hubristic politician looking to use taxpayer dollars to subsidise his poorly thought through, 'brilliant' idea. What geniuses men become when given the keys to the treasury, eh?

Andrews volunteered to host the Commonwealth games when he realised he could use this project to spur regional development. This looks to me like typical big-state thinking from the type of politician who wants to buy votes in regional electorates with tax dollars.

He appointed close allies in key administration positions (always a good start...) and promised to deliver the project within an unrealistically low budget. When he was confronted by criticisms from organisers for the immense impracticality of hosting the games in a regional area with poorly developed infrastructure and low foot traffic, he began to panic and took to blaming the organisers for mismanagement.

Now he has cancelled his idiotic project and has taken to the media to spin this decision as prudent fiscal responsibility, "how unfortunate that we have to take the hard, but right decision to sacrifice this program for the good of the state". He's saving face.

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[Time_Traveller]

New Zealand election: National party's Chris Luxon claims victory

1 hour ago

The opposition National Party has won the New Zealand election, taking enough seats to form a coalition with its allies on the right wing of politics.

Incumbent prime minister Chris Hipkins, of Labour, phoned National's leader Chris Luxon to concede defeat.

Mr Luxon thanked National voters and said they had "reached for hope" and "voted for change".

It marks a rapid elevation for Mr Luxon, who became an MP in 2020 and National leader only a year later.

The New Zealand Herald reported that National was projected to win 50 seats with around 39% of the vote.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-671 ... e=web_link

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

New Zealand's final election count means incoming premier Christopher Luxon needs broader support

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A final vote count Friday following a general election in New Zealand three weeks ago has changed the political equation for winner Christopher Luxon, whose conservative National Party will now need broader support to govern.

An election night count had given the National Party and the closely aligned libertarian ACT Party a slim overall majority. But the addition of 600,000 special votes Friday saw that majority evaporate, with the National Party losing two seats and opposition parties gaining three seats.

That means in order to command a majority, the National Party will now need the support of both ACT and the New Zealand First party, run by maverick 78-year-old lawmaker Winston Peters.

Luxon said the final result aligned with his expectations, and that talks with both partner parties were well advanced. He declined to say when he expected to finalize an agreement and a government.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/ne ... er-support

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[Time_Traveller]

Australian 7-Eleven convenience stores sold to overseas parent in $1.7 billion deal

1:53pm Dec 1, 2023



The chain of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Australia are being sold to the Japanese parent company in a deal worth $1.7 billion.

The Australian business began with one Melbourne store in 1977 and expanded to a network of 752 convenience shops across New South Wales, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.

The company employs more than 9000 people across the corporate and franchise network.

News of the sale to Seven-Eleven Japan by the Withers and Barlow families in a deal worth $1.71 billion was first reported by the Australian Financial Review.

In a statement on behalf of the shareholders of 7-Eleven Australia, Russell Withers said it was the "right time" to sell the business.

https://www.9news.com.au/finance/austra ... ea8b824a2d