Key posts
- PM rules out major changes to super amid tax concessions debate
- Yes campaign draws inspiration from 1967 referendum
- Support for Indigenous Voice falls, voters call for more detail: Poll
- Australians hit by largest fall in real wages on record
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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China, Russia deepen ties as Biden rallies NATO over Ukraine
And in overseas news, China pledged a deeper partnership with Russia while US President Joe Biden reaffirmed security assurances for NATO’s “frontline” eastern members, highlighting global tensions as the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine approaches.
However, a day after President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was suspending its participation in a nuclear arms reduction treaty with Washington, his deputy foreign minister sought to calm nerves, saying the step did not make a nuclear war more likely.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Chinese Communist Party’s foreign policy chief Wang Yi.Credit:AP
Within Ukraine, schools took their classes online for the rest of the week for fear of an upsurge in Russian missile attacks a year on from Moscow’s February 24 all-out assault, which failed to topple the government.
Wang Yi, the highest ranking Chinese official to visit Russia since the countries announced a “no limits” partnership weeks before the invasion, told Putin that Beijing was ready to enhance ties.
A time of crisis called for Russia and China “to continuously deepen our comprehensive strategic partnership”, Beijing’s top diplomat said on Wednesday (Russia time).
Reuters
PM rules out major changes to super amid tax concessions debate
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insists there will be no major changes to superannuation as any tax break adjustments would only hit a small number of accounts with millions stashed away.
Albanese argued during his speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday that Labor would not break an election promise to leave super alone.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flags no major changes to superannuation in speech. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Meanwhile, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor argued the government risked “leaving Australian retirees in the cold” by considering changing tax concessions.
More on the superannuation issue is available to read here.
Yes campaign draws inspiration from 1967 referendum
But, in Adelaide hundreds gathered for the launch of the ground campaign to support the Yes vote, for the Voice for parliament.
Here is what federal political reporter Lisa Visentin wrote about the event:
In the city where the 1967 referendum campaign began, the Yes case for the Voice to parliament rallied ground troops hoping to channel the grassroots momentum that drove change more than half a century ago.
Against the backdrop of a new Yes campaign logo, more than 200 people from unions, faith groups, the business sector, local community organisations, and philanthropists gathered in Adelaide on Wednesday for the launch of the ground campaign to generate a groundswell of support for the Voice.
Filmmaker Rachel Perkins, co-chair of Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition, said the Yes campaign would tap into the lessons handed down by the 1967 campaigners – among them her famous activist father Dr Charles Perkins – who knew bringing people together from all walks of life was key.”
Read more of her piece on the Yes campaign here.
Support for Indigenous Voice falls, voters call for more detail: Poll
A clear majority of the electorate wants more detail about the Indigenous Voice to parliament after months of political argument about the principle at stake, with 63 per cent of voters saying they would like more information than is currently available.
Voters in marginal electorates show a stronger desire to know more about the reform – with 69 per cent wanting more information – in an exclusive survey that finds the same view has a majority whether voters back Labor, the Greens or the Coalition.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the annual Garma festival in East Arnhem Land in July.Credit:Getty Images
The findings heighten the debate about the amount of detail that can be offered before Australians decide on reform at a referendum later this year, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warning against “misinformation” and saying it would be up to parliament to decide crucial details after the vote.
The full story is available here.
Australians hit by largest fall in real wages on record
Australians are enduring the biggest fall in real wages on record, with new data prompting accusations the Reserve Bank’s sharp increase in interest rates to head off a wage-price spiral is causing unnecessary economic pain to ordinary workers.
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed the closely watched wage price index increased by a lower than expected 0.8 per cent through the final three months of 2022. It took the annual rate of wages growth to a 10-year high of 3.3 per cent.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says new data shows there is no wage-price spiral.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
But with inflation running at 7.8 per cent, the gap between wages and prices now stands at 4.5 per cent – the largest gap since the bureau started compiling its wage price index in 1998.
The full story on this news is available here.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning, and thanks for your company this morning.
It’s Thursday, February 23. I’m Caroline Schelle, 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:
- The government asked the public for expressions of interest in joining the Reserve Bank board.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia should keep more critical minerals inside the country, and wants to support local industries to make batteries.
- During his speech at the National Press Club yesterday, he insisted there will be no major changes to superannuation.
- A survey has found support for the Indigenous Voice to parliament is falling.
- It comes as the Yes campaign will hold its official launch in Adelaide this evening.
- And, Australians are enduring the biggest fall in real wages on record.
- In an update to the situation in Russia, where the country has deepened ties with China.
- Meanwhile, Japanese authorities are concerned after a mysterious iron orb landed on a beach.
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