Australia news LIVE: Fate of Home Affairs boss Michael Pezzullo to be decided in report; Job cuts as RBA war on inflation cuts;
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Key posts
- Jobs and doctor visits go as RBA war on inflation cuts deep
- Home Affairs boss’ fate to be decided in report
- Israel and Hamas ‘close to reaching a ceasefire agreement’
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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Jobs and doctor visits go as RBA war on inflation cuts deep
A third of businesses are considering laying off workers before Christmas while more than 1.2 million people have delayed medical appointments or prescription refills because of their cost as the Reserve Bank’s war on inflation intensifies financial pressure on companies and households.
The growing cost pressures faced by Australians are fuelling an increasingly bitter political debate.
Next year is looking cooler for the jobs market, with more businesses planning to lay off workers ahead of Christmas.Credit: Louise Kennerley
Peter Dutton says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is missing in action as families faced growing grocery and energy bills, prompting Treasurer Jim Chalmers to accuse the opposition leader of lying about the economy.
Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank board lifted the official cash rate to a 12-year high of 4.35 per cent in a bid to bring down inflation, which is not expected to return to the institution’s 2-3 per cent target band until late 2025.
Read the latest on this issue here.
Home Affairs boss’ fate to be decided in report
Ministers in the Albanese government are preparing for a report to recommend whether Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo should be removed from his role over covert dealings with lobbyists and secret efforts to gain and exert political influence during the terms of the Turnbull and Morrison governments.
Four government sources, including senior ministers who spoke on background to discuss sensitive details before the report’s release, confirmed Public Service Commissioner Lynelle Briggs had finalised an eight-week investigation into whether the divisive and powerful department chief breached the public service code of conduct.
Mike Pezzullo has been one of Australia’s most powerful public servants.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Briggs was commissioned to probe Pezzullo’s dealings with Liberal powerbroker and lobbyist Scott Briggs after The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes revealed a cache of messages between the pair. Lynelle and Scott Briggs are not related.
The government will receive and respond to the report within days.
Find out more about the impending report here.
Israel and Hamas ‘close to reaching a ceasefire agreement’
In an update to the war in the Middle East, Israel and Hamas are inching closer to a deal where the terrorist organisation would swap dozens of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a partial pause in fighting.
It what would be the first diplomatic breakthrough since the war began on October 7.
US officials who have been brokering an agreement say that it could involve the Israeli bombardment of Gaza being paused for up to five days.
People demonstrate prior any hostage announcements outside the Kyria defense complex as the political cabinet hold a meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel.Credit: Getty
Benyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, ordered his war cabinet to convene at 4pm UK time before a discussion with his wider government at 6pm.
Confirmation of an agreement could come soon after.
Speaking to soldiers in the north of Israel earlier in the day, Netanyahu said negotiations were “currently advancing” and he hoped there would be “good news soon”.
Read the full story here.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning, and thanks for your company.
It’s Wednesday, November 22. 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:
- Major social media companies including TikTok and Meta face fines of more than $700,000 if they fail to claim down on hate speech, sinister use of AI and harmful content.
- A third of businesses are considering laying off workers before Christmas as the Reserve Bank’s war on inflation cuts deep.
- The government is waiting for a report to recommend whether Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo should be removed from his role over covert dealings with lobbyists.
- Former immigration detainees considered harmless and already living in the community will be forced to wear ankle bracelets alongside murderers and rapists.
- Businesses will be forced to report hacks to the government as part of a sweeping $600 million cybersecurity plan.
- Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen says tougher curbs on greenhouse emissions are needed to deliver on Australia’s commitment to halting global warming at 1.5 degrees.
- Overseas, Thailand’s could become the first country in south-east Asia to legalise same-sex unions if a proposed law on marriage equality is successful.
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