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Today's reading time is 7 minutes. - Miko Santos
Here’s what else you need to know to get going and get on with your day.
1️⃣ Liberal Party to Decide Net Zero Commitment in High-Stakes Meeting
The Liberal Party will convene at midday Wednesday to determine whether to maintain its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, a decision that could reshape Australian climate policy and test Leader Susan Lee’s authority over the deeply divided opposition.
The meeting follows weeks of internal conflict between moderate and conservative factions, with Shadow Attorney-General Andrew Wallace expressing support for Lee while acknowledging “extraordinarily difficult circumstances.” Moderate MPs including Andrew Bragg and Tim Wilson have threatened to resign frontbench positions if the party abandons the climate target, while conservatives argue the policy is economically unviable for Australian families.
The Nationals Party abandoned its net zero commitment weeks earlier, effectively pressuring the Liberal Party to reconsider its position. Deputy Senate Leader Anne Ruston reportedly told a leadership meeting the Nationals have placed “a gun to our head,” according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Shadow Energy spokesman Dan Tehan will present his policy review to party members Wednesday, with a final position expected following Thursday’s Shadow Cabinet meeting. Political observers suggest Lee faces a leadership challenge regardless of the outcome, with discussions focusing on timing rather than inevitability.
2️⃣ Keating Reveals Advice to Arrest Governor-General During 1975 Constitutional Crisis
Former Prime Minister Paul Keating disclosed Tuesday that he advised then-Prime Minister Gough Whitlam to arrest Governor-General John Kerr following the controversial dismissal of the Labor government on November 11, 1975, marking the 50th anniversary of Australia’s most significant constitutional crisis.
In his first filmed interview on the dismissal, provided to the Museum of Australian Democracy, Keating detailed previously undisclosed conversations from that day. The revelation adds new perspective to the events that saw opposition leader Malcolm Fraser assume the prime ministership after Kerr exercised his constitutional authority to dismiss an elected government.
The anniversary has prompted renewed examination of Australia’s constitutional framework and the reserve powers of the Governor-General. Historians and legal scholars continue to debate whether Kerr’s actions were constitutionally justified or represented an overreach of vice-regal authority.
Whitlam ultimately did not attempt to arrest Kerr, and Fraser’s Liberal-National Coalition won the subsequent December 1975 election decisively. The dismissal remains among the most divisive events in Australian political history.
3️⃣ Trump Legal Team Threatens Billion-Dollar Lawsuit Against BBC Over Documentary Editing
Lawyers representing former U.S. President Donald Trump have threatened legal action against the British Broadcasting Corporation seeking damages exceeding one billion dollars, alleging misleading editing in a documentary about the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.
The legal threat follows the resignations earlier this week of BBC Director-General and the head of news after a leaked internal memo allegedly revealed bias in the broadcaster’s reporting. Trump’s attorneys claim the documentary improperly spliced together separate portions of a Trump speech, creating a misleading narrative about his statements on January 6.
The controversy has sparked international debate about journalistic standards and editorial accountability at public broadcasters. In Australia, Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson cited the BBC resignations as evidence that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation should face similar accountability measures for past editorial controversies.
Media ethics experts note that while Trump frequently threatens legal action against news organizations, the BBC’s internal upheaval and executive departures distinguish this case from previous disputes. The BBC has not yet formally responded to the legal threat.
4️⃣ Australian Consumer Confidence Reaches Three-Year High Amid Economic Optimism
Australian consumer confidence surged 12.8 percent in November to reach 103.8 points, marking the first time optimists have outnumbered pessimists since February 2022, according to a Westpac Banking Corp. survey released Tuesday.
The index rising above 100 ends a 44-month period of pessimism dominating consumer sentiment. Economists attributed the improvement to multiple factors including stability in interest rates at 3.6 percent, improving employment conditions, and reduced concerns about inflation following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s recent policy decisions.
The sentiment improvement paradoxically may reduce pressure on the RBA to implement additional interest rate cuts, as stronger consumer confidence suggests households are managing current economic conditions more effectively. The central bank has indicated rates will remain stable through year-end after implementing three cuts earlier in 2025.
Economic analysts note the surge coincides with improving prospects for resolution of the U.S. government shutdown and broader global economic stability. Westpac economists forecast the positive sentiment could support continued economic growth into 2026.
5️⃣ Defence Leader Issues Stark Warning on National Preparedness at Remembrance Day Ceremony
Major General Greg Mellick delivered an unusually direct assessment of Australia’s defence readiness during Tuesday’s Remembrance Day ceremony, warning that the nation faces its most challenging strategic environment since 1941 while only 30 percent of young Australians express willingness to serve their country.
Speaking at the Australian War Memorial before senior government and military officials, Mellick called for development of a comprehensive grand strategy extending beyond military planning to encompass economic, diplomatic and technological capabilities. He criticized current defence planning as constrained by budgetary limitations rather than strategic requirements.
The address referenced recent polling indicating generational shifts in attitudes toward national service, contrasting Australian youth with Ukrainian defenders he recently visited who demanded rapid rehabilitation to return to combat. Mellick emphasized the need for increased defence spending, enhanced fuel and ammunition reserves, and broader public engagement with national security challenges.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has acknowledged resource constraints within the portfolio. The government’s Defence Strategic Review, released earlier this year, identified the Indo-Pacific region’s deteriorating security environment as requiring urgent policy responses.
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