Despite a quieter week in Canberra with Parliament between sitting weeks, the ongoing debate around the cost of living continued to dominate political discussions. Here are the key issues for the week:
- Inflation: Monthly inflation data released on Wednesday showed inflation sitting at 2.7%, down from 3.5% from the previous month, and falling within the RBA’s 2-3% target for the first time since 2021.
- Negative Gearing: Prime Minister Albanese has left the door open to reviewing negative gearing, refusing to hose down reports he asked Treasury to model possible changes to tax arrangements for investment properties.
- Supermarket Pricing: CHOICE’s government-sponsored report found a major price differential between Aldi and the major supermarkets, coinciding with the ACCC’s decision to take legal action against Coles and Woolworths, alleging misleading conduct.
- International Relations: Jim Chalmers headed to Beijing to discuss trade relations and tariffs. Meanwhile, Penny Wong was in New York for the G20 Foreign Ministers and joined the growing calls for a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon.
- Nuclear Energy: Peter Dutton spoke in front of the Committee for Economic Development on his nuclear energy plan, while not revealing information how much it would cost.
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