Australia vs Elon and the budget starts to take shape
Apr 24, 2024
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Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation, discusses the legal feud between Elon Musk and the Australian government and the upcoming budget's impact on voters. They also explore the government's powers, cost of living relief, and challenges in addressing societal issues like violence.
The legal feud between Elon Musk and the Australian government highlights the issue of government power and censorship.
The upcoming budget aims to address voters' cost of living concerns without exacerbating inflation.
Deep dives
Australian Prime Minister's Diplomatic Ties and China's Influence
The Australian Prime Minister walked the Kokoda track with Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister to strengthen diplomatic ties and counter China's influence in the Pacific region. This move was seen as a charm offensive and a significant development in Australian-PNG relations, amid ongoing challenges with China's expansion in the region.
Social Media Giants and Government Clash on Censorship
A feud between the Australian government and social media giant X (former Twitter) erupted over the removal of graphic footage of a stabbing attack. The Australian government, led by the Prime Minister, criticized X for not promptly removing the video, sparking debates on censorship, freedom of speech, and the responsibilities of tech platforms.
Government's Focus on Policing Online Extremism
The heads of ASIO and Australian Federal Police emphasized the need for tech giants like X and Facebook to combat online extremism. They called for better enforcement of existing standards and cooperation with security agencies to protect vulnerable individuals from extremist content, indicating a push to enhance online safety measures.
Housing Policy and Budget Concerns
Crossbenchers Jackie Lambie and David Pocock proposed measures to reform negative gearing and capital gains tax policies to address the housing affordability crisis. With escalating median housing costs, there is bipartisan support for tougher laws on social media misinformation and efforts to alleviate the housing affordability challenges faced by Australians.
The legal feud between Elon Musk and the Australian Government is intensifying. The PM has labelled Mr Musk an "egotist", while Elon Musk has lashed out at what he says is the Australian government's "censorship". So just how expansive are the Australian government's powers here?
And recent polling shows voters are feeling the cost of living crunch, so can the government offer relief in the upcoming budget without adding to inflation?
Michelle Grattan, Chief Political Correspondent at The Conversation joins Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas on The Party Room.EDITORS NOTE: PK and Fran mention the statistic of 30 women killed by violence in Australia so far this year - this statistic comes from The Australian Femicide Watch.
More Information
Got a burning political query? Send a short voice recording to PK and Fran for Question Time at thepartyroom@abc.net.au
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