r/OpenAussie

Born and raised in Australia my whole life. For context I’m f19 and never cared about politics in Australia because I found it boring and was genuinely more interested in American politics because it’s a shit show. I’ve grown up with parents that are conservative and hate the Labor government. I’ll be completely transparent, I try to see both sides and go with the better option because both major parties suck and I hate them all. I’m left leaning and considered “woke” by the generations above me. I’m surrounded by people who think Pauline Hanson will save Australia and I’ve been told to NEVER vote the greens. I don’t get why tho, is there anything the greens have done to make people feel this way towards them? I’m for climate change and all that but other than that I’m still uneducated on Australian politics as a whole. What ik for sure is that the liberals, labour and Pauline Hanson are all liars anyways. It hasn’t taken me long in adulthood to figure out how corrupt the government is

Im hoping for answers on both sides

>A US Senate committee has held a confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Australia, David Brat. Mr Brat says he will prioritise a critical minerals agreement, defence cooperation and the partnership in the Indo-Pacific if confirmed.

>There has been no indication senators will block the appointment, and Mr Brat is expected to fill the vacancy left by former ambassador Caroline Kennedy in 2024.

>But several senators asked Mr Brat about the AUKUS security pact, under which Australia intends to acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the US. Jeanne Shaheen said the Trump administration's review of AUKUS last year had created unnecessary uncertainty in the alliance.

>Senator Shaheen also raised Mr Brat's past opposition to ongoing funding for Ukraine's defence against Russia. ~ABC, u/abcnews_au.

Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has condemned the actions of a far-right Israeli minister who posted a video of himself abusing bound activists captured while trying to sail an aid flotilla to Gaza.

In the video, dozens of men and women are seen kneeling in rows, with their foreheads to the ground and their hands zip-tied behind their back.

Among the flotilla detainees are 11 Australian activists who were taken into custody by Israeli forces off the coast of Cyprus earlier this week, but it is not known if they were present in Ben-Gvir’s video.

Donald Rothwell, a professor of international law at the Australian National University, raised concerns about Israel’s actions. He said while a naval blockade is a legitimate naval warfare act during an armed conflict, there was “no legal basis under international law” for Israel to enforce its blockade off the coast of Cyprus. He said this was because there was no international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, despite Israel’s position that a blockade was legitimate due to the threat posed by Hamas.

It looks like there's a carve out for boomers and pensioners with the CGT IF they receive any income support.

As long as you receive $1 worth of [age pension] benefits, you’re exempt from this minimum 30 per cent. An elderly couple could still be making 70K a year combined, with 1 mil in assets and still get CGT exemptions.

Younger people saving for a home deposit and investing in shares to build that wealth were “going to cop this minimum 30 per cent tax on their gains, whereas if you receive a part-age pension, you’re exempt from that”, he added.

Source: Budget Paper No. 1

https://preview.redd.it/9t3hlx1h6h2h1.png?width=1377&format=png&auto=webp&s=bad83d524a81a76aa1efc7656eb874c25ac38c2f

https://preview.redd.it/70ovv4mn6h2h1.png?width=1412&format=png&auto=webp&s=10a580667dcf7ba20ddce70d8db120a9b88cceff

https://preview.redd.it/1n0qwpomae2h1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=7f511bce599eabf812221973c28902188c77c8c0

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-21/federal-politics-live-blog-paul-keating-cgt/106703424#live-blog-post-296568

"A society that fails to house its children is a society in decline, this is what Jim Chalmers and his prime minister are seeking to arrest.

Punters with a big idea won’t be put off by some marginal change to the tax rate. The rush of entrepreneurial blood to the brain always dominates. The simple fact is that income is taxed too heavily while capital is taxed too lightly. That is the fact of it, and has been the fact of it.

And that distortion has made housing unaffordable for a whole generation."

Pauline Hanson reveals policy talks with Gina Rinehart

Hanson said she had not been influenced by Rinehart on immigration matters.

"Just because we've got a plane doesn't mean to say my tune has changed as far as migration," Hanson said.

"I've been speaking about this for the last 30 years. I'm on the record of talking about this. I've been consistent with my policies, what I stand for."

But she said Rinehart did raise matters of policy with her, in line with other organisations and groups who meet with her in parliament.

"She (Rinehart) puts forward some policies like everyone else. I had the gas industry here today as well. I've had ... a lawyer about family law. So, I'm talking to all people, which I have done for years, about policy.

"Why shouldn't she talk to me about policy? No one changes my vision, what I have for Australia, what I want to do. I'm quite happy to listen to anyone. Why wouldn't I listen to Gina Rinehart? She's one of the highest — if not the highest — taxpayers in this nation, and what she does for this country as well."

"I'm sick of people saying, you know, who criticise her for the wealth, but she's one of the people in this country that does give back to the community, unlike some of the others in the mining industry."

Wondering if anyone here has lived in these places and has experienced rentals there? What was it like?

Are the sorts of things in this article the kind of policies the government should also be looking at?

The Budget reforms are one thing, but there will still always be renters for a myriad of reasons. Could we further disincentivise housing-as-investment by strengthening renter protections?

I guess I see a lot of discussion about Supply and Demand and their specific levers (more builds, land rezoning, cut migration, etc.), but considering renting is part of the property investment scheme, I also wonder if the housing situation could be helped through better rental regulation and protections, e.g. disincentivising through minimum long-term leases, rent price regulation, vacancy decontrol, etc.

question from an Australian family to a financial expert has sparked debate about the federal government's generational trust tax reform.
The couple, aged in their 50s, wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald's money expert Noel Whittaker and explained that their small business annual income, operated through a family trust, is split into three $60,000 streams, totalling $180,000.
That money is then funnelled to the husband, wife and teenage daughter.

READ MORE: Con-woman Melissa Caddick's victims share 'small pot' last cash
Once Labor's tax laws come into effect in 2028, tax on discretionary trust incomes will be increased to a flat rate of 30 per cent. (Getty)
READ MORE: Australia is one of the richest countries in the world. But household debt is making us feel 'poor'
**"**How are we likely to be affected by the proposal to levy a flat tax of 30 per cent on family trusts?" they asked.
The question posed to Whittaker was simple, but his answer may come as unwelcome news.
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"You are likely to be hit hard," he explained, adding that the couple likely currently pay just $27,000 in total tax on the distributed incomes.
Once Labor's tax laws come into effect in 2028, this tax will increase by 100 per cent.
"Under the proposed arrangements, the trust would cop a flat tax of 30 per cent, which would be $54,000, so your tax would effectively double," Whittaker added.
"There is no need for urgent action, as these changes are still two years away, but you will certainly need to discuss with your accountant the optimal structure."
There could be a small loophole that would allow the couple and their daughter to pay slightly less tax, but it involves slashing the incomes paid to $45,000 per year.
Whittaker said the remaining balance could be paid again as a trust distribution or a superannuation, where it would be taxed by just 15 per cent.

How many wage earners on 180k pay just 27k tax???

Genuine question for folks. In Australia, it’s tradition to place your hand on a bible when swearing in as a witness in court, for politicians taking office etc. More recently, we’ve seen persons of other faiths swearing in on their relevant holy book.

What is the point? Religion is notorious for offering ‘get out of jail/hell’ free clauses to its followers.

From the simple confession where you do penance for your sins, and are then clean apparently, to Islams Taqiyya/Kitman clauses nearly every religion has this ability to just lie, cheat and steal and then seek repentance from whichever Flying Spaghetti Monster you worship.

The only issue is, what could we replace it with? As we see in here, many people don’t even have any pride in the nation, so even swearing on the flag or something would be useless.

Barring basically just an acknowledgement that if you lie, you will be found in contempt and charged, and having serious consequences, I see no point in it. It’s symbolism that basically has no meaning. A legacy of our past that serves little to no purpose.

For those within no religious beliefs, I even see it as a thing that would embolden them to think lying is okay.

We aren’t hearing any updates on the trial over here in west Aus. Haven’t heard any news worthy information on the progress. It is a travesty she hasn’t been found yet. Any trial updates from the east coast? Can’t fathom how difficult it must be for her family to not have solid information after two years.

Hey guys,

I’m looking for quick input on what government policies or incentives would encourage people to switch to renewable tech like EVs, solar panels, and home batteries. Also keen to hear what’s currently stopping people or what governments aren’t doing well. If you’ve got 5–10 minutes, I’d really appreciate your thoughts. Thanks heaps!

The numbers are in, and experts say what happened on the weekend is only the beginning.

Sydney’s auction market has crashed to a six-year low as rising interest rates and sweeping tax changes in the federal budget turn would-be investors away from property.

Prices now falling, the “fear of missing out” had been replaced with a “fear of overpaying,” meaning buyers were “happy to be patient and seek out better deals”.

The volume of homes for sale in Sydney was also quite elevated, providing buyers with lots of choice and tilting the balance in their favour.

“Sydney is now a buyer’s market."

I will be the first to admit that I am one of those people who follows him on social media, but not super closely

He seems like a good bloke and has quickly become an important voice and political commentator. From what I understand he’s left leaning, but isn’t exclusively tied to a political party and is a big advocate for that. He has said on record he doesn’t agree with party loyalty it’s all about the different policies for him. What I appreciate about him is he’s willing to chat to all sides, and has had multiple sides on his podcast

He’s been a huge campaigner for taxing gas, only downside is I feel like that in itself is something that if it was doable it would have just been done by now…so while I appreciate his endeavor and effort I think he may need to lower his expectations regarding that one