Key events
What we learned; Friday 30 August
And with that we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s re-cap the big headlines.
Thank you for spending part of your day with us.
Luca Ittimani
Australian shoppers didn’t increase their spending in July despite an income boost from stage-three tax cuts.
Retail turnover stayed flat last month, after rising 0.5% in both June and May thanks to end of financial year sales, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
That was a “disappointing result given the context of tax cuts,” according to Matthew Hassan, Westpac’s head of Australian macro-forecasting.
Food retailing was the only industry to grow its sales, picking up by 0.2%. Sales of clothes, shoes and accessories fell 0.5% as EOFY sales ended, back to where they were in May. Department store trade fell 0.4%.
The figures were the first official sign of spending behaviour since the stage-three tax cuts boosted Australians’ pay packets. They suggest workers are saving the extra money or spending it on essentials, according to bank economists.
Continued weakness in retail spending bodes poorly for the economy at large. We’ll get a clearer picture of how domestic spending is going on Wednesday, with the release of national data on spending and production (GDP).
Will spending stay weak? The big banks say consumers might start to spend more of their tax cuts in coming months as bigger pay packets and cost-of-living relief build up buffers in shoppers’ accounts.
Minister queries PM on census sexuality debate
The minister for equality, Harriet Shing, has put out a statement saying she has written to the PM for “confirmation that the 2026 census will include specific references to gender identity and variations in sex characteristics”:
This information is of enormous importance to inform the funding and delivery of safe and appropriate supports for LGBTIQA+ people. It is also information that the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victorian Government, Victorian Coroner’s Court, and peak bodies have confirmed is essential to improved – and often life-saving – decision-making.
By gathering baseline Census data about gender identity and innate variations in sex characteristics, we can ensure that all of our LGBTIQA+ communities have evidence-based opportunities to access the dignity, safety and fairness that we all deserve.
Put simply – all LGBTIQA+ people deserve recognition. Equality means not leaving anyone behind, but if you don’t count us, we don’t count.
Jordyn Beazley
Young Labour weighs in on census debate
Australian Young Labor has put out a statement, regarding the 2026 census and the exclusion of LGBTQ+ data:
We welcome the statement made by the Prime Minister indicating that a new question on sexuality will be tested by the ABS. However, we are concerned that this does not fully satisfy the 2023 National Labor Platform pledge.
Australian Young Labor calls on the Albanese Government to honour its commitments by:
1. Including LGBTQIA+ Australians in the consultation and planning process for the 2026 Census.
2. Ensuring that the 2026 Census collects comprehensive and accurate data on all aspects of LGBTQIA+ identity as outlined by the ABS standards.
Mt Buller calls early end to ski season
Mt Buller Ski Lifts has called the end of the snow season, confirmed Sunday 1 September will be the last day of lifted operations for the 2024.
A fortnight of gale-force winds, rain and wild weather has dramatically reduced the snow cover across most of the ski area and all available snow is being harvested and groomed to ensure the guests can ski until Sunday.
The Buller Ski Lifts general manager shared the decision today:
Like all skiers and snowboarders we were holding out hopes for season-saving snow in last night’s storm however the 1-2cms that fell was unfortunately too little, too late.
I would like to thank everyone in our team who has tried valiantly to keep us sliding for as long as possible. It seems unfair to have had two challenging seasons in a row but I am immensely proud of everyone who have kept striving and smiling and will be doing so until Sunday afternoon.
NSW Liberal leader asked for Rory Amon’s resignation
Mark Speakman, leader of NSW opposition, has released a statement in relation to the charges against Rory Amon:
The charges laid against Mr Rory Amon are extremely serious. The alleged conduct strikes at the heart of the standards expected of Members of Parliament.
Upon learning of these charges, I asked for and received Mr Amon’s immediate resignation from the Liberal Party.
While Mr Amon is entitled to the presumption of innocence, a criminal trial will be some time away and in the meantime the citizens of Pittwater are entitled to have a Member of Parliament who can discharge their duties in the community fully.
I therefore also asked Mr Amon to resign from the New South Wales Parliament, effective immediately. He has tendered his resignation to the Speaker.
As the matter is before the courts, I do not intend to make any further comment.
‘I deny all charges’: Rory Amon
Rory Amon has released a statement in relation to the charges made against him today:
Today I have been charged in relation to events alleged to have taken place in 2017.
I deny all charges, and will make my case in the courts, not in the media. Accordingly, I will make no further comment on the case.
The nature of the charges against me are such that I will be unable to continue to fully represent my community in parliament. As a result, I have tendered my resignation as the member for Pittwater, effective immediately.
The people of Pittwater should have a representative who can dedicate one hundred per cent of their time advocating for this wonderful community. As I defend myself against these charges, I will not be able to devote my full energy to representing them.
Thank you to all those who have supported me.
It’s been the greatest honour of my life to represent my community on Northern Beaches Council from September 2017, and as the Member for Pittwater since March 2023.
Amon resigns
Rory Amon has quit the NSW Liberal party. We have the story here:
Household deposits hit record high
Deposits from households hit a record high in July 2024 of $1.50tn, with more than $30.8bn added to the total pot in just one month, according to Canstar.
In a statement the financial comparison site said:
This is the highest monthly increase in dollar terms since the records began in APRA’s Monthly Authorised Deposit-taking Institution Statistics.
In percentage terms, household deposits rose by 2.1% in the month of July, the highest since September 2021.
Money in the bank from households typically increases in July as people put cash back from their tax returns in transaction accounts, savings accounts, offset accounts and term deposits.
This July, however, some households will have also put money from the stage three tax cuts, and potentially money saved from lower electricity bills, thanks to the government-funded electricity rebates in Queensland and Western Australia.
Emily Wind
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today – I’ll hand over to Cait Kelly, who will take you through our rolling coverage for the remainder of the evening. Take care, and enjoy your weekend.
